Long ago, after giving birth to my daughter and while still recovering, I met members of the Church of God. At that time, I had been searching for the true God, wandering from one church to another. So when I heard the words of truth, I gladly received God.
My husband, however, who placed great value on the Confucian traditions handed down in his family, was displeased that I attended church. The more I felt the piercing stares of my husband and his family, the more I devoted myself to serving my parents-in-law and keeping my faith with sincerity. Since God said, “There is a time for everything,” I believed that if I obeyed His teachings and endured patiently, the day would surely come when my husband would acknowledge my faith.
What finally melted my husband’s heart of iron were the members of Zion who always came running whenever our family had important occasions, treating us as their own. When my husband lost his father and was overwhelmed with grief, the Zion members who came to the funeral gave him great comfort. A few years later, when my mother-in-law passed away, they were again by our side throughout the funeral, helping us endure the sorrow and find strength.
At our daughter’s wedding, countless brothers and sisters also came to share our joy. As the line of guests stretched endlessly to offer congratulations, my husband’s smile reached from ear to ear and would not fade. Even days after the wedding, he was still overjoyed whenever he talked about it.
After that, I asked my husband to listen to a truth presentation. Though he bluntly told me not to bother him every day and to cover several topics at once, he did not refuse. I continued sharing the words with him, often expressing my hope that one day we would keep the Passover together. Since he didn’t know the Bible well, he thought the Passover was a holiday in June because in Korean, Passover sounds similar to the month of June—but even so, his attitude was different from before. He spoke as if he would do something before June came.
Another person who helped open his heart was our son-in-law, who is sociable and kind. After getting married, as he slowly grew in faith, he would often share what he had learned with my husband, even during his busy work schedule. During the Lunar New Year, when our family gathered, my husband focused and listened to the truth at our son-in-law’s earnest request. At last, he fully understood the meaning and time of the Passover. Though he said he would keep it, he was still reluctant to go to church, so we attended the Sabbath worship without him. Perhaps he reflected deeply while at home alone, because later my husband shyly asked me when the church had the fewest people. Soon after, he agreed to visit the church on the upcoming holiday and receive baptism. My prayers that his heart would not change grew even more earnest.
On the appointed day, my husband visited Zion. After viewing the Media Exhibition, he was amazed at the scale of the Church of God and the good deeds of its members. Then he joyfully received the blessing of new life. It was a miraculous moment—after thirty-three long years. It felt surreal to see my husband proudly telling our daughter and son-in-law, who hadn’t been there for the baptism, how warmly he had been welcomed at church.
When I asked what had left the strongest impression on him that day, he said it was the words after his baptism: “Do not worship other gods.” Before coming to church, he had already gotten a haircut and taken a bath, preparing himself in his own way. Since his heart was already ready to be reborn as a child of God, it seems that the command to serve only God was especially engraved upon his heart.
The dream I had cherished for over thirty years—through many sorrows and hardships—finally came true. The path of faith I once walked alone, God has allowed me to walk with two as the baby in my arms grew, then with three as our daughter met a good husband, and now with four, as even my husband walks with us toward heaven. I give heartfelt thanks to God for this blessing. With all our family holding hands tightly, we will continue to run with strength until we reach the eternal kingdom of heaven.