I’d like to share a deeply moving story—one that fills my heart beyond words—about a French friend I’ve considered a sister for years, who has now become my true spiritual sister.
I first met her twenty years ago when I went to France on a mission trip. While preaching, I greeted a young woman who was walking up the stairs and said, “I’d like to be your friend.” In French culture, where friendship is something that grows through time and deep affection, my approach could have seemed a little unexpected. But she welcomed me warmly and later told me that the way I approached her felt refreshing and kind.
Even after returning to Korea, we stayed in touch through emails and text messages. Though we didn’t see each other in person for many years, our bond grew stronger, and we became so close that we called each other “sisters.”
When I recently let her know I would be visiting France again on a short-term mission, she drove five hours to Paris just to meet me. She attended both a Korean cultural event and a Bible seminar. Afterward, we sat down face to face. In the past, she hadn’t believed in God, so whenever I brought up church or the Bible, the conversation would often fizzle out. But after twenty years apart, I couldn’t let this precious opportunity pass without opening the Bible. I entrusted everything to God and shared what was in my heart.
“We’ve always seen each other as sisters, haven’t we? I sincerely hope we can now become sisters for real.”
She nodded and listened as I explained the Passover—the way to become spiritual sisters by receiving God’s flesh and blood. She soon expressed her desire to keep the Passover. When I told her she would need to be baptized first, she agreed without hesitation.
“Then we need to know the names of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,” I continued.
I explained about the Second Coming Christ—God who came in the flesh in Korea in the Age of the Holy Spirit. She accepted everything so naturally. That very day, she was born again as a child of God. To see someone who once identified as an atheist joyfully receive baptism felt like witnessing a miracle.
Many people are amazed that our friendship has lasted from our youth all the way into middle age, without ever being lost. But the truth is, all I did was respond to her messages. She was the one who kept reaching out—through emails, texts, and messengers—always finding another way to contact me when I didn’t reply.
This reminded me that while human relationships may seem to be built by effort, they are, in the end, a gift from our Heavenly Father and Mother. Unless God allows it, no matter how much we try, some meetings will never happen. But when God connects people, time and distance don’t matter. I am so thankful to Father and Mother for maintaining this bond for so many years and leading it all the way to heaven. I now hope that my friend—my true sister—will continue to grow strong in faith through the Word, and that we will enter the kingdom of heaven together.