CIU “a rock” for missionary couple

By Bob Holmes

Early in their missionary work, South Koreans “Joshua” and “Joy” (not their real names) found an unusual way to connect with the people of the Central Asian nation they were trying to reach with the gospel. Local broadcasters unwittingly opened the door.

“During prime time, between seven and nine at night, a popular Korean drama was shown,” explains Joshua, a 2012 CIU alumnus who graduated with a master of arts degree in Intercultural Studies. “Korean dramas and movies were quite popular in Central Asia, so (the people) wanted to learn Korean.”

Realizing Joshua and Joy were Korean, they became celebrities of sort, and were asked by some local girls if Joshua and Joy would teach  them the language. Joy obliged, and doors to Muslim homes were literally opened.  

“They loved us,” Joy said with a laugh. “They wanted Joshua’s autograph.”  

During an interview on the back porch of  the CIU Alumni Center, the couple said their ultimate goal was to plant churches in the predominately Muslim nation. They have learned the best way to do that, is through developing relationships, not with one person, but with an entire family, what Joshua calls “household ministry.”

“In the Muslim culture, our approach is that we want to reach out to the whole family,” Joshua explained. “They consider guests are a gift from heaven, their hospitality is respectful. So, when we visited, grandma, grandpa, auntie — they all came to receive us.”   

In that context the family would ask Joshua and Joy what they believed, including “Are you Muslim?”

“No, we are followers of Jesus Christ, followers of Messiah,” was Joshua’s response as he then explained the meaning of Messiah.

“Then we slowly explained the message of the gospel,” Joshua said.  

Finally, the whole family came to the Lord, and we planted our first house church,” said Joy. “Every Sunday we visited their house, or they came to our house, and we worshipped together.”

Soon other extended family members were attending the house church. But due to ethnic conflicts in the nation, the family moved to the Siberia area of Russia where Joshua and Joy have information that the church still thrives there.

These days, Joshua and Joy are assigned to leadership ministry overseeing about 200 church planters and member care, and Joshua consults at a local Bible college that is administrated by local Christians.

Joshua and Joy came to CIU in 2009 after serving in Central Asia since 2004, learning church planting from the late CIU Intercultural Studies Professor Dr. Mike Barnett as Joy audited the course.  

“That course was very helpful in preparing us to go back to our mission field,” Joshua said. “That really impacted both of us.”

Joshua says the other positive impact came from the CIU’s Christ-centered community, especially living in “The Village,” a mobile home park that has since been replaced by the Pine View Apartments.

“It was our first time living in the United States” Joshua said. “I got to know many students in The Village, developing close relationships.” He also noted Intercultural Studies Professor Dr. David Cashin and the late Seminary Professor Dr. Bill Larkin who impacted Joshua and Joy not only in the classroom, but for their “entire life.”

“CIU — it was a rock in our lives,” added Joy.  

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