Comments on: Rebirth in Eau Claire

By: Jeff Cummings

Jeff Cummings — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 03:36:24 +0000

Hi Abraham, Thank you for your wonderful testimony. I would not know what to do with 15 Bible studies a week. God bless you.

By: Brian Karcher

Brian Karcher — Thu, 26 May 2011 20:38:17 +0000

Abraham, I didn’t realize it when you published this article, but I’ve been going through a nearly identical “house church” experience. I re-read this just now. Thanks again for sharing this.

By: Joshua WH Yoon

Joshua WH Yoon — Fri, 17 Sep 2010 01:08:25 +0000

Abraham, thanks for sharing your story of pain and joy. The Lord led you to make one step back to be able make two or more steps forward. It was good that you took time off to take a fresh look on God’s calling and a direction for the ministry. We should be aware that campus mission is precious but not everybody who comes to our ministry and enjoys the Bible study and our community receives a call for campus mission. I agree that we have been selfish in that we tried to hold people in UBF ministry thinking it is the best and most important ministry with expectaction instead of sending them to local churches and other ministries with blessing according to God’s leading. If we count how many UBF people started their walk with God in local churches and other ministries, there are quite a few. We should be grateful to the Lord for using us if the students whom we loved and served go to other churches and ministries. UBF should not be the destination of one’s faith journey. It is only one of many members of the body of Christ. There are many other precious ministires and churches God is using for his world mission purpose. We should be humble to acknowledge the limit of our ministry. A few years go I decided to send students with blessing according to God’s leading and a conviction in their hearts, God blessed me with freedom and peace. One of the sad things is that many of those who left UBF ministry have been regarded as if they had abandoned their faith. I am glad that the Lord freed you from UBF box and gave you genuine heart to serve the people God sends to you. I want to encourage you to keep the pure motive of serving people regardless the size of the ministry and the number of disciples raised. When I decided not to hold anyone even the most beloved disciple and my own children, God gave me freedom and they participate in God’s work not with a sense of obligation but in freedom. Those who graduated and went to another city and church are still connected to us. Our ultimate goal is to please our Lord and expand His kingdom to the end of the earth, not just to promote the organizational goal such as raising 10,000 Phd shepherds or sending out 100,000 missionaries. May God bless your life and ministry 100 times as you love Him and serve Him only.

By: Greg Impink

Greg Impink — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 05:15:11 +0000

There are a lot of things this ministry is good for, and there are a lot of things it is not. I’m so glad you could release members that didn’t feel fed. I hope they are happy wherever they went. It seems like as soon as you let go of what you wanted, God granted you what you needed.

By: Hannah Love

Hannah Love — Sun, 12 Sep 2010 00:51:06 +0000

Thank you so much for this encouraging testimony. I’m amazed by God’s divine leading in your life and in your ministry. Without humility it is impossible to take care of a few people, let alone a church. People can see right through our arrogance and greed, though we try to hide it with ‘godliness’. I pray that we can all learn from your personal experience and be led by the Holy Spirit rather than tradition and rules. I believe when we humbly lay everything before our Lord, He can work so much more greater in our lives. By holding onto our own ideas and ways we give very little room to the Holy Spirit to work.
Thanks again

By: James Kim

James Kim — Sat, 11 Sep 2010 16:19:04 +0000

Thank you Abraham for the beautiful story of the rebirth of Eau Claire ministry. When I visited Eau Claire several years ago, I witnessed the wonderful work of God through one family in a quiet college town. After fiery trial, God blessed your ministry newly in his own way. I am amazed the voluntary spirit of the students who has stewardship of the ministry. Pray that you may continue to have servant leadership and Sarah may have good health serving many students with delicious meals. Recently Dr John Armstrong posted about house churches in America in his website.

http://johnharmstrong.com/

By: Abraham Nial

Abraham Nial — Fri, 10 Sep 2010 13:57:45 +0000

Greatly encouraging testimony! How wonderful it is to let the Spirit of God lead and take control of our lives and ministries instead of vainly trying to lead and control Him to fulfill my agenda.

By: Ben W.

Ben W. — Fri, 10 Sep 2010 13:27:17 +0000

Fantastic! Thank you Dr. Nahm for your testimony. The clear, living water is flowing in Eau Claire. I’ll never forget that you sent along a beautiful wedding present to my wife Maria and me.

It’s funny how God doesn’t micromanage us, but we attempt to micromanage his work, and to a certain extent, God (which, just to state the obvious, is impossible). I’ve been asking myself why this happens? Why do we treat others and ourselves based on the Law while God treats us with nothing but 100% grace?

Praying that God will send many more open-hearted students your way!

By: Jennifer Espinola

Jennifer Espinola — Fri, 10 Sep 2010 00:54:52 +0000

Thank you so much for sharing your beautiful testimony. This is the kind of testimony that I believe our church should hear more often. The process of bearing fruit and growing in our inner character and relationships with others is so much more vital than the sought after result of x number Bible studies, disciples or SWS attendants. UBF has been my church now for 13 years and although i love and thank God for bringing me here, I have also witnessed and been party to the ugly side of this ministry where our desire for spiritual success leads to pride and hurtful practices towards our coworkers and students. Somehow, i hope that testimonies such as yours will redefine what we call “fruitful ministries” to emphasize a fellowship that truly communicates love, honesty, and respect for every member.

By: Maria Peace

Maria Peace — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 21:36:47 +0000

Wow! Praise Jesus! It doesn’t sound real. But its amazing how God works. The way he does ministry doesn’t make sense. I mean close down a ministry and to open it up again by the students own initiative. Let go and let God. I think God knows better how to run a ministry than we do. Thank you so much for sharing this painful and yet resurrecting testimony.:)

By: Mary J.

Mary J. — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 19:22:37 +0000

Thank you for sharing your pains and repentant spirit with us. I am touched by your honesty in what you called your ministry’s “Isaac” of sacrifice.

By: Brian Karcher

Brian Karcher — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 17:57:19 +0000

Excellent testimony! Thank you so much for sharing.