I was born and raised in Seoul, Korea but both of my parents’ families are originally from North Korea. They migrated down to South, away from communist regime, when Korea had its civil war right after 2nd World War ended.

My family’s Christian background goes back to the dawn of 20th century, when my great grandfather on my father side became Christian through a missionary from the United States. Since then all of his children had no choice but become 'Christian'.

This was the way my family’s tradition had been established in Korea. Although I’m convinced my great grandfather’s conversion was genuine, when it came down to my generation, personal belief wasn’t a big issue for anybody in the family. We were all assumed to be Christian.

When I was growing up, church was big part of my life as well as part of the family tradition but not because of my personal relationship with Christ. As far as I can remember, I never really had chance to realize I was actually a sinner. No one even from church talked to me about this, so I never had the need to receive Jesus as my Savior or my Lord. For thirty some years starting from my mother’s womb I’ve attended church but I never had a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

However, in my mind, I never doubted that I wasn’t Christian, after all I was born in a Christian family of 4th generation (this is rare in Korea) and I attended church every Sunday.

After high school I left Korea to go to France to pursue my study and I remember, my life style wasn’t any better than none church-goers. My heart was prideful, filled with greed and full of selfish ambitions. And unfortunately, my move to France made all worse. I enjoyed very much France's sense of liberalism, socialism and all other man centered ideas. And as I succeeded in my study, my selfish ambition grew more and more; I never really had chance to be otherwise.

During my ten years stay in France, I went as far away as possible (probably farther than the prophet Jonah) from God by trying everything to satisfy myself in my own ways. However, toward the end of my stay, I started to realize that nothing could truly satisfy me permanently.

After the study, I came to United States and got married with my wife Amy and through a series of trials and hardships, (yes! my easy life ended after I got married), God started to make me realize how small and incapable I was. He also let me realize that I had no control over my life. As a result, first time in my life, I felt very helpless and lost. At one point, as an example, even the thought of 'how am I going to be the father of my two kids' scared me to death and depressed me.

I believe this was the lowest point of my life but Our Heavenly Father didn’t just leave me there.

On July 30, 1996 through a faithful Christian friend, I was led to a local Christian church. I later found out that this church was spiritually revitalized only couple of weeks before I started to attend. Starting with their senior pastor and then the overflowing of the Holy Spirit was extended to the rest of the staffs and to the whole congregation. Then the church decided to start a Friday night revival service to extend the leading of the Holy Spirit to as many as possible. This is when I first attended.

Seeing their sincere praise and worship, my heart was first moved. I’ve never seen people praising and worshiping God with this much of sincerity and peace on their appearance but everything was in orderly manner. And I immediately felt that they had something that I didn’t have, and then I had a strong desire to find out what it was. I also realized my heart was yearning to have the same thing for myself.

I was totally convicted by the time the teaching of the Word of God was shared. When the alter call was given at the end of teaching, I went forward. I didn't hesitate. I was ready.

I first repented all of my sins, as far as I can remember, and then I asked Jesus Christ to come into my heart and take control of my life for the first time in my life. This was an easy choice for me because I already knew the result of following my own way. I was MISERABLE! And I was convinced that following God's way is much better than following my own way.

This was the most awesome day of my life!

How grateful I felt that God forgave all my sins and saved me. I can never forget the joy and the peace that I have received that day and I still remember just as though it happened yesterday. I have realize later that this joy and peace were the very things that Christians of the church had in their hearts that I could not understand how and why they were so joyful and peaceful when I first went into the church.

They had Jesus in their hearts but not I. They had personal relationship with our Lord Jesus. The joy and the peace of God that only people who have a true relationship with God can have. Only those who have received Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior can experience. This is the reason why I could not understand.

That same day, God also blessed me with many spiritual gifts. He opened up the eyes of my heart so when I read the Word of God, first time in my life, I could UNDERSTAND the meaning. Until then reading the Bible was a hardship because I could not make sense out of anything. And God also imparted strong desire to study the Bible.

Few years later, God blessed me to go to Calvary Chapel School of Ministry in confirming the desire He imparted in my heart. And He also blessed my family financially while I was attending the school because I had to quit my job to attend the school and  I was the only winner of the bread in my family until then.

After I graduated from school,  my family and I moved to Phoenix, Arizona area following the leading of the Holy Spirit where I started Calvary Chapel in Christ Fellowship, a Korean-American fellowship where I serve until present time.

I’m ever grateful that God saw me worthy to be part of His work!

Our Lord Jesus said in Matthew 11:25-26; "I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and have revealed them to babes."Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight."

Sincerely,

Joseph Choi