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"But the angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.'” (Luke 2:10-11)

We give thanks and praise to our God for his wonderful love and grace. He loved us and didn’t spare His own Son Jesus but gave him up for us all! We pray that God’s reign and glory will be revealed in the world even in the midst of the Covid pandemic.

Two years have passed since the outbreak of Covid-19. However, its variants are still emerging and the world is suffering. There is no way that God's will is not in this global disaster. We believe that the Lord is patient with the world, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9). We pray that we will all look forward to the day of the Lord's coming and that we will be more awake to pray for the work of salvation for all people.

Even in the midst of the pandemic, in this year God has blessed us so that the word of Christ dwells among us richly as in Colossians 3:16, the key verse of 2021. The word of Christ has enabled us not to look at the world and be gripped by fear and anxiety, but rather has filled our souls with joy and strength with the word of life. Above all, God granted us to hold the World Mission Report and the Missionary and Leaders Conference to commemorate the 60th anniversary of UBF. God blessed the faith and prayers of Korean shepherds who challenged the impossible, and this event was abundantly graceful for many gospel-workers from all over the world who participated online. Through the words of Acts 28, “Paul in His Rented House,” we learned the spirit of the apostle Paul, who preached the word even in prison. We set direction to raise a small number of key disciples. Also, through the Missionary and Leaders Conference, we were able to deeply learn the words of Philippians.

The International World Mission HQ held online forums in Korean, English, and Spanish every month to create a platform for missionaries and shepherds to communicate and to share useful information and learn. The 24-hour relay prayer campaign continued, and professional missionary testimonies were continuously aired on YouTube through the Tent Makers. Above all, there was active relief work from the International World Mission HQ and Korea HQ for those who suffered financial hardship due to the Covid pandemic and for those who suffered from diseases. We thank God for enabling us to practice the spirit of loving community of caring and serving each other. At the end of the year, a new UBF Weekly Newsletter was created and sent to our co-workers. Through this, we were able to know the news and prayer topics in our community and to pray for each other more actively. This Christmas, we are praying for offerings to help LUTH UBF and YABATECH UBF in Nigeria, Africa, to purchase Bible houses. Personally, it has been a year for me to let the Word of Christ dwell richly in my heart. Whenever I had time, I memorized the Word and meditated on it, spiritually overflowing with grace and gratitude. I thank God for Mother Barry, Missionary Grace A. Lee, and Dr. John Jun who are in good health and continue to pray for us.

No one knows how the pandemic crisis will unfold in 2022. But one thing is clear: The gospel given to us is like a shining star in the dark night sky and like a jewel, and God lives even now, ruling all things and turning the wheel of history. This God is our God who loves us and is working diligently to save the whole world through the gospel according to His promises. We pray that we will rely on this God and make the effort in prayer and discipleship in the new year as Luke 6:12-13 says, "One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God. When morning came, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them, whom he also designated apostles."

May God bless us to be a loving spiritual community overflowing with the Word and prayer in the new year. May God bless you, beloved co-workers, in your families and ministries with his overflowing grace!

Merry Christmas!

Moses and Sarah Yoon
(2021. 12. 6)