by Anna Kim
Editor’s Note: This is a new series that we’ll be running occasionally that features letters and updates from former LBC members. Anna was kind enough to be part of our initial group.
Hey Lighthouse Bible Church!
For those of you who may not remember or know me, my name is Anna Kim and I used to be a member at Lighthouse a couple years ago. But, I moved away from SD to go to Baltimore, MD in 2006. My experiences since moving to the east coast have sometimes been pretty extreme with its huge freezing snow storms and scary crime-laden blue-light districts! However, I’ve come to realize the simple truth that God is truly omnipresent and faithful!
I started my life in the east coast by attending pharmacy school in the fall of 2006 at the University of Maryland, Baltimore. I came to school with three major objectives in mind. First, I wanted to find a good church. Second, to make new friends and be a witness to them and third, to be a good student so I can be an excellent pharmacist for God’s glory!
However, from the beginning there were several challenges. I came to Maryland expecting to find a great church like Lighthouse and was pretty disappointed when I couldn’t find many solid Bible-based churches in Baltimore. I started going to one church for several months, but I did not feel at peace about becoming a member there because I did not fully trust and respect the leadership. Then thankfully after much wrestling and prayer over the whole church issue, God lead me to another church that Pastor John had recommended, Hope Bible Church with Pastor Tom Leake. Although the church was further away and I had no car, I knew that if God wanted me there, He would provide the means to get there, and He graciously did! I loved the solid biblical teaching, the God-centered worship, the God-fearing and loving people, and the chance to grow and serve! I knew that Hope Bible Church was where God wanted me and I immediately took the membership courses offered and became a member. I currently serve in the welcoming team and the nursery.
As for new friendships, God blessed me with many new friends in school. Unlike San Diego, most of my friends in Maryland are not Christians. And not having that same “Christian bubble” I had in SD gave me many new opportunities to witness and invite friends to church. My favorite verse during my first year of school was Matthew 5:16:
“Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.”
Yet, it was also very challenging in some ways because I did not have as much support and accountability as I did in SD. Thankfully, God answered my prayers and provided some strong Christian friends in school and in church overtime.
Finally, school. Yikes. Grad school life has probably been one of the most challenging thing I’ve experienced in my life. Don’t get me wrong, I really do love school and love what I’m learning, but it was and still is a struggle to balance massive amounts of studying along with church involvement and other social activities. I’m very thankful to God for teaching me many invaluable lessons like time management, disciplining myself spiritually and physically, and also learning to trust in God to pull me through seemingly impossible situations.
In conclusion, all I can say is God is sovereign and very good. He is Jehovah Jireh and has always been faithful to take care of His blessed children. Hallelujah!
Prayer Requests
Please pray that I will:
- Learn to trust in God and love Him more through all situations (good and bad)
- Live in light of eternity (time/money/hopes)-not to waste the time I have in MD
- Be more humble and teachable when my family and friends rebukes me about a sin issue
- I would learn to not judge people, but rather love and be humble and remember to take the log out of my own eye
- Grow in the fear of God and wisdom in the choices I make this coming school year
- God will provide an older woman discipler