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Good Morning and Thank You Good morning everyone! Delightful! Just can¡¯t imagine that I have such an honor to speak to this many future dignitaries like you. Realistically, many of you will soon be leading the community, Nation and the world. As I am getting older, Dr. Kim too, I think we should treat you all well so you will treat us well later on. Talking about old, I am representing your fathers and mothers. I think I know what David Gibbon, oh David Gibbons, was talking about on her mother. One time on a family trip in a airplane, my Son went to the restroom and back to the seat and showed me three bar soaps he took from the airplane lavatory. I stately told him ¡°Jimmy, you shouldn¡¯t take somebody¡¯s belonging w/o permission,¡± he looked at me and said, ¡°Dad, what about those bath towels you took form the hotels you staying.¡± I just hope I can represent your parent well. Somehow, the Conference planners thought me qualified to tell my life story to inspire some of you. I want to thank you for your trust in my messages. I am glad they gave me just half an hour to speak because I wouldn¡¯t have time to talk about the difficulties of my life. So my testimony will offer much of bragging. Welcome I want to welcome you all to Atlanta, the Mecca of Civil Right Movements! Atlanta is unique city, particularly to minorities like you and I. I suggest you all to spend some time to learn about Atlanta¡¯s history before you leave town. It is magnificent experiences for all of us, having JAMA conference in my home town, the staffs visited here and circle the Region a half dozen times, Dr. Kim got sick, his leg swells with some unknown symptom, his constipation getting worse as his desire to serve you all and God. It was a hard work to me but I saw he was enjoying! His team was energized each day as the D day is approaching rapidly. I thank God for John Kim, is here with us and serving God with me and you. I thought about God one more time as watching John Kim. How painful our God is as he having mega size conferences every day and every where including those areas storming, snowing, hot and muggy. Thank you God! Georgia have about 4.5mm in population, 650,000 in Atlanta city limit. We have about 200,000 Asian Ams, about 30,000 Korean Ams according to the 2000 census. There are about 200 Korean churches and I am serving the Korean Community Presbyterian Church lead by the senior pastor Jung In-soo and EM pastor Yohan Kim. Introduction Today, I want to tell you a few things I¡¯ve learned. And how I learned them. Often the hard way. They are simple things really, but they are not so simple to understand when they are happening to you. - Treat
others as you want to be treated. I was born in a suburb of Seoul City called Wangshimri where the big city¡¯s human waste collection site was located. Yes, the sewer section. The sewer smell was part of our lives, and people still laugh when they hear where I am from. Night school and a full time job At my age 14, I chose to work full time and make my living my own. I wanted to make a living and pay the tuition for the night school I was attending. I guess, I wanted to get out of the smelly section of the city at once, too. I worked 14-16 hours daily, no time off and going to night school but I made thru very good. I didn¡¯t think I could but I am proud to say I made thru. I met my God and Jesus during the Korean War. 4th grade boy would go to the tent church where a jeondosanim would give sermon and gave me treats. I couldn¡¯t miss it. I was in church because church was only gathering place in town and I didn¡¯t want to miss the treats and friends. From those days until three years ago, I couldn¡¯t see Jesus, the God who was with me for over fifty some years. I read Bibles and nod whenever I hear some sense making sermons. John Kim/JAMA This changed finally in the year 2000, I met JAMA in Monterey, I met John Kim who I met before in Seoul, in fact, was in the Blue House, at the presidential house in Korea, that time we shared secular issues. This time
we met in God! It was an awesome week of my life. It was the
first time ever my life that I felt Jesus is with me. I learned
more and more and today, I am standing here testify how I
met my God and the Lord Jesus again. JAMA, to me is a tool of God! I was a simple weekend church attendee before I met John Kim. JAMA and John Kim three years ago provide me an opportunity to see the God better, and feel God much better. Thank you Dr. Kim. Mother and the Orange I am an only child. My mother was a superb individual, a heroine to my family and to anyone who knew her. She fed me three meals per day and provided a good education, which was a big deal in those days after the War. During the Korean War, many American GIs came to Korea to fight for our freedom from the brutal Communists. I was a nine-year old boy and we visited the military camps every day when school was out. We hung out at the camps, outside the barb wired fences, begging for Hershey bars and breads to fill up our stomachs. One morning, I found a tall GI with a great big orange in his pocket, walking around. I decided the orange was mine. You will know that we Koreans are a little tedious. At least I was. I wanted that orange. I¡¯d never seen one before except in pictures. I chased the GI, chased him for about two hours, saying only English language I knew then, ¡°Give me, give me.¡± The GI, a nice man, finally gave up and threw the orange to me. I touched it. Smelled it. And I wanted to eat it at once. One problem occurred, my Mom¡¯s face came to mind. I had to share the major harvest with my Mom. I ran home to show her the orange proudly. But, the orange party I thought we were going to have turned out to be a nightmare. My Mother wanted to give away the orange to a sick neighbor. The man was going to die. No one even wanted to get close to him. But she wanted to send the orange to that man. My orange! I was outraged! That man was going to die any way. Why waste the first orange we ever even touched? No way! I shouted. I lost the fight with my Mom, as usual, and we gave the orange to the sick neighbor. I cried for days. Later I saw that the sick man survived from the terminal illness and was walking around the refuge village where we lived! That¡¯s the kind of woman my mother was. Five years ago, I share this story with the Korean War veterans on the Veterans Day banquet, they all laughed. The following Christmas, I received many cases of Orange from those old soldiers who felt sorry about me at the young age. Business Success Today,
I own one of the top-five, private janitorial service businesses
in America. We operate in 15 major cities throughout the US
and we employ over 2,300 people. This year marks our 20-year anniversary, and the business is growing everyday. Amazingly, my business is growing without a salesman. We have never paid a dime for sales commission. Bell South/Charlotte Yaun Story One early morning, 6 AM, I was inspecting a building we clean, I found a little staple stuck in the carpet floor, I took out my pocket knife and pick it up, there were a lady standing next me and watch what I was doing. She asked me if I am the owner of the cleaning company, she invited me to her office and offered me a contract to clean an office tower in down town, she was the contract procurement manager of BellSouth, a telecom giant, it was about five times larger contract than the building I was checking the quality. I also own a real estate investment business worth several million dollars. We buy buildings and land and then sell it at a higher price. Nothing wrong with that! During 1998-2000, I was part of Morgan Stanley real estate investment group in Asia during the IMF recession which made me a nice profits. Not bad for a man from a smelly suburb Seoul who came to America with no money or job. Many people ask me how I built my businesses from no money in 1983 but $5,000 debt. People wouldn¡¯t believe what they hear. It is true that God provided everything, He handed it over to me without notice. All I did was focus on one thing at a time and worked hard at it. God provided people, strength to work hard, ability to focus, and vision in the business that helped me to understand the purpose of the business. Our customers love us not because we talk good, not because we look good, but because we provide what they need. Our customers became our sales force. We treat the customers the way I want to be treated. Sometimes we loose money going the extra mile to satisfy the customer, even to those who are ridiculously hard to please. But more often, customers recommend us to other businesses. TREAT OTHERS THE WAY YOU WANTED TO BE TREATED: MATT 7:12 America, the great place to live and work Another reason I could make my business grow; America, the system we have, materials we have, the people of America, freedom we have, I can go on and on and I am sure you can to. Can¡¯t find anywhere else in the world. We all know that I wouldn¡¯t be here and live here unless this country is better to live and raise our kids than in Korea. I thank America for a lot everyday! God bless America! Take Action/Life Plan A lot of good education, intelligence, and talent?none of that is any good unless you take action and activate it in timely manner. I used to be a person who talked and thought too much. I ran my life by my own rules and my own ability. I would sit down for hours and worry about something I could not control. I am much different now and enjoying the life as I let Almighty God take care of all major issues and I just take care things I am able to handle. I put my faith in Jesus and God and receive the power to move the mountain. Bible said in Psalm 55:22; Cast your cares on the Lord and He will sustain you! He will never let the righteous fall. And, in Jesus said in Mathew 17:20, nothing will be impossible. I am a much braver person now than before I reformed and was born again. I can fly airplane, I am a pilot, a small one but still flying 5,000 feet over the good old Dixie. I have no fear to fly as my God the Lord Jesus watch over my airplane! Allelujah! Today, I work an average of 14 hours per day, but I am having fun in life because I follow the map my God prepared for me to walk. I follow the strategy God prepared for Joshua to take over the city of Jericho. Do you remember the story? Let me read the scriptures about the great warrior Joshua. Joshua 6:3-5 You shall march around the city, all the warriors circling the city (Jericho) once. Thus you shall do for six days, with seven priests bearing seven trumpets of ram¡¯s horns before the arc. On the seventh day, you shall march around the city seven times, the priests blowing the trumpets. When they make a long blast with the ram¡¯s horn, as soon as you hear the sound of trumpet, then all the people shall shout with a great shout; and the wall of the city will fall down flat and all the people shall charge straight ahead.¡± How do I apply this scripture in my life? I try not to rush ahead. Do one thing at a time, like God¡¯s operational manual for Joshua was precisely directed. I do today¡¯s work today and prepare for tomorrow, nothing more. Help America, do volunteer These days, I spend much of my time in community service. I serve on boards of nine different nonprofit organizations including two colleges, one museum, three national security related organizations, and one community foundation. I am a part of USO, serving military troops as a board member and a volunteer. I serve President Bush as his commissioner to advise the President on Asian American community issues. My schedule is full of volunteer work, but I am a happy man because I am using my ¡°success¡± for others, not my self only. The additional pleasure I get from volunteering is that I meet great people, and share their friendship. I suggest you all get involved in some kind of volunteer program. You will meet good people. People who volunteer more often are generally better people than you will meet in other places, based on my experience. GNC I also spend a lot of time on Good Neighboring Campaign. This is an organization to encourage and educate the Asian American immigrants for involvement with their neighbors and their communities. We encourage the immigrants to take advantage of the system of this great country by participating and devoting themselves for the betterment of the Nation. We teach them with citizenship classes, manners, and volunteer information. We teach non-English speaking immigrants and encourage be patriotic to American and devote them selves to their new country with heritage they brought with them. Change the perception of K-A Over the past 100 years, Korean Americans have built the community diligently, laying a solid foundation. Now, it is time for the next generation?your generation?to start laying bricks. But we still need to change a few things to improve our image as Korean Americans in this country. Korean Americans are too isolated from the mainstream community and tend to live like guests among their neighbors. We have a few law breakers, like fake brand merchandise sellers, tax evaders and the massage parlor sells sex. We must change that. A few law-breakers support prejudice against us and taint our accomplishments. We, the older generation will continue to build the community but we have to admit that we failed in some areas. We ask you to continue on, learn and change from our mistakes. We feel your generation is better equipped, and more familiar with the American language and customs. However, we ask you to learn from something we did right as well. Diligent work ethics, determination, bravery, these are part of your Korean heritage. These things we ask you to adopt and use for yourselves and share. Conclusion If you believe what Jesus said is true and works for you, I ask you all do take action. I did and I experienced personal peace and a greater sense of direction. Do you think I would come here and tell you something I don¡¯t believe? You gotta be kidding! I could go out spend my time in my business, making very good money. But I chose to be here with you today. I wanted to tell you what I experienced in God because it is too precious and because the Lord told me to share my experiences. Life is short! Believe me! But the God¡¯s Kingdom is forever! Trust the Lord! I told you what I think is important for you to hear. Work hard. Learn from mistakes and take action without fear of mistakes. We all make mistakes anyway. As I said in the beginning, it comes down to three things: - 1. Treat
others as you want to be treated. Today my customers get the same level of customer service, and they return the favor by becoming my sales force with recommendations. - 2. Give
back to others and you will be rewarded. (Service to others
is a service to God.) So volunteer
to help others, to help America, your nation, to help yourself.
And make decisions by reminding yourself: All of this?all of it?comes from the wisdom of God. And it is an open door available to each and every one of us. Take action now. Prayer The Lord is my light and my salvation-Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life- of who shall I be afraid! Oh Father God, Almighty! We thank you for this opportunity to worship you, glorify you. Father God! We thank you for being Americans, enjoying the liberty, justice and equality. We thank you and the Founding fathers of this Nation fought for the freedom that we enjoying daily. Oh Lord! You must have a pretty good reason to create an opportunity this week for us to meet here in Atlanta, the center of the human rights movement, the symbolic place of segregation, and the home of MLK, Jr. You told us that we are no longer foreigners but the citizens of God¡¯s Kingdom. We celebrate you and we celebrate for us to take the ownership of this great country. Thank you Lord for the Land, America! From California to the NY islands, from the redwood forest to the gulf-stream waters! This is your land and this is our land. Help us to realize your Mission on us, Korean Americans in this country. We ask your blessings on our wishes to become integral members of neighbors, communities and the nation where we belong! We ask you to strengthen us to be able to succeed in whatever we do and be able to take action when we have good ideas and wisdom. So we can help our selves, other who need helps and this great Nation that falling from your wills and beaten by the evils temptations. We pray in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ! Amen.
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