2012 HBF Ministry Review

HBF Ministry 2012

HBF ministry started 2012 with the key verse Mark 10:45, For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. It was our hope that this year be a year in which our high school students could grow as servant leaders. Learning to love and serve their family members, their friends, and each other as an expression of their love for Jesus. And God really did expand our hearts and did some life changing work in the lives our many our students this past year. Here are a few highlights:

Easter Conference:

This was one of the simplest Easter conferences we've ever had. For the first time we decided to have the conference on the weekend before Easter. This was significant because normally we use CPS Spring break to prepare the conference, which is always the week leading up to Easter Sunday. Having the conference at the beginning of Spring break meant all the preparations needed to be done while students were still in school. At the conference, Seniors all gave messages: Charlie Kim, John Mederich, Anna Ahn, Mary Lim, Josephine Wang, and Sarah Lee. In the weeks leading up to the conference, Joseph Horvath had been struggling very seriously with depression. We decided to pray for him every night, that God would meet with him during this Easter conference. This was a very specific prayer topic we had for this conference. And God answered our prayers! On the first night of the conference, during a spirited time of praise and worship led by Francis Choi, Joe had an encounter with the Holy Spirit, and the evil spirits that had been tormenting him for many months were driven out. Since that night Joe has been growing in the grace of Jesus. His depression has been completely healed. He has truly been changed by the risen Jesus, ready to testify and proclaim the name of Jesus at any time.

Ecuador Missions Experience

This was probably the high point of the year. We spent about one year to prepare through Bible study, team building, and fundraising. We raised nearly 30 thousand dollars, and flew with a team of 14 to Quito, Ecuador for 11 days to serve local ministries through Youth World. There were 3 adult leaders: Sam Toh, Francis Choi, and Roxy Ng. The eleven students were: Timothy Fernandez, John Mederich, Grace Mederich, John Ward, Paul Albright, Faith Koh, Marlene Lenthang, Esther Ahn, Faith Hong, Joseph Wang, and Angelo Mendoza. The team was blessed to see the work of God through faithful Ecuadorian servants who have committed their lives to spreading the gospel, even among the poor. As the team went to serve and be a blessing, all team members testify that they were in fact the ones that were blessed through this trip. God used this trip to open their eyes to the beauty and wonder of God's creation. Many of them were also able to appreciate the many blessings they have living in the US. And most importantly, the power of gospel that changes lives left the strongest impression of all.

Graduating Seniors/Welcoming Freshmen

We graduated eleven seniors: Charlie Kim (now attending U of I), David Timlin (Indiana university), John Mederich (Northwestern University), Anna Ahn (Loyola), Josephine King (Loyola), Mary Lim (Kansas City art institute), Miriam Kim (IIT), Joy Vucekovich (Indiana University), Sarah Lee (Undecided), Timothy Fernandez (Columbia College), and Marphil Mendoza (NEIU).

In return, we welcomed seven new freshmen: Mary Magadician, Michelle Flores, Mariza Mendoza, Rebecca Reyes, Grace Lenthang, John lee, and David Wolff. As a result, our HBF fellowship is the smallest that it has ever been since I've been an HBF leader. But this has provided an opportunity to create more personal connections and to get to know our HBF students better.

Acknowledgments

2012 marked the 30th year of M. David and Sarah B's faithful service of high school ministry in Chicago UBF and they decided to retired at the end of the year. After an HBF reunion dinner, it was so encouraging to see nearly 90 HBF alumni come together in celebration, thanksgiving, and fellowship. Through that dinner we could see that M. David and Sarah B have blessed and served countless numbers of people over the years. Their prayer and love and care for high school students has bore an unbelievable amount of fruit throughout the years. HBF ministry will miss them dearly.

We are thankful that Roxy Ng committed to serving the HBF Ecuador team as a leader. She was a good shepherd and friend especially for the girls on the trip. She created friendships with several of them that have carried on to today. We are thankful that she could be a good example and role model to them this past year.

Personal

2012 was a year full of very significant memories that I will never forget. First of all, early in the year, we found out that Dr. James Suh was diagnosed with a rare cancer. This was a wakeup call for our family to pray for him. We were so encouraged by the entire world wide UBF community that committed to praying for him. Our ministry is full of so many doctors who are so prayerful. It was really encouraging to see. By December of 2012, after several months of intense chemotherapy treatment, Dr. James was completely healed of cancer. We firmly believe that this was by the grace of God who hears the prayers of his children.

Personally, I was very much blessed by the Ecuador Missions Experience. The personal time in the Word and in prayer brought me closer to Jesus. I was so encouraged by the Hosts that cared for us, and the Pastors we worked with. They are all in love with Jesus, serving him with zeal and compassion. The trip affirmed God's calling in my life to love and serve HBF ministry with the gospel.

This past year we bought our very first home and celebrated our daughter, Annabelle's, first birthday. My sister had her first child, Timothy Lewis Herman, making me an uncle. And Anna and I also celebrated 5 years of unbelievably happy marriage.

2013

Mark 3: 13, 14: Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to him those he wanted, and they came to him. He appointed twelve^[that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach.

HBF has dedicated this year to growing as disciples of Jesus. Based on Mark 3:13,14 we believe this to mean that our high school students hear God's initiative to be with Jesus and respond to his call. We pray that this year HBF members may have a vision grow spiritually in their high school years in order to be sent out as leaders when they graduate from high school.

This year will also mark the first time HBF ministry will be without the Choi's in 30 years. We are praying for new adult leaders who have a heart and passion to bring the gospel to high school students. We pray to start a student leadership team that will focus on discipleship through spiritual disciplines. Our prayer for our fellowship is that everyone may grow in their relationship with Jesus. And that HBF may be proactive about training and raising disciples in the new year.