The need for a mental 3.1 movement

My mother Deaconess Sung-Nyun Choi, was a person who valued one’s life over hers, led a holy life dedicated to evangelism, and woke up before the sunrise to pray and spend time with the Lord. She meditated on the word so much that it would not be a surprise to hear that she had memorized the whole bible. “But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord. (Joshua 24:15)”
My mother would always encourage me to memorize the bible verses. 1Corinthians chapter 13, Psalms chapter 1 and 23, Romans chapter 8 and etc were already nailed in my brain since a young age.
Throughout her life, my mother also emphasized the importance of prenatal education. “If a pregnant woman consumes alcohol or smokes, it will have a negative impact on the baby. Thus, such actions are clearly a sin towards the Lord.”
My Father Yong-Sub Yeu would always attend the midnight services with my mother. When the time of harvest comes, he did not allow the workmen to wholly reap the field. This was because there were young girls and women who collected the leftover grains in the aprons. Even such considerations were a result of the obedience to the word:
22 ‘When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not wholly reap the corners of your field when you reap, nor shall you gather any gleaning from your harvest. You shall leave them for the poor and for the stranger: I am the LORD your God.’ (Leviticus 23:22)

A thunderstruck at home

When I was three years old, our house was thunderstruck. The two storey closet located at the tip of my head had turned into hundreds of micro pieces. In such devastating situation, I was apparently jumping around cheerfully, grateful of the fact that I was not injured by a single inch. When my mother was telling me about this story, she gently held my hand and kindly requested: “God loves you ever so mucj, so please live to please our Lord and live for His glory.”
I could not even imagine a single moment of my life without faith. Knowing this, the principal of my highschool called me up prior to the graduation and said: “Kwi Ok, you seem like the perfect student to study Theology in College. What do you think about entering a theological seminary?”
As soon as I heard this suggestion, joy filled my heart and wanted to jump up and down.
“Yes, I will study Theology.”
“Great. I will pay for all your College tuition fees.”
I could sense the sincere love she had towards her student.

Setting life goals

The dormitory of Pyung-yang Women’s Theological seminary was clean and beautiful. During the first lecture, we learnt the catechism. The professor pointed towards me and asked: “what is the ultimate purpose in life?”
“The ultimate purpose in life is to glory the Lord and to please him eternally.”
This moment was when my life purpose was clarified. We had opportunities to listen to the sermons of Pastor Sun-Joo Gil, and went across the Taedong river and to Moranbong for picnics. I truly enjoyed my time at the Theological seminary. Every time I wrote to my mother, I would share my testimonies. “Mother, now I can understand how you would always read the bible day and night. After I started studying here at Pyung-yang, I realized that the word of the Lord is sweeter than honey combs.”
Since entering College, I attended the ‘SanJeonghyun church’ led by Pastor Gi-Cheol Joo, and took care of the Sunday school for infants.
There was one time when I was confronted by a man shouting “Jesus, the way to Heaven.” He was Pastor Gwon-neung Choi.
“Pastor, I’m a theology student,” I said in a shy voice.
“There are theology students who wear Burberry? Still, Jesus is the way to heaven.”
I felt that encountering such faithful people at a young age is a biggest blessing.

Becoming a Deaconess at the age of 23

I got married on the 27th of October in the year 1943. There were many marriage requests from different houses, but my mother was clear on her thoughts. “If I had two daughters, I would send one to a rich man’s house and one to an intellectual, but since I have only one daughter I will choose the latter.” She said.
I married a young man whose faith was still weak but had a well established life view. It was a tough time at the house of the parents-in-law, but I was joyful everyday due to the blessings of the Holy Spirit. Whenever I lit the fire in the kitchen, I would pray that the Lord would burn all my sins away. When washing the dishes I prayed for my sins to be washed away with the pure water of the Holy Spirit.
I became a Deaconess of the church at the age of 23, and realized what it is to live a faithful life in Christ Jesus. Whilst I was breastfeeding my first daughter Young-Joo Kim, I remembered the verses from 1John chapter 1 verses 9 to 10. “9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.” In order to fully understand what it means by ‘sin,’ I decided to go into fasting for 4 days. In the morning of the fourth day, a streak of sunlight shone through the window as I opened the curtains. In the midst of the lights I noticed the millions of dust that were floating around in the air. “Wow, this is it!” I exclaimed, realizing the true meaning of sin. Although we claim that we have not sinned, if we are shone through the light of Christ Jesus, our sins are revealed clearly, millions of them floating around without us even knowing it.
I knelt down and started repenting. It was a pivotal moment where I felt genuine joy from within.
The Temperance Council was a very important part of my life. In 1954, I was elected as the president of the ‘Korea Women’s Christian Temperance Council’ in the Daegu department. I realized with confidence that this Temperance movement is crucial for a cigarette and alcohol loving nation like ours. After purchasing the Daegu WCTU hall, we actively participated in the Anti-smoking Anti-alcohol campaigns and started the ‘movement to buy Korean products.’ Due to my husband’s business, we later had to move to Seoul. We bought a Han-ok (a Korean styled house), and later realized that it was the ‘Don-am-jang.’ It was the place where the former president Seung-man Rhee resided after liberation, and thus the place where many officials visited to discuss the future matters of our nation. It is a cultural masterpiece of Korean traditional architecture, and is continuing to be used as a valuable place, just like ‘Mark’s attic.’
Despite the great amount of land excessive profit tax will be charged, I have registered the ‘Don-am-jang’ as a cultural property.
When I was appointed the president of WCTU, the first project I dived into was that of providing scholarships for students in need. Of course, this was carried out under the influence of the Holy Bible.
“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you aswell. (Matthew 6:33) “Do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing…”
Another important project of the WCTU was to gather girls who have come from the countryside and teach them technical skills and assist them until they become employed.
We produced calendars with the label: “Smoking will cause lung cancer and alcohol will cause liver cancer,” and distributed it around the city, also carrying out campaigns against alcohol and cigarettes.
Our nation is in desperate need for a mental 3.1 movement. By this I mean the movement against cigarettes and alcohol. Previously, only street girls smoked and drank. However, the current societal trend has been distorted so that even young women smoke and drink.

I believe that the ‘mother’ is the cause of the corruption amongst youth. If the mother lives by the word and acts as a spiritual role model, the child cannot fall between the cracks. I believe that even the cigarette and alcohol advertisements on television should be banned. In preparation for the North and South reunion, we must expand the temperance movement into a nationwide movement.
A question I receive very often is about how I educated my children to become so faithful to the Lord. During my lifetime, I have realized the important factors of child education.
Firstly, prenatal education is very important. When the baby is in the womb, the mother must solely meditate on the word and be drenched by the Holy Spirit, so that the child can also receive the Spirit in the womb. Secondly, the mother must teach the children about the bible. Starting from a very young age, the mother should lay their child on their lap and teach them the stories of David and Goliath, Esther, Joseph, Moses, Jesus and etc. My children knew most of both the Old and New Testament even before they entered Sunday school.
Thirdly, educate them so that they are able to adapt to the Church community. The probability of the child growing up with a great character depends highly on whether the child was exposed to the positive words of the church leader or not.

The truth from a higher level

I learnt the correct ways of child education through the bible. The bible contains a truth that is a level higher than the world’s. I start my day’s routine with the word, and end it with the word.
“He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. (Micah 6:8)”

Our nation no longer needs a 3.1 movement for independence, but to find character. I hope and believe that this would advance towards the movement of temperance.
God had chosen and led my family into living a life dedicated to him. I thank God for His everlasting love and grace. I will pray so that the faith I have received from my mother will be flare out beyond my hands.