When Serving Became the Sermon

"Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth." 

— 1 John 3:18 (ESV)

When December rolled around, I expected the typical year-end rush and holiday celebrations—which, if you know the Philippines, people take very seriously! But beneath all the festive energy, God was quietly inviting me into a deeper lesson: learning how to truly love people where they are, without expecting an immediate payoff.

That journey began with simple, intentional connection. We started spending time with the "Zumba family"—a group of local mothers and friends connected to a backslidden family in our area. From zoo trips to birthday parties, we spent countless hours just sharing everyday life. Was it physically exhausting at times? Absolute facts. Yet through every shared laugh, I could sense God weaving genuine trust and answering quiet prayers behind the scenes.

As those relationships deepened, God opened a door we never saw coming. A local mother whose child often visited our church was facing a scary health crisis—suspected breast cancer—with no financial means to visit a hospital. Because she belonged to the INC (Iglesia ni Cristo) denomination, approaching her was delicate. But Jesus moved through compassion.

Using support funds from Korea, we helped cover her medical examinations over the course of three visits. The diagnosis brought an answer we had all been praying for: it wasn't cancer. Instead, it was a condition that could be treated with medication.

The fear that had weighed heavily on her heart was replaced with relief, and tears of anxiety gave way to tears of gratitude.

What began as a frightening health crisis became an unexpected opportunity to experience God's provision through the compassion of His people. Her heartfelt appreciation broke down barriers, opening the door for genuine conversations about faith, hope, and the love of Christ. It was a moment of pure joy—a tangible reminder that when we bring simple acts of kindness to Jesus, He can rewrite even the most daunting stories with hope and healing.

Seeing her smile again made me realize that God's grace is always working, even when we least expect it.

Yet, right in the middle of these visible blessings, the end of the month brought an unexpected internal battle. Reviewing my prayer journal, I began spiraling into self-doubt, overthinking my flaws and feeling like my inner passion wasn't matching my outward performance. Intellectually, I knew that "the greatest miracle in this place is my own personal transformation" yet my heart felt heavy and burdened by my own shortcomings.

It was in that quiet weight that I was gently reminded of a truth I had temporarily lost sight of:

Jesus does not call us to be high-performing perfectionists; He calls us to abide in His presence. True ministry—and a truly fulfilled life—is not about striving for visible results or getting trapped in our own narrow perspectives. It begins when we allow Christ's love to transform us from the inside out. When we surrender our need for control and make Scripture and prayer our daily anchor, Jesus takes our small, imperfect efforts and turns them into something eternal.

Name: Chaehun Lee - 65th Batch

Hometown: South Korea

Mission Field: Bukidnon, Philippines