A CIS UBF director on ReformUBF -- RSQUBF Discussion Boards 2001 highlights

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Date Posted: 17:31:55 01/09/02 Wed
Author: Europa
Subject: A CIS UBF director on ReformUBF
In reply to: rsqarchive 's message, "January 2001" on 10:32:30 01/09/02 Wed

Author: Europa
Subject: A CIS UBF director on ReformUBF

From www.reformubf.org:

THE BODY OF CHRIST

"So that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it."
(1 Corinthians 12:25,26)

Praise God who started the Christian student organization UBF 40 years ago through Samuel Lee and Sarah Barry. Praise God who has sustained this ministry up till now through the sacrificial lives of thousands of people throughout the world. May God help us to be continually used by him to serve his world mission work this new millennium.

I am one of the UBF CIS directors who has been in this ministry for 15 years. I've been a missionary in the former Soviet Union for almost ten years. Missionary life has been a great blessing to grow in a personal love relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ. Especially my family and I have gone through the valley of death the past few years due to government
persecution. Even though the trials we experienced gave us no physical peace and rest, spiritually we could have peace with God and have new strength daily through prayer and his word. During this difficult time we became aware of the reform movement in UBF. At first we didn't pay much attention because of our own problems. Other missionaries around us also showed their indifference at first because of their problems. Through prayer and God's truth, however, it became evident that the Holy Spirit was moving powerfully and quickly in the hearts of many brothers and sisters in Christ to reform our ministry.

I myself am very well acquainted with the current problems in our ministry. It is not something I only began to learn about after looking at some web site. Especially I have witnessed how these problems have squeezed my people and kept them from giving their lives fully to the gospel. For example, there are at least five people whom I know in America personally who wanted to be missionaries, but
because of one person's unbiblical point of view, they were kept from doing so for almost ten years. Americans are not so self-centered and easy-going as they seem. They are more than willing to sacrifice their lives for the sake of the gospel. Also there has been a major problem with the Moscow director who was changed four times. Especially it has been (and still is) a great disappointment because of the excommunication of the last director in Moscow. He is a good man who loves Jesus and his flock very much. I could go on with many other examples like this.

I thank God for the courage of those who have made great sacrifice to come to Chicago in order to find a solution to the problems of our ministry. What a shame that they were completely ignored. Can this really be right in the sight of God? UBF is a Christian student group dedicated to the task of campus evangelism, but is it exempt from reformation? Christian church history tells us that reformation is necessary from time to time when the
general direction of the church goes against the gospel. Definitely this is the problem with our ministry where the gospel of grace is replace with a man-made idea of absolute obedience. I strongly urge Samuel Lee to seriously consider what he is doing.

This weekend there will be a disciples' conference and a directors' conference in Moscow. It is the time for gospel workers to restore their spirit and strength after many hardships the past year. Yet there is every sign that these conferences will be used to strengthen the political base of one person. If in the sight of God this is indeed so -- what a pity. I really pray that these conferences may be spiritual. I pray for Samuel Lee to deal with the reform issue in a spiritual manner pleasing to God. I am aware of recent letters by Peter Kim and David Lee that support the current mode of operation in UBF, and I understand that Samuel Lee was probably encouraged to ignore the reformation movement because of this and therefore the unusual atmosphere
of the upcoming conferences. However, I urge Samuel Lee to have the courage to responsibly deal with the reform issues in a proper way pleasing to God that doesn't tear the body of Christ apart.

Samuel Lee, if you inspire separation and not reform, you will leave a disappointing legacy behind. Please remember that we who are in Christ will all have to live an eternity together in the kingdom of God. There can be no separation now as there can be no separation in eternity for the body of Christ.

An American missionary

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New Name -- Disciple, 17:33:03 01/09/02 Wed