All You Need Is Love After months of intense training and fundraising, the day to depart to our respective

countries has finally arrived. As mission trainees hug and say goodbye to their loved ones before walking through the terminal gates of LAX, each team is representing its own matching team attire, except us. Though we did, too, make special China team shirts, the fear of drawing attention to our group and our mission once in China discouraged us to dress collectively the same, and wear individual casual street clothes instead as a precautionary measure. This fear of raising suspicion or getting caught stems from the fact that China is a closed nation. This means there is no freedom of religion, particularly Christianity. And because, of course, our team of twenty had been going for a missions trip, we were forced to disguise our Christian identity and intentions from the Chinese government, as well as from virtually the overall Chinese public. Our plane lands in Beijing and immediately we disperse throughout the airport into our pre-assigned EV groups of three, pretending not to know each other as we have trained, while still keeping an eye out for one another remaining in a large group would draw further unwanted attention. With Chinese officials wearing red armbands permeating the airport, my heart races and my forehead perspires until every group finally makes it past customs and we are able to breathe again. This was only the beginning of a month-long mission orchestrated by secret agent-like conduct of synchronizing our watches, talking in code to screen Christian related words such as replacing pray with rap, rapping with our eyes open so it doesnt look like we are rapping, continuing to scatter in public as we first did upon arrival, and singing praises during devotionals very softly, merely mouthing the words in fear of being caught by the officials standing just outside the building. That last part affected me most. As one of two praise leaders of the team, I found myself extremely frustrated with the fact that this oppressive power structure was inhibiting our praise for the glory of a most worthy God. Granted it was a precautionary measure for the safety of our team as well as the missionaries there, every time I was shushed for singing a little bit louder or strumming a little bit harder, I tasted a sliver of persecution. Shutting all windows, closing all curtains, and locking all doors were not enough, no. Each time, I was reminded that we were in fact not in a free country. No longer could I acquiesce to any individual/institution/government imposing restrictions on my worship to my Lord and Savior. However, the injustice did not just end with worship. This closed nation also meant that we did not have the freedom to openly share our faith, that our salvation comes from the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, Gods son, in whom our sins are atoned through the love and mercy of our God, the Father. We could not share with the children to whom we taught English the cross that bridges unrighteous and imperfect sinners to an entirely righteous and perfect God, forming an unfathomable love relationship while breaking religion and law by defeating sin and death. As the essence of our mission, we needed to somehow deliver this gospel message, this truth without simply preaching it. And God showed us in Scripture that the way to do so was this: A new command I give to you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another (John 13:34-35, NIV). Love. By this all men will know Jesus is alive. Through love we can convey the

gospel without using a single word. We arent drawn to Christ by certain church words like predestination or John Piper. Rather, we are compelled to accept Jesus as Lord and Savior because of the incomprehensible love and grace He demonstrates through death on the cross while we were still sinners (Romans 5:8). We love Him because of the unconditional love He demonstrates through His wounds by which we are healed (1 Peter 2:24). We love because He first loved us (1 John 4:19). In the same way, non-believers and believers alike are affected by the power of the love that you demonstrate toward them, and cant help but reciprocate that love. Gods love, once seen and experienced, is something that transforms us, giving us a new lens to see His magnified glory to which we respond with worship. On the last day of English Camp a program where we spent a week teaching locals in HunChun basic English we decided to hold a performance for the staff and students to show our appreciation for providing us the chance to teach them. As the two praise leaders of the team, Phil and I opened the night with a musical performance; to them it was but a mere concert, but for us, it was an opportunity to worship. Of course, we had to sing songs with minimal Christian-related words, and when there were such words, modify them for example, Lord to love. And I swear to you, I have never worshipped or experienced God like I did that night in my entire life. After weeks of painstakingly having to whisper praises, here I was with an amplified guitar and microphone in front of me. And it hits me; it is only by the grace of God that I am able to even worship Him. It is a gift I can cry out and sing to my first love and a miracle that He would even care to hear, let alone be glorified by praises from a sinner like me. One song I made sure we sang was David Crowders Make a Joyful Noise/I Will Not Be Silent as an encouragement to my team as well as to the missionaries who have been in China for years already. With our voices raised and our hearts crying out for the salvation of these brothers and sisters, we made a beautiful, joyful noise, and our God heard us for He is also the God of this city. Through love we will tell of a beautiful and merciful Father who purchased us with the blood of His only begotten son so that He may call us His own. For this reason alone, no matter the oppression and persecution of any government or nation, we will make a joyful noise to the Lord and we will not be silent anymore for we are citizens of the kingdom of God. And He shall reign forever. Love Witness, Kevin Kim