The Last "Amen"

Over the years, ministry in Michigan has given me countless moments to reflect on God’s leading in my life. Yet some of the most powerful lessons have come, not through the pulpit, but through deeply personal experiences that tested my faith and shaped my walk with Him.

This is one of those stories—told not from the vantage point of a pastor, but as a fellow believer learning to trust God’s heart, even when His answers look different than I expected.

I grew up with a mother who was a second-generation Adventist believer and a father who denied believing in Jesus more than anyone else. I always had two different ways of thinking battling in my mind. My mom taught me to love God through the Adventist faith, while my dad always emphasized worldly teaching. It was confusing trying to figure out which way to go. Thankfully, the God within me always won that temptation.

From a young age, I had always admired my father. He was dedicated to family and always respected by others. Whenever there was a survey in school asking for the person I respected most, I always wrote my father's name.

But at some point, I found my love for God growing stronger. I began to prefer listening to God's Word more than my father's advice. When I graduated from high school and went to college, my father wanted me to choose a better path in the world, but God guided me to study theology. And when it came to choosing my profession, my father wanted me to choose an easier path, but God led me to the path of ministry—a difficult and challenging one that requires complete humility. I chose to be a missionary in Japan during my ministry, then decided to come to America to study theology. God always answered my prayers and guided my steps.

Every moment when I chose to live for God, I prayed for my father’s acceptance of faith in Jesus. I always prayed that if God would give me the opportunity, I could share the gospel with my beloved father. So, whenever I talked to my father on the phone, I always said, "Dad, do you know how much I truly respect you and love you? And I really wish you would believe in God." My father never answered and just hung up, saying, "Take care of yourself, son." Each time, I thought, "God will surely answer my prayers." I always imagined the moment I would baptize him myself. My wife and I prayed for my father, waiting for that moment to arrive.

Then, in January 2022, I received a call from my father in the middle of the night. I groggily answered the phone. But no sound came through. "Hello? Dad, did you call me?" Still no sound. After about a minute, I suddenly heard my father's voice. "Are you asleep?" "Yes." "Okay, sleep well. Son, I love you and I miss you." Then he hung up the phone. My dad was a very direct person; he wouldn't be the first to say "I miss you."

Feeling something was off, I immediately called my mother. "Hello?" Through the phone, I heard my mother's voice, trying to hold back tears. "Mom, what's wrong?" "Nothing, go to sleep quickly." My mother couldn't finish her sentence and was crying. "Mom, why are you crying?" After some minutes passed, she answered. "Well... your dad is a bit sick." My mother was crying again. "Mom, don't cry, calm down and tell me." "He... he has about three months left." I couldn't say anything, just listened to my mother's sobs for a minute. My hands were trembling so much I couldn't hold the phone. My mother hung up, saying we'd talk again tomorrow.

I had never experienced such a dark and desolate night. I couldn't do anything. As soon as morning broke, I called my mother again. My mother told me the cancer had already spread throughout my father's body, and there was nothing they could do. As soon as I hung up, I ran to God. "God, I clearly know what I should be doing at this moment. I know I should pray more for my father's healing. I know I should comfort and teach my struggling family Your Word. I know I should convey God's promises to my father. Lord, I know everything. But I can't do anything. I know it all in my head, but God, why can I not understand?"

As soon as I finished praying, I called my lawyer. I asked if it was possible for me to go to Korea. The lawyer's answer was "No." They said a crucial document was still under review, and I had to wait. As soon as I hung up, I went to the immigration office in Detroit. I explained that I had a truly urgent matter and needed to go to Korea, asking if there was any way. The answer I received was "No." I called my father again. I explained my situation. He said he understood, and we still had time left. But his words only caused me more pain.

There was only one way. There was no other way but to cling to God, who possesses all power and for whom nothing is impossible. I searched for every possible promise in the Bible. Philippians 4:13 (ESV):“I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” Mark 9:23 (ESV): “All things are possible for one who believes." Matthew 7:7 (ESV): “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you." These were the scriptures I always used to encourage struggling believers.

I tried to encourage myself. "I believe God will answer my prayers, so I'm not worried." Every day, I called my father and said, "Dad, I believe in my God." But time passed without any answer. My father's body grew weaker and weaker. Each time I hung up the phone, I repeatedly questioned God. "God, are You listening to my prayers?" But I grew increasingly anxious. COVID-19 was spreading, and immigration offices closed. Visa issuances were suspended. My situation showed no signs of improving, just like my father's illness. But I still had to preach about hope and faith every Sabbath.

Then May 2022. My father, who was given only three months to live, had survived for five months. Eventually, he was admitted to the hospital's intensive care unit. One morning, he called me. "Son, I miss you. But even if I can't leave the hospital, don't forget that I love you." All I could say to my father was, "Father, I'm sorry. I'm truly sorry." I had read the promises of God countless times; I had preached them every week—none of this made sense. I knew everything in my head, but my heart simply couldn't accept it. I began to ask the Lord if I had done something wrong. Was my faith lacking? Was there a sin I hadn’t repented of?

A week later, my father called me at night. "Son, I don't want you to regret your choices because of me. I miss you so much, and I miss my beloved grandchildren so much, but it's okay. I understand." I couldn't say anything. At that moment, the Holy Spirit spoke to me: "Now is the time. This is the very moment your prayer can be answered." I didn't understand what it meant. The Holy Spirit kept speaking to my heart: "Now is the time. Don't hesitate."

I said, "Dad, you can’t imagine how much I miss you. I love you. But as you know, I cannot come to you. However, Father, our God can bring us together again. You must believe in Jesus. That's the only choice we can make right now. That's the only way I can meet you again."

My father, who had answered ‘No’ hundreds of times over decades, said, "Son, can I believe in your God now, too? Can someone like me be saved?"

I told him the story of the thief on the cross. I told him that the Lord was waiting to save him right now. And then I asked my father, "Father, do you believe in Jesus who is waiting to save you today?" My father answered, "Amen." I will never forget his "Amen." I immediately called my pastor friend who lived nearby. That pastor rushed to my father and right there, he baptized him. Our entire family watched my father's baptism via Zoom, shedding tears and singing hymns. After the baptism, my father came out of the water, smiling, and said, "Son, see you in heaven!"

I started to cry. But my crying was not the hopeless crying of the past. It was tears of joy, the tears of someone who had found hope. "Yes, Father, see you in heaven." And three days later, my father passed away in the Lord.

I believe 1 Thessalonians 4:16–18.

I now understand the true meaning of the words, "Wherefore comfort one another with these words." I now understand that the second coming is our hope, and this hope is our true comfort.

There may be times when we know God's command but do not understand it. There may be moments when we have knowledge from studying the Bible daily, preparing sermons every week, and reading countless books about the Bible, yet we still don't understand God. Even in those moments, trust Him. Our Lord answers our prayers in ways we do not expect. Although He did not answer my prayer to heal my father's illness, and He did not answer my prayer to grant me a visa to go back to Korea, He did answer my prayer for my father to believe in the Lord and receive salvation.

I now realize that everything He did was for me.