West Coast JBF/HBF Summer Bible Conference 2012
“Father, forgive them”
(Luke 23:34a)
From July 20-22 the 2012 West Coast JBF/HBF Summer Bible conference was held at the Forest Home
Conference Center which was a wonderful natural environment. This conference included a total of 55
attendants – 3 from nearby Cerritos UBF, 2 from UC Davis, 1 from Granada Hills, 1 from Mexico, 1 from
Korea, and the rest from Downey UBF.
The title of the conference was “Father, Forgive them” based on Luke 23. The goal of this conference was
to touch the fundamentals of the Gospel, especially Jesus’ forgiving love on the cross and his resurrection
for the lost souls based on the Luke’s Gospel. The conference was historic in that 4 of the 6 messengers
were among the second generation brothers and sisters. It means that the second gen took the leadership
in key areas, especially messages. Overall the conference was more participatory than the past year’s one.
God showed his mercy and grace through the conference as below.
Shortly after arriving at the conference site the first day we began with an ice-breaker session. There
were 4 groups that prepared presentations together prior to the conference. We added to these groups
those who weren’t able to participate in the presentations preparation in order to develop “Unity Teams”.
These groups were asked to do many activities throughout the conference together in order to learn to
know each other and work with each other and to promote the important Biblical principle of unity.
After the ice-breaker we listened to the opening message by Peter Lopez (who will enter college in the
fall) entitled, “He was lost and is found” based on the prodigal son parable found in Luke 15. The point of
his message is that our Heavenly Father loves us so much that he is waiting for the lost to come home.
Peter testified that he is a prodigal son who has gone astray many times but is thankful for God’s love to
welcome him back.
After dinner we listened to four life testimonies – Grace Choi, Hope Lim, Kiyoung Kim, and Joseph Cho.
Grace Choi wanted to have popular friends and looking pretty at junior high school. She didn’t care or
even think about her relationship with God. She was a lost child. However, through the JBF conference in
2010, she was born again. Her spiritual eyes were opened toward God and her relationship with him
became increasingly closer. She prays that God may use her to help others as a woman of faith. Hope Lim
could never stop sinning and he would sin and repent again and again till high school. However, with the
help of his dad (Msn.Paul Lim) and his bible teacher (Sh. Paul Lim), he was able to look at Jesus more
instead of condemning himself. Through the conferences, he was saved. He is free from sin and fear and
feels at peace, joy, true happiness in Jesus Christ. Kiyoung Kim and Joseph Cho shared testimonies that
also revealed their relationship with God and understanding of God’s work and presence in their lives.
After some group competitions in the unity groups we had a praise night event including prayer, and then
ended the night with group Bible studies.
On Saturday morning (7am) we listened to a message from Ellie Hopeman (who will enter college in the
fall) entitled, “The Son of Man came to seek and the save what was lost” from Luke 19. The point of this
message was the great glory that is due to our Heavenly Father and his Son Jesus who out of love took
initiative to seek and save lost sinners such as Zacchaeus, her Ellie, and each of us.
After breakfast we listened to a message served by myself, Jason Koch, on Jesus’ cross and prayer “Father,
forgive them”. This message planted in the listeners the absolute need we sinners have to be forgiven as
well as the real provision for sin forgiveness that Jesus provided. He learned the importance of praying
as Jesus did, that lost sinners who don’t know what they are doing would be forgiven.
After the message the unity groups presented memory presentations where they recited with
dramatization the entire Luke 23:26-56 passage. Most were very creative and interesting to watch and
listen to. A time of testimony writing and then testimony sharing in groups followed. After lunch we met
out in a large grassy field for athletic-based group competitions such as water balloon games and relay
races. Then all were let free to have fun with many recreational activities such as zip lines and swimming
in a large man-made beach that included canoeing.
After a delicious dinner, we had the evening program. It was started off with praise and then a message
from missionary David Cho, father of 3 of the conference attendance. His message was entitled, “He has
risen”, Luke 24. The points of his message was that it is a fact that Jesus has risen and that because of
Jesus conquered the powers of sin and death the Christian life is the smartest of all lives to live, although
the world tempts us to think otherwise. Following the message we listened to 3 more testimonies, one
from Justin Escobedo, a non-second gen friend of the HBF and recently married couple John and Hannah
Jeong from UC Davis. Justin came to meet the Lord in a very personal way just a few months ago as the
Lord helped him out of his depression, stress, and despair of life (especially frustrations in school). It was
clear that he knows Jesus and very heart moving. John and Hannah Jeong shared separate testimonies,
testifying of how they came to the faith. Having each grown up as second gens themselves their stories
was very relatable to most of the audience.
Following this we enjoyed and were moved in watching the pre-prepared group presentations which
included dramatization of the power of the gospel, Africa dancing, and video presentations of the prodigal
son parable and Father forgive them message. Through these presentations, participants by each group
could build up “Unity team” and was able to learn the Gospel more deeply and personally.
Another praise night and then personal prayer time followed. We then ended the night with a campfire
where we sang some fun child-like songs and watched the groups present a dance while singing CBF song
“I keep falling in love with him”. It was amusing, graceful, and cute.
The final morning at 7am we listened to a message from James Park (who will enter college in the fall).
The title was “Love one another” from John 13. His point was how important it was to Jesus that fellow
disciples of Jesus love one another. He said it should be the trademark of disciples of Jesus. Through the
message he made a decision to promote an environment of love among fellow peers and disciples his age
who are entering college. He made a practical decision to start loving others in the church by helping to
clean the Bible center and setting up chairs before the CBF Worship service each Sunday.
After breakfast we had another group Bible study and then listened to the final message from Debbie
Tonne, entitled “You will catch men” from Luke 5. The point of her message is how blessed Peter was to
be called out of the old life of catching fish to the new life of catching men. Those who are called like this
are blessed and privileged. Additionally, since Jesus says “You will catch men” it is a call into a life of
guaranteed success unlike Peter’s old life as a fisherman which had no guarantee. As a second gen and
one who will be entering her sophomore year of college and participates in the fishing and Bible teaching
ministry her testimony was very suitable and a good example to all.
After finishing her message, we watched Nigeria UBF presentation that was made by Nigeria UBF. It’s
because we want to remain being prayerful for Ellie and Sarah Jr.’s short term mission to Nigeria.
Overall we give God great thanks for the work he did through the conference.
Reported by Jason Koch/John Choi