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Cornerstone Communications
Korea
April 10, 2005

Dear Friends and Family,

Greetings from Seoul, Korea! As you know, I've been here a week, and we have already had auditions, and we've begun rehearsals, and in fact, we open in 3 weeks! The time flies quickly out here! My heart is in Seoul. The weather is just fantastic, it's not cold and it's not hot, it's just perfect walking weather. The cherry blossoms are everywhere, and it's a beautiful time to be in Korea, about the Father's business.

Production Update

This week, we began blocking (staging) the different scenes for the upcoming production here in Seoul. And the Korean actors are determined to do the show in English, even though they're simply English students! It's not enough that I have one month to stage them, teach them music and dances, and get them to portray the characters correctly, but now to also have to teach them pronunciation? Praise the Lord for Christine Jang and her staff, who work with the actors in pronunciation, in diction and in music.

I've been here 10 days, and we're already hard at work. Here I'm with Kim Hyun, who's learning the part of John the Baptist.

Food for Thought

Korean food is a little different than most food around the world. Koreans love seafood. I'm from Texas and love beef and chicken… period. What a challenge! Here is a typical meal (in fact, it was on Friday that I had this for lunch) : bean sprout soup, kimchi (cabbage fermented in vinegar and red peppers) , baked fish cut in half with the head and tail intact, turnip chunks in red pepper sauce, and green tea. I've gotten to be pretty good with chopsticks, though! So what's the "food for thought"? I'm thinking about Mexican food when I return to Dallas in 3 weeks!

15,000 Souls

Ever so often, I, like everyone else, like to look back at where I've been. What I've done. What I'm doing. Where I'm going. I've finally been able to slow down long enough this week and to assess the ministry God has given to me, and what we've (you and I together) have been able to accomplish.

I was so surprised to see that in 2004, last year, after "tallying" up the year, there were over 15,000 salvations, as a direct result of the 15 theatrical productions we had presented in 12 countries! How God had blessed us, to see so many souls come into the Kingdom!

Already beginning promotions, Mrs. Cho (Dr. Yonggi Cho's wife), Dr. Moon and I record an interview for Far East Broadcasting Co. who broadcasts all across Asia.

Eye On the World

Yet, a person recently wrote me and said, "You send too many letters. Take me off of your mailing list." I did in humility, and really thought about what they had written. I asked myself if I was sending too many letters, and I put that question before the Lord. The answer came, and it wasn't what I was expecting. He said, "Son, your letters serve as an ever present reminder to my sons and daughters around the world that they keep their eyes on the world. Many of My children are busy with their lives, working and raising families, and sometimes forget My Son's commission to every believer. Your letters remind them of a lost world, and how they need to pray and give to make a difference for My kingdom."

You're Special To Me

Wow! That blessed me so much! That's my very heart. I want you to know, dear friend, how special you are to me. Why? Because everyone gives who gets this letter? No. Did you know that this letter goes out to over 2,000 people, and yet only 50 faithful saints of those give to my ministry? So, why is everyone so special? Mainly, because of your prayers for me. It's your prayers that effect a change in each country. I'm able to walk into churches around the world, with such favor, even though they've never met me. I believe that the Lord hears your prayers, and answers them on my behalf.

Your prayers make the shows I do possible. So, in fact, we can accomplish great things together. I hope you don't see this as any kind of a letter of appeal. I NEVER want to coerce someone to give, or to even hint. That's God's job. I see Him as my provider, and He's so faithful.

A truly spectacular view seen only in Korea! Red crosses are seen all over the city as each church displays a red cross that blazes in the night. Here are 12 crosses, although some are far away.

Giving to God

When you give to the Lord through my ministry, Cornerstone, your funds are automatically tallied and "earmarked" for certain projects. Your giving provides the costumes, the platforms, the lighting, the scenery, and on and on that makes the productions possible. By giving to my ministry, you're touching souls around the world.

When Jesus was given 2 small fish and 5 barley loaves, He turned it into food for thousands and thousands. However, Jesus couldn't have fed the thousands, had not the one boy given his lunch. He had to make the decision to "do without" so that others could eat. He didn't do without! God blessed him, by using his small gift to bless thousands!

3,000 Souls Credited to YOUR Account!

I do the same. Your gift of any size is used to touch thousands of people in nations where you might never set foot. Your gift goes to places you could never go. It prints tracts, that goes into homes that people read, and give their hearts to Jesus. I want to be a good steward over the funds that the Lord has blessed me with. Without the boys lunch gift, Jesus couldn't have fed the thousands.

Outside of Yoido Park, where Dr. Yonggi Cho's church is located.

You could say that I'm being a good steward, because of the 15,000 souls last year. Rather, I give God the glory, and I CREDIT the giver, because without your gift, I couldn't bless the thousands. So, if I divide 15,000 souls by the 50 who've given faithfully, then they have each been credited with 3000 souls each in their heavenly account for 2004!!!

Your gift makes a HUGE difference! Remember, you're not giving to me. You're giving to the Lord. I see your gift as a gift from God, and it enables me to do work that I could never accomplish without your partnership.

So, thank you for being such a blessing, whether it's in prayer, or whether it's in giving financially. Both gifts are appreciated. However, pray about being a partner, that Cornerstone can be even more effective than ever!

Kamza Hamida!

That's Korean for "Thank you!" Thank you for being such a blessing to me and to my ministry. I never cease to be amazed at the people God is using to bring me before new people groups. I want to be faithful to tell each new country about a wonderful friend and savior, Jesus. God bless you, and drop me a line sometime, okay? Take care!

For the Kingdom,
Richard Montez