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Cornerstone Communications
Korea
December 12, 2006

Dear Friends & Family,

Greetings from Seoul, Korea! We are enjoying the last remaining leaves on the trees, as we say goodbye to fall and hello to winter (for me the second time this year, the first in Ukraine last month!) . And like any other country, Koreans are busy about their lives, trying to get everything accomplished for their hustle-bustle holidays. This is when my ministry can really make an impact: with a beautifully visual, lush and colorful musical presentation on the real reason for the season, the entrance of God into our world through His Son, Jesus.

Production Update

Now that the politics are behind us, we have been able to move on and work on "A Night of Miracles", my brand new Christmas musical. It's filled with beautiful music, and a heart-warming story. The actors are working hard on their lines and on their music, and I'm working harder trying to keep up with all of them! One of my costumers, Amy Harriss, arrives today from the United States bringing with her some stunning and colorful costumes. Posters are everywhere, and tickets are in distribution, as we are working hard to fill a 20,000 seat auditorium for 3 nights!

I have been designing sets, choreographing dances, laying the musical tracks, and having meeting upon meeting. Yet, the purpose of my work is not focused on doing a show. We're actually gearing up for our outreach, which is what happens when that curtain goes up and the music begins. It just "looks" like a show! It's actually a very profound message on the love of Jesus Christ for each audience member watching our "show". Please pray that we'll be ready for next Thursday's World Premiere! More so, please pray for the thousands and thousands who will be in attendance, that countless lives will be touched this Christmas for the sake of Christ.

The cast has learned all of their staging and choreography. Now, it's a matter of drilling, and getting them "performance ready". Spiritually, we're praying that the message of Jesus rings loud and clear throughout our presentation.

A SPECIAL Video Update!

If you've always wanted to see what I do (other than through pictures) , here's your chance! Yoido, the world's largest church of 830,000 members is the host for our musical this Christmas. We will present "A Night of Miracles" in the sanctuary. This past Sunday, they presented a video promotion on the upcoming musical. It has clips from my different shows with them, including "Two from Galilee" and "Joseph", plus some backstage footage.

To watch it, please go to www.fgtv.com and on the first screen, click on FGTV, then on the second screen, click on FGTV again. A video of announcements should begin. If you'd like, use the slider to move the news report to "9:20" which is where our piece is being reported. But hurry! It expires this Saturday, December 16. I must admit, they picked the "schlep-iest" part of my interview to air. Oh well! Enjoy!

Being interviewed for FGTV, Pastor Yonggi Cho's television station, I'm promoting the musical. To see the video, go to www.fgtv.com, then click on FGTV, click on FGTV again and watch the piece. It's 9:20 into the news report.

You Are Loved!

Did you know just how LOVED you are? You are. I was actually going to write on a different topic, but today, I received an e-mail from a young man in Florida who I just felt needed to know how much God loves him. I think it's something we all need to know. I want everyone to know how much God loves me! Why does God love me that much? Because the truth is that God loves us all the same! Better still, He loves us just as much as He loves Jesus! How do I know that? John 17:23 says (as Jesus is praying to the Father) "… and You love them as You love Me…"

Meeting with the head of staging, lighting, set construction and curtains in the Yoido sanctuary, I explain the design, and the setup for our Opening Night next week.

Scripture after scripture confirms that! John 3:16 "For God so loved the world…", Eph. 2:4 "…His great love with which He loves us…", Rom. 5:8 "God commands His love for us…", I John 3:1 "Behold what manner of love the Father…" and many more. Yet, in the midst of so much evidence of God's love, many feel so unloved.

You might also ask, "How could God love me? I've done some pretty terrible things." Or " You don't know all the things that go on in my mind." Well, my friend, I have good news for you! Those are just lies of the enemy! God loves you, and that's the fact! The enemy is trying to make you feel that you're undeserving of that love! Romans 8:1 says, "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit". One benefit is the condemnation will stop.

Another benefit is you grow from receiving His love. Your spiritual man will grow stronger when you realize how special you are to God. I John 4:18 says "Perfect love casts out all fear…" You can realize that God isn't out to destroy you, rather He wants to bless and to help you mature so that you become more and more in His likeness.

At the recording studio at Il San, we have spent time into the wee hours of the morning preparing the musical master tracks. We want the music to be beyond excellent. It's for the Lord!

Another benefit is the actual relationship with Him! Don't allow your religious mindset to determine your relationship. You don't have to use words like "thou" and "thy". "Thou shalt not use words like ‘Thou' and ‘Shalt not'"! God is your dad. Nothing you tell Him will surprise Him. He knows how bad men can be, and He loves them anyway. So be honest with Him about everything, and talk it over with Him the same way you'd talk it over with a loved one.

The last benefit is that you can share that love with others. Make a decision to walk and act in love… all the time. If you're unsure of what that love is, then study I Cor. 13: "Love endures long and is patient and kind, Love never envies, it's never boastful or jealous. It's not rude, or conceited. It's not touchy or resentful…" it goes on and on about what love is! How is all this a benefit? First of all, you're acting like Jesus! Secondly, when you're in unity with your brothers, your impact in the Kingdom multiplies.

Korea is truly a beautiful and charming country. Here, an old village gate takes you back a century to give a glimpse of Korean life yesteryear.

So, don't wait for feelings to tell you how much you are loved! Start believing and receiving God's love for you, especially if you don't feel that you're worth it or deserving of it. You'll find life a lot more enjoyable, and your burdens a lot lighter! God loves you! So do I!

Chukbok Hamnida!

That is Korean for "God Bless You!" I praise the Lord for the opportunities He's afforded me, and to give me a chance to work with so many wonderful people… His children across the oceans. I also praise the Lord for getting a chance to know you, and to be a part of your lives. Please drop me a line, and let me know how you're doing. I care. God bless you, and Merry Christmas!

For the Kingdom,
Richard Montez