May 10, 2026

A Mother’s Faith That Brings Life
John 11:25–26 | Mother’s Day

Happy Mother’s Day!
Today, I would like to share with you one of the most well-known stories of a mother and her son in church history—the story of Monica and her son Augustine.
In his younger years, Augustine lived a reckless and wayward life.
He pursued pleasure, rejected God, and turned away from the truth.
Monica’s heart must have been breaking day after day. Yet she never gave up.
Even when people said, “Your son is beyond hope,” she continued to pray for him with tears—for seventeen years.
One day, discouraged and weary, Monica went to a priest and pleaded with him in tears.
The priest said to her, “A son of such tears will never perish.”
In the end, Augustine experienced a true conversion.
He later became one of the greatest theologians in Christian history and a great leader of the Church.
He confessed: “My conversion was the fruit of my mother’s tears.”
Dear brothers and sisters, a mother’s faith may take time, but it is never in vain.
Today, through John 11:25–26, we will reflect on how a mother’s faith brings life to her family.

1. The Center of Faith — “I Am the Resurrection and the Life”
Jesus said:
“I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:25–26)
What is important here is this: resurrection is not merely an event or a phenomenon— it is Jesus Himself.
Many people think: “If my situation improves, I can live.”
“If my problems are solved, I can be restored.”
But Jesus declares: “Where I am, there is life.”
Dear brothers and sisters, the power that sustains a family is not its circumstances.
•    Not financial stability 
•    Not the success of children 
•    Not a problem-free life 
The power that brings life to a family is faith in Jesus Christ.
And a mother’s faith is the faith that lives out this truth within the home.
When Lazarus had died, Jesus asked Martha in the midst of despair:
“Do you believe this?”
This is not a question about feelings or circumstances— it is a call to decision.
This is exactly what a mother’s faith looks like:
•    Believing even when nothing seems visible 
•    Believing even when children do not change 
•    Believing even when the family is shaking 
Many mothers say: “Pastor, my child is struggling so much.”
“Our family is going through a very difficult time.”
At that moment, what is needed is not a better method, but a declaration of faith:
“Lord, You are life. Our family is not finished yet. I trust in You.”

2. A Mother’s Faith That Never Gives Up, Even in Death-like Situations
Throughout the Bible, at the center of faith that restores families, there is often a mother.
A mother’s faith has three characteristics:
First, a mother never gives up.
Even when everyone else gives up, a mother does not.
Why? Because she loves. And because she believes.
Love enables her to take one more step, even when there seems to be no hope.
Monica was able to pray for 17 years because she had both an unyielding love for her son and an unwavering faith in God.
Second, a mother prays with tears.
A mother’s prayer is different.
•    It is not calculated 
•    It has no conditions 
•    It does not end 
Prayer offered with tears moves the heart of God.
Psalm 56:8 says: “You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle.”
God remembers a mother’s tears. Not a single tear falls to the ground in vain.
Third, a mother entrusts her children to God.
True faith is not about holding on tightly, but about entrusting.
A mother’s faith ultimately confesses: “Lord, this child is not mine, but Yours.”
When this confession is made, God begins to work. When Hannah entrusted Samuel to God, he became a prophet who helped restore Israel.
Entrusting is not giving up— it is placing someone into greater hands.
A mother with resurrection faith is different:
•    She speaks hope in the midst of despair 
•    She declares life in death-like situations 
•    She waits instead of giving up 
Why? Because Jesus is life. A family is restored not when circumstances change, but when faith comes alive.

3. Build Your Family Through a Mother’s Faith
My own calling into pastoral ministry began with my mother’s vow in prayer. After giving birth to four daughters, my mother was led to church through a neighbor’s evangelism.
While listening to a sermon, she heard that God answers vow prayers. So she prayed in her heart: “Lord, if You give me a son, I will dedicate him as Your servant.”
God answered that prayer, and after she began attending church, she was blessed with two sons. My older brother took responsibility for the family, and I became a pastor. It has now been eight years since my mother went home to be with the Lord.
Her final words to me were this: “Be a faithful pastor. Do not hurt your congregation. Be a good shepherd until the day you retire.”
My mother spent the last ten years of her life battling illness. At one point, I decided to retire early
and return to Korea to care for her. But she firmly said: “The place you belong is with your congregation.” The reason I am here with you today is the fruit of my mother’s prayers.

Dear brothers and sisters, the application for us today is clear:
First, hold on to Jesus as life. Do not look at your problems—look at Jesus.
Second, do not give up. God is not finished yet.
Third, do not stop praying. A mother’s prayers never disappear with time.
Fourth, declare in faith: “Our family will live. God is at work.”
This declaration of faith changes reality.

A mother’s faith is never in vain. Tears of prayer are never lost.
Even today, Jesus says: “I am the resurrection and the life.”
And He asks: “Do you believe this?”
On this Mother’s Day, we make a renewed commitment: To hold on to Jesus, who is life, and with unwavering faith, to become mothers who bring life to their families. And may all of us become channels of life who build our families through this faith.
I bless you in the name of the Lord.

Pastor's Column
Today is Mother's Day, a time to remember and give thanks for the love and grace of mothers everywhere.
Throughout the ages, people have said, "God sent us mothers to show us His love." And rightly so — a mother's love is perhaps the deepest and warmest channel through which God's love is made known in this world.
I, too, said goodbye to my beloved mother eight years ago as she entered the gates of heaven. Yet even now, the sound of her early morning prayers and hymns seems to echo clearly in my heart. I am reminded once again that it was her faith and her tearful prayers that made me who I am today. With that in mind, I have prepared today's worship with hymns that are centered on the theme of motherhood. As we sing together, I hope each of you will take a moment to remember and give thanks for the love and devotion of the mother in your own heart.
My prayer for today is that every mother would spend this day surrounded by joy and love. And may every home that remembers a mother overflow with warm gratitude and blessing.
The loving hands of our congregation have also been at work throughout this past week in service to our church. Many came together with one heart — some brought various sprinklers to help water the church lawn, others provided new hoses, and still others purchased a new lawn mower and assembled it themselves so that the grounds could be cared for more efficiently. Thanks to all of that faithful effort, the grass seed that was sown is now beginning to sprout, little by little, in tender shades of green. As I look at those fragile new shoots, I am reminded once again that wherever love and dedication are gathered together, beautiful fruit will surely follow.
My hope is that the Mother's Day celebration during our fellowship time today will be more than just an event — may it be a moment of grace in which we, as one heavenly family in God, rejoice and share His love together. May it be a time of beautiful fellowship, filled with laughter, gratitude, and blessings for one another.
To all of our mothers, I offer my deepest thanks, and I pray that God's abundant grace and peace would be with you always.