“I never thought that it would turn out like this,” she says on the other end of the phone line. Dr. Soon Ja Choi is talking about Messengers of Mercy, also known as M.O.M.

As Founder and Executive Director of M.O.M., Dr. Choi’s story comes from her deep desire to experience God’s love personally and then in turn to show that love to others. It was during her first medical missions trip in the jungles of West Kalimantan, Indonesia in 1989 that Dr. Soon Ja Choi experienced God’s love for her. She would never be the same. In Indonesia she realized how much she had in comparison to the people she was serving for just a short period of time. There must be something more that could be done. God instilled in her the fervor to help others and to give others what she abundantly had in the States. She thought of what she could give to these people and to others. She decided to use her own resources as a medial doctor to show others God’s love. Being a pediatrician, Dr. Choi saw firsthand usable medical supplies that were being tossed out. It was during this time that the words of John 6:12 came to life for her: “When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, ‘Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.’” This was it. This was the answer to her three-year-long prayer and yearning for more of God. She was to not let anything be wasted. She heard God calling her to help those who did not have as much as she had. Her story is one of simple obedience to what God had placed on her heart, which soon took her by surprise.

After flying back home to the States, Dr. Choi began to collect clothes and canned food from hospitals, second hand shops and garage sales. It’s no surprise that the first 40-foot container that was filled was sent to Indonesia. However, this container was not received with open arms. The Indonesians were fearful that the container would bring disease so they burned the contents. Had all of her hard work gone to waste? Was she totally crushed? Not at all. Dr. Choi still continued to collect more items she could take on her mission trips. She knew that all God asked of her was to obey Him. She also collected donations of medical supplies, clothes and food from others. Soon her garage, which was used as storage for all of these supplies, could not contain all of the material that she collected. Dr. Choi’s office used to double as her personal ministry office as well as medical practice. Her office was where numerous phone calls to donors and agencies took place. During this time, her then receptionist, Danielle Shumaker, also a Christian helped her out both professionally and in her ministry. “I just thought that I was getting a job,” says Danielle of her reaction to working with Dr. Choi. Danielle helped her link with English speaking organizations. But soon it was evident that both women were put together for a reason. God was working far before they knew what they were getting into. Today Danielle is the Ministry Coordinator for M.O.M.

After years of personally gathering clothing, food, medical supplies and various other items, in 1996 seven families came together in Dr. Choi’s home. She shared with others in her living room the burden in her heart. Finally, after much prayer, Messengers of Mercy (M.O.M.) was born. “Today M.O.M. has over 50 church partners,” says Danielle. “We’re so blessed to have that,” adds Dr. Soon Ja Choi.

Today, Messenger of Mercy’s office is bigger than Dr. Choi’s garage. They partner with Korean churches across America in equipping them for effective mission outreaches. Instead of training people to go out, M.O.M. equips people to go on short-term mission trips using the skills that they already have. Doctors, teachers, pastors, and other professionals go on missions with the knowledge that they have to show God’s love to others. Because M.O.M. encourages people to use the skills they already have, there are a variety of things that people can help out in if they are just willing to serve. There are opportunities in teaching, preaching, healing, resource development, and mission networking and outreach.

Churches partner up with Messengers of Mercy. M.O.M. receives resources from companies that they’ve been in contact with (both agencies and individuals) and they direct those resources to their partner churches. These partner churches form groups to go on short-term missions, usually about ten days, anywhere in the world. Although many of these short-term teams are comprised of professionals, students and families are able to go as well. M.O.M. makes sure that all donations are “clinically and economically” appropriate to the region that the teams are going to and they screen different material to make sure that people can actually use the donations. They see if things are acceptable to the people and, ultimately, an acceptable sacrifice to God.

M.O.M. has relationships with numerous mission agencies and secular organizations that provide free or discounted humanitarian aid to charitable organizations. One of the first medical supply donations that M.O.M. received was from King Benevolent Fund, Inc. which is a non-profit Christian organization that provides medication and medical supplies for mission organizations and individuals around the world. The first time she got in contact with this organization, they gave M.O.M. $5.5 million worth of medical supplies and medicine. As Dr. Choi tells me this over the phone I can hear the thankfulness and amazement she still has.

There are different levels of commitment to M.O.M. Partner churches choose how much they want to be involved with M.O.M. The three different levels of commitment are Associate Churches, Alliance Churches and Affiliate Churches.

Although M.O.M. works primarily with churches, there are several individuals who work with M.O.M. as well. M.O.M. sends 20 or 40-foot containers filled with supplies to missions in Africa, Asia, South America and Eastern Europe. They want to be a “ministry that reaches body, soul and spirit.” When teams go out on short-term mission trips, M.O.M. encourages them to set up what they call “Six Stations.” These six stations are:

1) Salvation: where people share the Gospel message through puppets and Evange-Cubes

2) Medical: where doctors provide exams, and medicine, dental work and eyeglasses

3) Acts of Love: washing hands and feet, clipping nails, cutting hair and offering clothing

4) Educational: Gospel stories told through flannel graphs, Bible visuals and coloring books

5) Gifts: little toys, candy, jewelry, ties, etc. passed out to people

6) Celebration: a photo is taken and taped on a card with John 3:16 in the national language and balloons are given out.

God is using M.O.M. to reach out to millions of people all over the world. How did this happen? At the end of our conversation, Dr. Choi says, “I just obeyed.”

If you are interested in or would like to get involved with M.O.M., visit www.messengersofmercy.org.

*This article first appeared in Encounter Monthly Journal, March 2006