Newsletters
Bound to Unbound
(The Forge Newsletter_October_2026)
“And Joseph’s master took him and put him into the prison, a place where the king’s prisoners were confined. And Joseph was there in the prison. But Jehovah was with Joseph and showed him mercy, and He gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison.” (Genesis 39:20 - 21)
1. We Must Be Bound to Be Set Free
By being taken captive in Egypt, Joseph was set free from his brothers who had hated him and wanted to kill him. And by being confined in prison, Joseph was set free from the temptation of Potiphar’s wife. The apostle Paul, too, was set free from the Jews who wanted to kill him through being imprisoned. Ironically, sometimes we must be bound and confined in order to be set free.
2. We Must Be Bound and Confined to Move Forward
No one likes being confined or bound. Yet, in order to go deep into the ocean, we have to be enclosed inside a submarine. In order to travel into the vastness of space, we have to be enclosed inside a spacecraft. Without being enclosed in these vessels, we would not be able to move even an inch into those environments, or we would soon die. Sometimes, the very thing that confines us is what enables us to move forward.
3. We Must Be Confined to Grow and Be Transformed
For a fetus to grow safely, it must remain enclosed within its mother’s womb. For a caterpillar to become a butterfly, it must be enclosed within a cocoon. When we are confined, we lose our freedom, but at the same time, we grow within that confined place and are transformed into something new. Jacob’s family lost their freedom and became slaves in Egypt, but from within that place of confinement, they emerged as a nation—the nation of Israel.
4. We Must Be Confined to Go Beyond the Impossible
Joseph was sold by his brothers and taken to Egypt in chains. He was then sold to Potiphar and became a slave in his household. Because his faithfulness was recognized, he was given responsibility over everything in Potiphar’s house. But because of Potiphar’s wife’s temptation and false accusation, he became a prisoner and was confined in prison. Yet it was precisely through being bound and confined that Joseph moved beyond every impossibility and reached an unimaginable position - as the prime minister of Egypt. Paul, too, was imprisoned, and there he wrote his epistles. Through being bound in chains, he eventually reached Rome and proclaimed the Gospel even to members of Caesar’s household.
5. We Need Trust in Order to Remain Confined
When we are bound and confined, we may lose our freedom for a while. But sometimes we must lose that freedom in order to be transformed into a new creation and to go farther, higher, and deeper. Whether human beings or animals, when they are confined, they struggle desperately to escape, but we should not always try to escape immediately. Sometimes we must wait until the appointed time and surrender. When there is a reason to believe and there is trust, we can endure and wait patiently in the place where we are confined.
[ Prayer & Intercession ]
1. Yahweh Made a Way (September 23 - 30 ) : Daniel’s Testimony
For forty days, our family fasted, rested, and spent time walking with Jesus without knowing where we were going. After leaving our local church with gratitude, we asked,
“Lord, where are You leading us?” Then a crisis came. On September 23, a financial partner withdrew from a deal that was nearly completed. The way forward seemed impossible. That day, Qday and Jay arrived at the Celebration for the Nations retreat. Qday sang “Let My People Go” and proclaimed and prayed Isaiah 61 over our family.
My wife and I surrendered everything to God. “God, this house and this business are all Yours. Do with them whatever You desire.” I prayed that only God could turn the withdrawn offer back into a way forward. Then, five days later, that very same financial partner approved the deal again! It was impossible. There had been no apparent possibility. It was a miracle. God did it!
Yet, on the day the deal was to be completed, five more obstacles appeared, seemingly threatening to bring everything to a halt. While the lawyers, advisers, and financial partners worked tirelessly, Qday and I continued to pray. Even just a few hours before the deal was due to close, the outcome was still uncertain. Whenever a new obstacle appeared, I turned to worship. I played songs by Qday and Elysa that we had recorded in our home and prayed. Following the worship that Qday demonstrated through his praise and through his life, I knew how things would turn out. Not because I knew the answer, but because I had praised Jesus throughout that season. I desperately needed Him. One by one, all five obstacles were resolved. A few hours later, the closing of the deal and the funding were confirmed. We moved from “No way” to “Yes way,” and we moved forward through “Yahweh.” God did it. Throughout the entire process, the Holy Spirit spoke to us through songs: “I will split the sea so that you can walk through it.” And in the car, we heard again the message from a dream that had been echoing in our hearts for months: “The same God who is never late is working all things together.” We sang:
“No Battle, No Victory!”
“Let My People Go!”
Our battle became our praise. The guitar felt like a weapon chosen by God. We received this amazing reversal as a special grace from God. To God’s people who are serving Him in the midst of uncertainty, our encouragement is simple: God’s presence is not delayed until the breakthrough comes. Praise is not a formula that guarantees the outcome we desire. Praise is a way of turning our hearts toward Jesus in the midst of the battle. Our story continues. We are letting go of our grip on the map and asking Jesus about the next step of faith we need to take. Jesus, we walk with You. He invites us to walk with Him in freedom.
2. Incidents of Big Church Festival & David’s Tent
The “Big Church Festival,” which began in 2008, celebrated its 18th year this year. It was held in southern England from Friday, August 28, to Sunday, August 30. However, at the festival, which brought together around 40,000 people, an accident occurred when a sign fell, killing one person and injuring six others. As a result, the festival was cancelled on its first day. On the same dates, another gathering called “David’s Tent,” a 72-hour continuous worship event held in southern England, was also taking place. On the second day, thunder and lightning struck, forcing people to take shelter and bringing the gathering to a halt for two hours.
Those who were attending were confused, and I also asked God about these two incidents. God reminded me of Job. If mass media had existed in Job’s time and had reported what happened to him, wouldn’t believers have been confused? Job was known as a righteous man in the East and sincerely served God. Yet, in a single day, disaster struck and he lost everything. Through the Bible, we know what was happening behind the scenes in the spiritual realm. In the end, through these events, Job - who had previously only heard about God with his ears - came to see God with his own eyes. His family and possessions were restored and multiplied, and the secrets of the spiritual world were revealed to us. We must not forget that there can be a spiritual reality behind physical events, and we must remember that everything in this world is under the sovereignty of God.
3. Wars, Earthquakes & Floods
On February 24, 2022, the Russia-Ukraine war began when Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. On October 7, 2023, the Gaza war began when Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel. Beginning in April 2024, Israel and Iran exchanged missiles and attacked one another. On February 28, 2026, the United States and Israel launched a joint pre-emptive attack, “Epic Fury,” in which many leaders, including Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, were killed. The war continues even now. During 2026, there were eleven major earthquakes measuring 7.0 or higher. Particularly in Venezuela, Colombia, the Philippines, and Indonesia, earthquakes caused significant loss of life and property. On August 26, landslides and floods caused by the collapse of glaciers in the Nepal and Tibet regions also claimed many lives and caused extensive property damage. Is all of this simply coincidence? Or is God trying to tell us something through nature?
“And you will hear of wars and rumours of wars. See that you are not troubled. For these things must happen, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. But all these things are the beginning of sorrows.” (Matthew 24:6 - 8)
[ News & Updates ]
1. Korean Young Adults Retreat (June 16 - 19)
I participated as a topical speaker and driver at a retreat for approximately 24 Korean young adults and university students living in the UK. During the opening worship service, I shared the Word and also led teaching and practical sessions on meditating on Scripture.
2. SPREE (July 3 - 5)
I attended a Christian youth gathering in South Wales as a servant and guardian. Approximately 414 young people attended, with more than 700 people in total. For two nights and three days, the young people stayed in tents, enjoyed their freedom, played together, praised God and prayed in the evenings, and listened to the proclamation of God’s Word.
3. Live the Adventure (July 19 - 26)
Young people from London spent a week inviting teenagers from the surrounding area, especially the young people connected with Lighthouse Church, where our family attends. Through Bible studies, games, and various activities, they spent the week building bridges for the Gospel.
4. Celebration for the Nations (July 29 - August 4)
The Celebration for the Nations began in Wales in 2007. After passing through Korea, Israel, and Japan, it returned to Wales in its 20th year, where people gathered once again to worship God. Around 120 people came from Korea, while approximately 300 worshippers from Wales and various parts of the world gathered together. Every morning and evening, we worshipped, and in the afternoons we went out onto the streets to proclaim the Gospel. Next summer, from August 9 - 15, the Celebration for the Nations will be held in Korea. From February 15 - 19, 2027, it will be held in Osaka, Japan.
5. SCATTERING (August 15 - 21)
Twenty teenagers, aged 13 - 17 and living in South Wales, gathered together. They slept on the floor of a church for two days while receiving evangelism training. Then, for five days, they scattered into two different areas to proclaim the Gospel. They prayed for 272 people, shared the Gospel with 322 people, gave Bibles to 268 people, saw one person experience healing, and eight people decided to believe in Jesus.
6. TMM / The Music Messengers (September 1 - 6)
Classical musicians living in the United States, Japan, and Germany came to Wales and travelled to various locations throughout the week, playing classical music and preparing the land of Wales through worship and intercession. This year, there was a special anointing from God, and many people were deeply moved to tears at each gathering. I am also deeply thankful and grateful for the beautiful way the missionaries in Wales united in heart and body to serve together.
7. CHESS Camp (September 7 - 10)
During the second week of September, I attended a Christian homeschooling family camp called CHESS(Christian Home Education Support Service). It was my fourth time attending, but this time I had many opportunities to meet people individually, listen to their stories, and pray together. A German family also attended from Germany, and I had a precious time of sharing and prayer with them. My second son, Yohan, also played the piano on the talent-show stage. He played confidently and received a lot of applause.
8. Visit to the United States (September 14 - October 1)
Two years ago, a friend who had visited Wales from the United States asked me to visit Azusa Street in Los Angeles and bring what might be called “priming water or spiritual kindling,” but I was not sure. Then, around December last year, God gave me conviction in my heart, and I planned to go in March this year. However, I was unable to go because I suffered a ruptured disc in my back. Then, in September, I was invited to a Celebration for the Nations USA retreat on the East Coast, so I decided to visit both the West Coast and the East Coast. While staying in Los Angeles, an elder kindly allowed me to stay in his guest room, which made my stay extremely comfortable. I was able to pick fruit from his garden and enjoy beautiful fellowship. In particular, the couple who invited me arranged taxi services and my entire schedule, making the whole experience truly remarkable.
(1) Azusa Street Revival & Priming Water (September 15 - 21)
On April 9, 1906, while William J. Seymour and his fellow believers were praying at Bonnie Brae House, a powerful manifestation of the presence of the Holy Spirit occurred, becoming the starting point of the Azusa Revival. As more people came than could be accommodated, the meetings were moved to an abandoned Methodist building on Azusa Street in downtown Los Angeles, where the gatherings continued. The day after arriving in Los Angeles, I visited a prayer tower on Azusa Street with the couple who were my friends. For about two hours, we worshipped and prayed, pouring out the spiritual kindling God had given us. On the third day, when I visited Bonnie Brae House, I met two sisters in front of the house. When my friend introduced me as someone who had come from Wales, one of them was extremely surprised. That morning, she had woken up at 5 a.m. and prayed for the 1904 Welsh Revival and the 1906 Azusa Revival. Then she happened to meet me—a person who had come from Wales. We entered the house, and together with other believers from the Philippines, we declared the worship song “Let My People Go!” as spiritual kindling and lifted up the name of God.
(2) Pray for the UN General Assembly (September 22)
While praying at the Azusa Street prayer tower, God put it on my heart to go to the United Nations building in New York and pray. When I checked the dates, I discovered that the day I would arrive in New York was the very day the UN General Assembly was beginning.
I took an overnight flight and mentioned in the morning that perhaps we could go to a sauna. But when I asked the friend who was picking me up to take me to the UN building, he told me that his daughters had advised him not to go because there would be severe traffic congestion around the UN building that day. Nevertheless, we followed God’s heart and went to the UN building despite the traffic. We somehow passed through the security checkpoints where the guards were checking identification as though we were invisible, and stood across the street from the main entrance of the UN headquarters. There we proclaimed the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and prayed that the fear of God would come upon the leaders attending the UN General Assembly.
(3) Celebration for the Nations USA Retreat (September 24 - 27)
A Korean brother who had received the vision of Celebration for the Nations, which began in Wales, went to the United States and began quietly meeting people and praying with them. He eventually began holding worship gatherings, and together with like-minded worshippers, he has been travelling to cities throughout the United States and holding occasional nights of worship. They invited a Welsh missionary who had received the CFTN vision and me to their retreat. The retreat was held at a large house owned by a second-generation Korean-American brother. It was an amazing and beautiful time of fellowship, getting to know one another, and creating and recording new songs. However, I thought I had little role to play at the retreat. But God had His own plan.
(4) Old Friends & A New Friend (September 29 - October 1)
After the retreat ended, I met several people in the area who had previously lived in or visited Wales. We shared stories from the past, encouraged one another, and had precious times of building one another up. During that period, I was reading Paul’s letters, and it felt as though I were following the journey described in the Book of Acts. After spending one night and two days there, I took a train to Philadelphia. There, I stayed at the home of an elderly pastor, where we openly shared what was in our hearts, worshipped together, and prayed. On the day I left Philadelphia, I also met four young leaders from a local church, and we spent time sharing and worshipping together. Previously, America had felt unfamiliar and far away to me. But through this journey in America, it felt much closer, and I felt that I had become more closely connected with the people there. I do not know what plans God has for the future or how He will lead us, but I find myself looking forward to what God will do.
9. Eritrean Evangelists’ Retreat (October 2 - 4)
The day after returning from the United States, I was informed that twenty evangelists from an Eritrean church in London had come to our town for a retreat and that time had been arranged for me to spend with them. So, the next morning, I went to the place where they were staying. I first listened to their stories, then shared the Word that God had given me for them. Together we sang, declared, and prayed “Let My People Go!” At first, everything began quietly. But “Let My People Go!” soon became a thunderous cry. When their desperate prayers burst forth like the roar of a lion, it felt as though the roof of the building might be blown away.
10. The Homeschooling Story : HOPEducation
Since last year, my wife has been responsible for the overall administration of a home-educating group involving over 35 families in our surrounding area. Every Monday and Tuesday, the students study English, Mathematics, Science, Art, Horticulture, and other subjects in the beautiful natural surroundings of the National Botanic Garden.of Wales.
[ The Forge Community & Family Story ]
1. A Journey of Faith
At the end of October, we are preparing a short journey of seeking truth and discovering the meaning and purpose of life for two people who will be visiting for a week. We are also praying and preparing for people who will be coming in January and February next year for a journey of rest and faith.
2. Renovation & Discipleship & Holiday
Owen and Seungae are continuing to renovate two rooms. They are also discipling Owen’s nephews and cousins through play once a week. Owen and Seungae travelled with two of Owen’s nephews to the Lake District in England as summer holiday.
3. BNQY Family Holiday
Although we had many activities and commitments during the summer, our family made time to take a family trip with my mother-in-law to the Isle of Man. 
We did not have many activities planned, but during the four nights and five days, we had a wonderful time creating beautiful memories together as a family.
4. Noah’s University Begun
After completing a Korean-language course in Korea for nine and a half months, Noah returned to England. In the final week of September, he moved into his accommodation at Lancaster University, and his university life began. During his first week, when he did not yet have lectures, he met people from the Christian Union and went on a day trip with them. He also did his laundry at a laundromat.
5. Mother’s Memorial Service & Visit to Korea
I plan to make a short visit to Korea at the end of November to attend the first anniversary memorial service for my mother.
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* Mathew Toller’s book & Vivien Firth’s book have been published Rabbi Mathew has published a powerful testimonial book: “Grace Undone” on Amazon. (click here) Vivien’s a testimonial faith journey book: “A Living Legacy” on Amazon. (click here) |
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Qday Music Album: “Tomorrow Never Comes!” |
Shalom!
Qday LEE
(+44) 7870 653157
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www.theforgewales.org.uk