This Russian outreach was carried out under the name “One Voice,” but it was actually a unified journey of three different ministries within UofN Jeju: One Voice, the Planning Department, and From Youth.

Traveling to Russia—a land currently marked by the deep divisions and tensions of war—made our unity feel even more significant. For a month leading up to the trip, we prepared to share the Gospel and worship through traditional Korean cultural performances. Since One Voice focuses on Korean traditional music (Guk-ak) and dance, we spent countless hours practicing to weave our worship into these art forms. Half of the team members were encountering these rhythms and movements for the first time, yet no one gave up.

However, upon arriving in Russia, we faced a crisis we never expected. We knew entry procedures during wartime would be strict, but all 13 team members were isolated individually, and our passports were confiscated. After a long wait at the airport, 12 members were granted entry, but the team leader, Minsung Pae, was denied entry and forcibly deported.

Minsung was not just the leader; he played the vital role, the lead player of Sang-soe (Kkwaeng-gwa-ri) for the Pung-mul (percussion) performance. His sudden absence shook the team, and we stood at a crossroads: should we continue?

The atmosphere of the Russian airport was intimidating, but as we worshiped together before God, we remembered the heart He first gave us for this nation: a land of brokenness due to war, souls who lost hope under socialist systems, and a land of sorrow living like orphans without the Father. We wanted to declare God’s kingship and the joy of His love in this place.

We decided not to give up. We chose to bless Russia and rejoice in what we could do. The team became stronger, each person taking on more responsibility to fill the gap. Here are the stories of the God we encountered in Russia.

This outreach trip became a time of learning a new expression of worship. When worship was carried within the performance, it became ministry – and its power easily broke down the walls of people’s hearts. Through this amazing ministry, I’ve come to expect even more of what God will bind and loose in this place. We have offered our very best in worship, and now God will do his work.
“Glory be to Him forever and ever. Amen.” (Galatians 1:5)
This was the word given to us before the final pung-mul performance. It became the reason for the joy that filled my heart throughout every performance. Glory and honor be His – forever and ever. Amen!

ㅡ Eunhye Jang, From Youth

I am Misun, the youngest staff of the One Voice. The first nursing home we visited was a place where retired veterans were gathered. THough their bodies were frail, their hearts were still full of passion and warmth. Seeing those who had lost both hands or their legs cheering for our performance with all their strength, despite their physical limitations, deeply moved me.
In that place, what I could offer was to worship God through my voice. The lyrics of Arirang became a prayer, and I experienced the grace of them turning into intercession for the people there.
Though the lyrics were from a traditional folk song, I felt that God was comforting and inviting them. Holding back tears, I sang, overwhelmed by His presence – I can hardly even remember how I sang.
“Where are our hearts going? When will we become one? Let us cross over the Arirang hill; Even if we grow weary along the way, we can rest, Let us go hand in hand, let us go together.”
It felt as though God Himself was present in the performance, speaking this message over the place. Though we have now left, I believe that God’s invitation continues to resound in that land. I pray that the day will soon come when the land of Russia responds to His call.

ㅡMisun Kim, One Voice

We are grateful that God called and prepared us to be His instruments in a land where freedom has been restricted by war and the oppression of a socialist system.
It was a precious time of drawing out the hidden joy within Russians and Koryo-in, and of deeply experiencing Jesus’ passionate love for them. Even amid the physical and emotional limitations of a knee injury, I am thankful for God’s grace that sustained me and enabled me to complete the pung-mul performance safely.
This was a glorious first outreach, where we experienced God’s guidance and protection as we walked through both big and small challenges together as a team. United in God, having persevered and completed this journey to the end, I want to give us a heartfelt round of applause. 

ㅡSeongeun Woo, From Youth

I experienced a renewal deep within. Victory was declared, and breakthrough took place. This outreach made me anticipate how this breakthrough will lead me into even deeper places.
As joy welled up within me during the performances, I prayed that God’s revival would also arise in Russia.
On the final day, a local person told us, “We received joy.” That statement felt like a message of hope—pointing to the new work God will continue to do among the Russians, Koryo-in, Korean diaspora, orphanage children, and the elderly we met. Our Abba Father and our King, the Lord, has already won the victory.

ㅡYechan Lee, Planning Department

My prayer requests for this outreach were these two: To not become prideful when receiving praise, but to give all glory to the Lord; And to not become discouraged or downcast, even when I made mistakes in playing.  We were supposed to perform at a church, but due to circumstances, we couldn’t do pung-mul. Without even realizing it, I said to the leaders, “I’ll prepare a worship song.” It was something I normally would have never done. As I thought about what song to choose, I realized I didn’t want to offer something that made me look perfect—I wanted to offer a song through which I could fully worship the Lord.
“You shine a bright light in the darkness, And You respond even to our faintest groans.”
Of course, the performance wasn’t perfect. But I was thankful.
I was grateful that I could confess and worship with a sincere and whole heart. Afterward, the pastor shared these words with me:
“There are many who play well, but not many who can move the soul. I was blessed to hear a performance that carried a deep resonance in the soul.”
“You are a musician who moves the soul.”
The outreach has now come to an end. It feels like I’ve received a long and very special birthday gift.

ㅡEoryeong Lee, From Youth

Russia became a new place of worship that God had prepared. This outreach was filled with many ‘firsts’—our first time in this country, our first time serving together as a team, and our first time doing this kind of ministry. Even the leader’s denial of entry became like an engine that set us into motion.
So we did not turn back, and we did not stop.
Like the disciples who did not remain still after Jesus’ resurrection and ascension, we raised up a new sang-soe within the pung-mul team and proclaimed God as King. And just as the church continued to be led by those who were raised up after Paul’s departure, each of us was established in our own place. “Nevertheless,” we worshiped with joy. We became a source of joy for people of all ages.
We were able to share God in many places, meeting a wide range of people—from Koryo-in, Joseon-jok, and Russians, to children as young as four years old, and even veterans who had fought in World War II.God allowed the joy He first planted within us to be sown again into many others. Through the expressions and responses of those we met, He let us see that this joy had taken root well. God is the One who prepares the soil and continues to cultivate it so that the fruit may grow.
In the vast field called Russia, He has planted the seed of the gospel through “One Voice,” and I believe that through the missionaries who remain and the local Christians, He will bring forth beautiful, strong trees and abundant fruit.

ㅡEunjin Ha, From Youth

We had been preparing for this ministry for a long time. We prepared our hearts, and in practical ways as well—holding a bazaar to raise funds for our dance costumes. We gathered to practice, learned to move as one team with new members, and continued training together for the land we were heading to. That time of preparation itself was worship. For One Voice, it always begins with the season of preparation before we go. And so began our outreach to Russia. Though we finally arrived on Russian soil, we faced the pain of having to send our leader back.
Even in the midst of that, we decided that all of us together would worship on this land through the performance we had prepared. In the unexpected absence of our leader, I found myself stepping into that role—but in truth, everyone became a leader. This performance of worship in Russia was something we all built together.
Even in the confusion of the situation, each person gave their best in their own place. We cared for one another, encouraged each other, and together filled the empty space left by our leader. I simply guided—but it was everyone who carried it. With our shared hearts and warmth, we filled that place together, and we were able to sow joy in the land of Russia.
Though I stood in place of my husband as the leader, that place ultimately belonged to the Lord—and to all of us.
Russia is not an easy land. But each time I performed the solo dance, “The One Who Does a New Thing,” I found myself hoping for the day when, just as the dance flowed freely, joy would be released freely in this land—when freedom would resound like a dance, and the Lord’s kingship would be proclaimed. That day will surely come.
Dear One Voice family, thank you. It was a joy to serve together in this ministry. Because you supported me so well despite my shortcomings, we were able to finish this journey to the end. Lord, I thank You and love You.

ㅡYounkyung Cho, One Voice

Kraskino and Vladivostok, the places we visited in Russia, are strategic locations where many independence activists devoted and sacrificed their lives for Korea’s liberation. In particular, it is where Ahn Jung-geun made his solemn resolve through the “Union of Twelve Fingers,” and where many Christian leaders sowed seeds in tears, praying for our nation.
As we walked on that land, I felt as though we were stepping on the fruit of what had been sown before us. It reminded me deeply that the blood, sweat, and tears of those who came before us have given us the freedom we enjoy today. Even before going to Russia, the heart God gave me was “the restoration of joy and freedom.” The freedom they once sang and cried out for—we were now proclaiming it again in that land, releasing the Lord’s joy and restoration.
Before leaving Jeju for Russia, our team leader, Younkyung Cho and I each wrote down what we wanted to leave behind in that land on pieces of colored paper. I wrote, “an unceasing passion of God’s burning love” and “the beginning of new life, a living hope,” and left them there.
Lastly, as I was leaving the airport in Russia, I accidentally left my Apple Watch at the customs checkpoint. On the flight back, a thought came to me—that watch had been with me through so much time and held many of my records with God. Leaving it behind there somehow felt like I had left a part of my heart in that place as well. I think this will remain with me for a long time.
Personally, this was my first outreach in about ten years, which made it all the more meaningful and joyful. I am grateful to God, who led me on this journey of obedience.

ㅡSeongmi Kim, One Voice 

“My soul will boast in the Lord; let the afflicted hear and rejoice.” (Psalm 34:2)
As we prepared for Russia, we held onto this word that God had given us and arrived with expectation. Yet our time there began in a very unsettling situation, as our leader was unable to join us. However, that crisis instead drew us closer together, uniting us more deeply and leading each of us to willingly step into our roles. Having entered this land with difficulty, we resolved to give our very best in worship to God and to pour out His blessings abundantly.
The people we met welcomed us warmly, and they rejoiced as they watched our performances. As we encountered people from orphanages, nursing homes, and Koryo-in communities, I felt that those we were meeting were exactly the ones God desired to hear His voice.
Through our praise and worship, we praise the goodness of the Lord, who brought joy to the afflicted in this land.

ㅡJiyoung Kim, One Voice

After arriving in Russia, when our team leader was denied entry due to past involvement in Ukraine relief work, I came to feel more deeply just how far-reaching the impact of the war truly is. In a land where peace feels absent and tension lingers, we proclaimed unity, peace, and joy—through our dance, our instruments, and our movements.
God is the King over the land of Russia, the One who rules and reigns over it.
We praise God, who will bring an end to all division, and who is making all things new.

ㅡSohyeon Kim, From Youth

(Like chicks who had lost their mother…)
The tension at immigration in Vladivostok Airport, and the sudden loss of contact after Minseong was denied entry, left us feeling like chicks without a mother. The time we were supposed to meet the missionary kept getting delayed, and there was no one in sight to receive us. We didn’t know the missionary’s number or even their face, and we couldn’t reach Minseong either. We were, quite literally, like lost chicks.
But in that situation—where we had no choice but to seek the Lord—God led us through what felt like a miraculous encounter with the missionary.
Lord, thank You.
(At the crossroads of a decision…)
With our leader absent, it seemed impossible to carry out the pung-mul performance. We had to consider whether to give up and return to Korea. Should we abandon everything and go back? Or should we, like motherless chicks, still move forward boldly into the land of Russia? In that moment, I felt that the Lord was asking for a choice of faith.
And my answer was not difficult: “Yes.”
Amazingly, every member of the team made the same choice. Hallelujah.
(The flight of the chicks — like a band of the determined)
And so, by the Lord’s power, the chorus of these “chicks” began. We opened with pung-mul, pierced the air with our movements and sounds, and instruments from East and West came together as one, beginning to shine.
The Lord is the One who does it. The Lord delighted in us as we gave our very best with the strength He provided, and that joy overflowed within us.
And that joy began to flow out to the people of Vladivostok.
This is how the Lord worked. Just as the word from the Psalms He gave us when we prayed for Russia—when we rejoice in the Lord, the afflicted will hear and

ㅡKyunghee Song, One Voice

I was not able to remain with the team until the end of this journey.  Though I departed with them, I was denied entry at the airport in Russia. Because of my past record of helping Ukrainian refugees in Poland a few years ago, I was turned back at the airport.
Before I could even begin to process why this had happened to me or what God might be saying, my first thoughts were concern for the team and a deep sense of apology.
My heart ached for my wife, who would have to lead the team in my place, and for the members who would have to carry out the performances without me. I felt grieved that I could not be there as a covering for them. It was a situation that could have been very difficult, yet even in the midst of it, God’s peace came over my heart.
“Because I cannot do it, the Lord will. The Lord Himself will be with them.”
That thought seemed to lead me into peace. This journey became a time for me to learn how to lay down, to entrust everything to God, and to respond with patience and gratitude. Even after many years of ministry, feelings of frustration and unfairness still surfaced at times.
But in reflecting on it, I realized that no matter how much experience we have, we must continue to depend on the Lord until the very end. It was a time of relearning that we must rely not on our experience or expectations, but solely on God.
And it was also a time of confirming that God is faithful to fulfill what He has spoken.

ㅡMinsung Pae, Team Leader

Closing
Before leaving Russia, one of our staff said,
“We have won.”

It was one of the most intense journeys we had ever faced, yet the 13 team members did not give up. By the strength that God poured out each day, we were able to stand in victory in the land of Russia.  Because we did not give up, God gave us fresh grace and deep moments of impact in every performance. Through that strength, we were able to proclaim the kingship of God throughout Russia and return. We now wait with expectation, believing that the God who has begun a new work in Russia will surely bring it to completion. And we pray that the declaration we proclaimed at every performance will resound across the entire land of Russia:
“Lift up your heads, you gates; be lifted up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in!”

ㅡEsther Kim, One Voice