America 250: Celebrating a Legacy of Faith, Family, and Freedom Che' Ahn 🇺🇸

This Fourth of July, America commemorates its “Supercentennial” anniversary—marking 250 years of being one nation under God.

Throughout Scripture, the Lord often instructs His people to remember His acts of salvation, faithfulness, and provision (see Deuteronomy 4:9; Psalm 77:11). As we celebrate America’s 250^th birthday, I believe it is only fitting for us to reflect on the blessings of America’s legacy and the sacrifices that made those blessings possible.

Two and a half centuries ago, the Declaration of Independence was signed by 56 of our founding fathers in Philadelphia. Against great odds, the greatest nation was born as a remnant of courageous men and women fought for liberty from tyranny. In doing so, they declared that “all men are created equal” and “endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights.” 

The founders, though imperfect people, understood that true freedom needed to have a moral and spiritual foundation: 

• • John Adams wrote, “Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.” 

• George Washington declared that “religion and morality are indispensable supports” for political prosperity. 

• Samuel Adams affirmed, “While the people are virtuous, they cannot be subdued…”

• "From its birth, America has been an apostolic nation"

• In all, they believed that freedom could only be established when all citizens are able to govern themselves under God.

• From its birth, America has been an apostolic nation—blessed and commissioned by God to be a blessing to the whole world. Thomas Paine, in his 1776 watershed work Common Sense, wrote, “The cause of America is in a great measure the cause of all mankind.” History has shown these words to be true. 

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• I believe one of America’s greatest contributions to the world has been its role in advancing the gospel. For generations, we have led the way in sending out the most missionaries to the four corners of the earth—with hearts burning to see the fulfillment of the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20).

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• As a Korean immigrant, my gratitude for this nation is deeply personal. It was the American evangelical missionaries that came to Pyongyang (what is now the capital of North Korea) who prayed for the great Pyongyang Revival of 1907—which, in turn, led to the conversion of my great-grandparents. Thus began the first of five generations of followers of Jesus in my family legacy. After the Korean War, my father would escape from communist North Korea thanks to the American troops who were fighting for the cause of democracy in his homeland. My family’s entire trajectory—and my very life—were contingent upon the sacrificial efforts of the U.S. forces.

• "a long-haired Korean hippie, during the Jesus People movement" 

• Not long before my fifth birthday, my feet touched American soil for the first time. In the years ahead, my parents, siblings, and I would go on to experience the reality of the American dream, most remarkably due to God’s calling on each of our lives. 

• It was in America that I had a radical, life-changing encounter with the love of God, as a long-haired Korean hippie, during the Jesus People movement. 

• It was in America that God would allow me to marry my wonderful wife, born in New York City to two Filipino medical doctors; raise a family of four children together; and serve His Ekklesia, from our nation’s capital all the way to the streets of Los Angeles. 

• It was in America that Harvest Rock Church and Harvest International Ministry would be birthed—ultimately to reach over 70 nations for God’s Kingdom.

• Now, as we look back upon U.S. history, we remember those who paid the price for the freedoms we enjoy today—our founders, our veterans, our public servants, and countless ordinary citizens whose faith and faithfulness have made this nation what it is today.

  
  

  This July Fourth, my prayer is that we would renew our commitment to the Judeo-Christian values that forged America’s identity. 

  May we steward our citizenship well to bring reformation and revival to our culture.

  And may we leave a legacy for future generations to inherit—a nation built upon the foundations of faith, family, and freedom.

  Happy 250^th birthday, America!

  Che Ahn

  info@harvestim.org

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