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Julie Henning: God’s Story of Grace

Julie Henning: God’s Story of Grace

Published October 26, 2017

From an orphaned outcast who didn’t own a toothbrush to being adopted by a famous author, Julie Henning credits God’s grace at every turn in her life. On October 25, she shared her testimony during Clarks Summit University’s chapel. Watch the live broadcast!

“Alone Against the World”

Henning grew up in South Korea; her mother had escaped from North Korea, and her father returned to America after serving abroad in the U.S. military. Henning lived in a one-room house with no running water or electricity. Her sister died at age 2 from malnutrition. She recalls selling gum on the streets, shining shoes and washing clothes to help her mother earn money. As if this wasn’t bad enough, Henning was teased and bullied for being “Amerasian,” a blended American-Asian who didn’t look like others in her home country. “It felt like my mom and I were alone against the world,” said Henning.

Because her father was an American, Henning had no citizenship in South Korea. For her, free schooling only lasted through sixth grade, and her future in further education looked bleak. It was at this time that a social worker from the Pearl S. Buck Foundation gave her the opportunity to attend school at the Pearl S. Buck Opportunity Center.

At age 13, Henning received a telegram stating that her mother had passed away. She traveled home, where she identified the body and helped dig the grave to bury her mother. No one attended the funeral, signifying how Henning and her mother had been outcasts.

She prayed for protection and for a family. In the meantime, she studied hard at the Opportunity Center. Her success in school was noticed by author Pearl S. Buck. Buck, who was born to missionaries to China, was the first woman to win the Nobel prize for literature, and she used her platform to minister to orphaned children. Buck adopted Henning, bringing her to America where Henning’s life, a true rags-to-riches story, changed forever.

“God Did Not Leave Me”

Henning’s new lifestyle in America included wonders such as ice cream and limousine rides, but after a few years, “my second mom whom I loved and adored passed away,” shared Henning. “I felt as though everything around me crumbled, but God did not leave me there.”

At the age of 19, Henning was adopted again—this time, by a couple who were unable to have children. This is where Henning heard the gospel and was introduced to Jesus as her savior.

In the years that followed, Henning unsuccessfully tried to locate her father, watched her husband and son suffer with cancer and lost twin babies. Still, Henning shares, “my heart is filled with thanksgiving because of what God has done in my life.”

She is thankful for her ability as a teacher in the public school system to be a testimony, and for the opportunities that God has given her to speak for the cause of Amerasian children. She’s been featured in radio interviews, newspaper articles, television programs and spoke at Carnagie Hall and in a congressional hearing. She presented the Pearl S. Buck Memorial Award to the South Korean president’s wife.

 

“His Story of Grace”

Henning challenged students to remember that God will use the hard things in life to make something beautiful for His purpose, saying, “We are the alphabet that God has chosen to write history—His story—of grace.”

Paul Golden, executive director for the President’s Office, said, “Julie’s life story is an amazing journey filled with multiple evidences of God’s grace and mercy upon her life. Her own adoption story beautifully mirrors our spiritual adoption into God’s family. Julie’s ‘rags-to-riches’ experience was an incredible encouragement to our university family.” Student Jessica Eddy added, “Mrs. Henning shared her story of redemption and grace and fervently encouraged us to share ours. Thank you, Mrs. Henning, for sharing your story and inspiring me to share mine as well!”

Watch Henning share her testimony here!

 

-Haley Seboe is a senior from Tunkhannock, PA, studying Writing- Communications.

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