Commemorative Event for the 108th Anniversary of the Birth of Christ Ahnsahnghong

“The bright, heav’nly way, before me, lies clearly in my sight; and though sorrows sore beset me, and troubles black as night, at the splendor from the skies ev’ry darkling shadow flies . . .”

Members lifted their voices together in the New Song, expressing their longing and gratitude toward Heavenly Father and their resolve to quickly deliver the light of the truth to the whole world.

On January 11 and 12, a commemorative event for the 108th anniversary of the birth of Christ Ahnsahnghong was held for two days at the Okcheon Go&Come Training Institute. At the preliminary commemorative worship service held ahead of the birth date on January 19 (December 1 by the lunar calendar), about 20,000 people attended, including domestic pastoral staff and members holding titles and positions. They offered thanks to Christ Ahnsahnghong, who came to this earth for the salvation of humanity, and renewed their determination to follow His will.

During the first-part commemorative worship service, Heavenly Mother prayed that in an age in which love is growing cold, all the children would follow Father’s example, devote themselves to saving souls, and learn from Father’s sacrifice as he laid the foundation for the gospel to be preached throughout the world. She also encouraged them, saying, “Following Father, who came to this earth to bring salvation to humanity, let us diligently proclaim the truth of salvation.”

General Pastor Kim Joo-cheol reminded the attendees of the significance of Christ Ahnsahnghong’s coming. He said, “Through the coming of Christ Ahnsahnghong, the truth was restored, and we, who were sinners of heaven, were able to be reconnected with God as a family. This means that the glorious future of heaven and salvation, which we hope for, has been opened.” He added, “Father sacrificed for a long time with the sole intention of saving us. Let us also care for the brothers and sisters beside us in the same way and share that love with all people of the world” (Heb 9:27–28; 1 Co 4:5; Mi 4:1–2; Ps 102:16–18, 21–22).

In the second part of the commemorative event, performances highlighting the beauty of Korean tradition filled the stage in celebration of the birth of Christ at His second coming, who came from the East. A fan dance troupe appeared to lively drumbeats, expressing through graceful yet powerful movements that God’s people have blossomed into flowers of life through Father’s sacrifice.

The highlight of the event was a collaborative performance between a traditional music ensemble composed of members specializing in Korean traditional music from across the country and the Messiah Orchestra. Traditional vocal specialists, including Lee Suja, holder of National Intangible Cultural Heritage No. 29, “Seodosori Folk Song,” reinterpreted the New Song in a traditional Korean singing style accompanied by a harmonious blend of Eastern and Western instruments. The performance beautifully united the heptatonic scale of the orchestra with the pentatonic scale characteristic of traditional Korean music. The precise rhythms of the orchestra and the freer flow of traditional melodies blended together, creating a powerful harmony that conveyed the beauty of unity and deeply moved the audience. Additional performances also left a lasting impression. A youth percussion performance featuring the bango (small hand drum) and janggu, a youth choral drama expressing the warm love of parents through children’s songs from Korea and around the world, and a sand art video portraying the gospel life of Christ Ahnsahnghong accompanied by an ensemble performance all delivered heartfelt messages.

A special video titled “To My Dear My Sons and Daughters Who Will Overcome Hardships and Return” highlighted handwritten words left by Christ Ahnsahnghong, who hoped that the children would remain on the right path on their journey toward heaven. The attendees reflected on the footsteps of Christ Ahnsahnghong, who preserved the truth and cared for neighbors like family even during the difficult period when the Republic of Korea suffered from war and poverty.

Mother said, “To save humanity, Father chose a thorny path rather than the glory of heaven. Let us not forget that grace and diligently practice the teaching, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ ”

The members, deeply moved by the message of love and unity conveyed throughout the event—including the worship service, performances, and videos—shared their aspirations: “The day Father came to this earth is a joyful day when salvation began for us, but for Father it was the beginning of sacrifice and suffering. We will engrave His endless love in our hearts and complete the gospel work with one united faith that pleases God.”

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