Temple Dedication Service of the Churches in Sydney and Adelaide, Australia

On August 25 and 28, two churches in Australia, the largest country in Oceania, held temple dedication services. General Pastor Kim Joo-cheol participated in these services, along with the Sabbath morning service at the Sydney Church and Third Day worship at the Adelaide Church. Overseers from across Australia, some from New Zealand, and members from nearby churches such as Brisbane and Cairns gathered for the occasion. Following the blessing of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost, the pastoral staff and members rejoiced and celebrated the temples dedications with unified hearts, reaffirming their commitment to advancing the gospel work in Oceania.

General Pastor Kim Joo-cheol prayed for God Elohim’s love and blessings to abundantly spread across the entire continent of Oceania. He also prayed that the Sydney Church and Adelaide Church would play pivotal roles in this mission. During the dedication service at the Sydney Church, he remarked, “The Passover of the new covenant given by God is the sole truth of salvation bestowed upon mankind. The Church of God, which observes the Passover, is the true church established by God. The apostles, such as Peter and John, boldly preached the gospel because they recognized and believed in it” (Jn 6:53–54; Mt 26:17–28; Rev 22:17; 1 Co 1:2; Ac 4:19).

At the Adelaide Church, he reiterated, “For the happiness and salvation of His beloved children, God sacrificed Himself on the cross and opened the way to the kingdom of heaven through the Passover. Let us share the truth of God’s love and guide all people to happiness throughout Oceania, beyond Australia, reflecting the love of God, who is love.” (Dt 10:12–13; Lk 22:19–20; Jn 1:1; 1 Pet 5:9; Mt 22:36–37).

The Sydney Church, which started as a house church in the early 2000s, has steadily grown by embodying God’s love in Sydney, the most populous city in Oceania and a major tourist destination. The two-story temple features a bright design with gray and orange tones, blending harmoniously with the surrounding landscape.

The Adelaide Church, built from sturdy red-brown brick, welcomes members and visitors with its single-story above-ground structure. Situated in Adelaide, a city in the Gulf St Vincent in South Central Australia renowned for its culture and art, the members diligently practices Christ’s teaching, “Love your neighbor.”

During the dedication ceremony, the members reaffirmed their gospel vision and expressed their commitment with enthusiasm, stating, “Like Peter and the apostles who followed Jesus’ command, ‘Feed My sheep,’ we will share the message of salvation and God’s love with all people in Oceania.”

Members in Oceania, including those from these two churches and others in Australia and New Zealand, have been diligently preaching the gospel of the new covenant and striving to fulfill their mission. They have also worked to protect the environment and support their communities through various activities such as environmental cleanups, blood drives, assisting flood victims, and visiting welfare facilities for the elderly. In January 2022, they further demonstrated their commitment by donating essential supplies, including food and drinking water, to Tonga, which had been severely affected by a submarine volcanic eruption and tsunami.