In my group of Zion, most members are seniors over sixty years old. Though their bodies are advanced in age, their faith is as fresh and strong as that of the young dew of dawn. I would like to share the fragrance of Zion from one 86-year-old member who bore a beautiful fruit during the Pentecost Holy Spirit Preaching Festival.
For many years, she had been devoted to Buddhist prayer. When her health declined and she could no longer visit the temple, she had a dream in which her late husband appeared and told her to go to church. A few days later, she met our church members, listened to the word of God, realized the value of salvation, and immediately received the truth.
Though she now attends worship online from home, her heart is filled with the hope of heaven. Whenever we visit her, she always asks first about Heavenly Mother’s well-being, showing her deep love and longing for Mother. Out of her passion for the truth, she even subscribed to study sheets for the sole purpose of learning to read the Bible, and she has been diligently studying the Korean alphabet.
As she gradually learned to read, she went over the Bible and church books again and again until the pages became worn, while faithfully listening to sermons. Through this, she came to understand not only the value of the truth but also the blessing of preaching, and she longed to participate in it. She once said that staying at home because of her age made her feel unfilial to Heavenly Mother, and this weighed heavily on her heart.
One day, because her eyesight had grown dim, she asked her visiting care worker to read aloud from a church book. That small request opened the door to preaching, as the words she shared reached the caregiver’s heart. The elder began to testify in her own way, saying, “There is Heavenly Mother—why don’t people believe?” and “Sunday worship isn’t in the Bible, so why do churches worship on Sunday and keep Christmas?”
It turned out that the caregiver had once been an active member of a Protestant church, even holding a position there. However, she had become disillusioned when the church’s practices did not align with the Bible and was hurt by the pastor’s behavior, leading her to stop attending altogether. Around that time, she met the elder and was astonished to hear her clearly answer the very questions that had long remained in her heart.
Later, the caregiver gladly accepted the elder’s invitation to the “Our Mother” Writing and Photo Exhibition. The moment she entered the church, she was touched by the bright, welcoming atmosphere and the members’ kind and respectful demeanor—and even more deeply moved by the exhibition itself. Her heart opened fully as she acknowledged Heavenly Father and Mother as the Saviors, shedding tears of joy as she received baptism.
The elder also wept, saying that she had always felt sorry for being unable to do anything for Mother, yet God allowed her—though lacking in many ways—to bear such a precious fruit.
Watching this elderly member, who so earnestly loves the truth and strives to take part in evangelism, I was reminded that age is truly just a number. If we truly have the heart to bring joy to Heavenly Mother, God makes everything possible.
I give thanks to God for allowing anyone to participate in the gospel work. Whatever my situation, I too will strive to preach the gospel faithfully, without being bound by circumstance or condition, until the day when we all return to heaven together.