Youth Transition Gathering: “Great Dreams Achieved in God”

On November 30, about 8,000 people gathered at the Okcheon Go&Come Training Institute for the Youth Transition Gathering. Attendees included third-year high school seniors preparing for college entrance or employment, along with their parents, student and young adult department teachers, and pastoral staff. The gathering was held to encourage young people standing at a pivotal turning point in their lives, helping them gain confidence and direction as they prepare to take their next steps with both anticipation and concern.

Prior to the main program, a variety of snack booths were set up in front of the institute’s main building to warmly welcome and cheer on the young people. Members from the Daejeon area prepared a wide selection of foods with care, including tteokbokki, condensed-milk donuts, sweet and sour pork, dumplings, and matcha lattes. Across the lawn, information booths introduced IUBA, IWBA, and IMBA—the International University Student, Working Adult, and Military Bible Academies—offering opportunities to learn more about and experience each program. Senior young adults also shared sincere advice, helping their juniors prepare for young adulthood, a season marked by independent decisions and growing responsibility.

During the gathering, Heavenly Mother offered words of comfort and encouragement to the young people who have faithfully studied and practiced God’s teachings while striving to discover their dreams and goals. She prayed that all their hopes and aspirations would be fulfilled within God’s blessings. With confidence, Mother encouraged them, saying, “If you set goals and continue with prayer and effort, there is nothing you cannot achieve. Let us obey God’s words, have faith and courage, and move forward toward a magnificent future.”

General Pastor Kim Joo-cheol also delivered a message of encouragement, reminding the graduating high school seniors of the limitless potential within them and the importance of small, faithful actions in accomplishing great dreams. He said, “As those who are approved by God, if you have the eyes of faith and act as God has shown by example, He will grant great results. I hope you will leave worries and distracting thoughts behind, focus on clear goals, and become wonderful young adults by achieving your dreams” (1 Th 2:3–4; 2 Ti 4:1–5).

In the special lecture video that followed, the importance of young adulthood as a precious season of opportunity was highlighted through biblical teachings. The lecture emphasized that young people can make wise choices and walk a blessed and upright path when abiding in God’s teachings.

The young adult program orientation session then began with a witty and welcome video created by senior young adults. The atmosphere was further enriched by heartfelt testimonies from seniors currently participating in the IUBA, IWBA, and IMBA programs. They shared personal stories about the concerns they faced around the time of high school graduation and how they overcame them through faith and guidance. Their accounts of serving as positive influences in countries such as Brazil, Paraguay, and Belgium through activities with ASEZ (Church of God University Student Volunteer Group) and ASEZ WAO (Church of God Young Adult Worker Volunteer Group) captured the full attention of the audience.

As the students listened with sparkling eyes, aspiring to spend their youth meaningfully like their seniors, Mother sent warm encouragement through generous applause. She blessed them, saying, “I look forward to your future. Practice what you have learned from God and become young adults like the dew of the dawn, who benefit the world, just as the prophets in the Bible.”

Participants also shared their reflections on the gathering. Yang Hae-won from Incheon, a sister who secured employment as a bank clerk before graduation, said, “I often heard about the difficulties of working life, so I felt a lot of pressure. But seeing Zion’s seniors lead admirable professional lives while carrying out the gospel work made me feel excited and hopeful.” Park Yeon-suk from Daegu, a deaconess who attended with her third-year high school daughter, remarked, “I am grateful that thoughtful snacks and heartfelt encouragement were prepared for students who have spent such a tense time at the peak of competition. It helped them begin their twenties with meaning. I hope my child enjoys an energetic college life like the senior young adults.” Kim Ji-hye from Gwangju, a sister who gave a presentation during the IWBA orientation session, encouraged her juniors, saying, “I once thought growth would come automatically once I became ann young adult, but through trial and error I realized that even small things require effort. Even when difficult moments come, I hope you see them as growing pains and overcome them well.”

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