[Go&Come Interview] The Blessing of Receiving the Savior, the Privilege of Proclaiming the Savior

The year 2024 marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of the Church of God. Founded by Christ Ahnsahnghong in 1964, the Church of God started as a small house church but has now grown to 7,500 churches in 175 countries, proclaiming the truth of the new covenant to the global population of 8 billion. The biblical prophecy, “Your beginnings will seem humble, so prosperous will your future be” (Job 8:7), has been fulfilled as evident in the remarkable growth of the Church of God.

The 78th Overseas Visiting Group, which visited Korea in early November last year, can be considered the protagonists fulfilling this prophecy as the prophets entrusted with the mission of prophet after receiving God Elohim, who came to the farthest land in the East. With what faith and responsibility do they spread the gospel? The brief interviews conducted during their visit have caught glimpses of their love and trust in God, their pride and sense of responsibility as te pastoral staff at the forefront of preaching the gospel.

I heard that many of you are visiting Korea for the first time. I’m curious to hear your impressions.

Missionary Paul Santos from San Martin de Pangoa, Peru

Visiting Korea was my greatest hope after receiving the truth. Since Heavenly Father came to the prophesied land where Heavenly Mother currently is, I earnestly wished for this moment, not knowing if it would truly come. How can I express the gratitude and happiness I feel right now with words?

Missionary Shivansh Gupta from GJ Surat, India

The view of Korea from the airplane before landing at Incheon Airport was truly beautiful. It was the first time I experienced such a touching landscape. Despite the many wonderful places in the world, why did I feel that Korea is the best? Upon reflection, I realized it was because Heavenly Mother is here.
In India, many people are amazed to hear that God the Father and God the Mother came to Korea in the form of ordinary people like us. I’ve been greatly blessed because I’ve not only received God but also seen God the Mother in person.

You’ve chosen the path of pastoral staff among many blessed paths. When and why did you make this decision?

Missionary Niklaas Möhle from Vienna, Austria

When I first heard the prophecy that Heavenly Father and Mother came to this earth to save me, my path was already determined. Proclaiming the Savior to people and leading many souls to salvation! Is there anything more important than this? I wanted to dedicate myself to the mission of the gospel, and every day I am grateful for living as I wished.

Missionary Vijay Hu from Manhattan, NY, U.S.

Heavenly Father is our Father. Heavenly Mother is our Mother. The new covenant is the new covenant. This is the unmistakable truth and very clear. My future was also like that. Mother opened the way for me to become a prophet, and I just jumped onto that path. With the most blessed path right in front of me, there was no second option in my mind.

Missionary Enos Mutazu from Harare, Zimbabwe

I received the truth in Cape Town, South Africa. Upon graduating from university, I returned to my hometown in Zimbabwe, determined to save as many souls as possible. After establishing a house church in a place where Zion had not yet existed, the number of members quickly grew. I anticipated the imminent appointment of a pastoral staff member, but God’s plan was different from human expectations. God appointed me, who is lacking, as a prophet and entrusted me with the mission of feeding the flock. It was an unexpected task. I accepted this great mission as a profound blessing and relied even more on God. I believed although I was lacking in many ways, if I prayed fervently and worked diligently, God would enable me to fulfill His will.

What has changed in your values and way of thinking as you become a pastoral staff member?

Deacon Robert Brumnic from Zagreb, Croatia

When I first received the truth, there were only a few Korean members in the Church in Zagreb. It was almost impossible to communicate. However, hearing the word being shared, even in my limited understanding I could sense how much they respected me and how earnestly they wanted me to realize the truth.
In the humble yet warm Zion, I grew in faith, experiencing the love of Father and Mother who respected and served even little children. While doing so, my life took a complete turn of 180 degrees in every aspect: my language, actions, mindset, personality, and attitude toward life. In Croatian, there is a distinction between honorifics and casual speech. After the initial greetings, regardless of age or relationship, Croatians comfortably converse in informal language. As I continue using honorifics, people find it strange at first, but later they feel that they are respected. I was even complimented, “You must be someone with manners.”
Although our Zion members have diverse lifestyles and personalities, we respect and consider each other, practicing a love of serving. Seeing their words and deeds, the new members realize: “This is how Mother treats me and loves me.”

Missionary Alexander Post from Ridgewood, NJ, U.S.

At the beginning of my life of faith, I was also deeply impressed by the atmosphere of Zion where the brothers and sisters treated one another with love, respect, and consideration. Unfortunately, such warmth is gradually disappearing in modern society.
The fact that this lovely and polite culture can be shared uniformly in all Zions worldwide, regardless of cultural trends, is entirely thanks to the teachings of Heavenly Father and Mother. What I earnestly desire is to realize the love of Father and Mother with my heart, not with my head. For this, I earnestly pray and make efforts.

What do you think the pastoral ministry is?

Missionary Diego Vera from Tigre, Argentina

I consider that pastoral ministry is the practical manifestation of the love received from Heavenly Father and Mother, planting the hope of heaven among brothers and sisters. Although not everyone openly expresses it, there seem to be quite a few members experiencing various difficulties these days. Imagine how heart-wrenching it must be for God to see the souls weary and wanting to give up, children bruised by the struggles of life. The way to uplift those members is by instilling the hope of heaven within them, and the power to sow this hope of heaven originates from love.

Missionary Adolfo Ochoa from Naucalpan, Mexico

Actually, I encountered some trial and error initially. In the early stages of my pastoral role, I frequently attempted to educate members solely through words. However, the outcomes were not as effective as I had hoped. Reflecting on what might have gone wrong, I sought guidance from God. Through this process, I came to understand that pastoral ministry extends beyond verbal instruction of God’s will; it requires embodying and demonstrating it through actions. If words alone were enough, Heavenly Father and Mother wouldn’t have endured hardships to set an example of love and sacrifice for us.

Missionary Jonathan Lim from George Town, Malaysia

Absolutely! Didn’t Father Ahnsahnghong clearly teach us that “practice is like a guide leading the entire body”? To effectively apply what we have learned, it’s crucial to continually review the teachings of Father and Mother. If the words are not ingrained within us, it’s natural that we may fail to put them into practice, and our faith may become distracted. Therefore, I make it a habit to often read the Bible, Truth Book, and sermon books since I wake up. This way, pastoral ministry becomes a journey of not only saving others’ souls but also nurturing my own soul. It’s truly a tremendous blessing.

It is meaningful to deliver love and save lives. However, it seems that there may be challenges in the process.

Missionary Collen Nkuna from Cape Town, South Africa

That’s why the unconditional love of Mother is indispensable. Mother’s love never wanes; it perseveres tirelessly, never giving up on any of Her children. When confronted with challenges in conveying God’s word and caring for members, I turn to Mother. Reflecting on how much Mother loves me, there is no obstacle that I cannot surmount. The moment I listen to Her words and pray to Her, I am imbued with strength and comfort.

Missionary Enos Mutazu from Harare, Zimbabwe

I believe this challenge is not unique to me but is a common struggle for many pastoral staff members. When our members face hardships and trials, we desire to help them overcome with endurance. However, if we haven’t personally experienced similar challenges in life, offering advice or solutions can be challenging. There’s only one method that remains straightforward and clear: seeking God’s guidance and relying on Him. Even though my abilities may be limited, I often find that, in hindsight, God has provided assistance to members and resolved my concerns.

Missionary Michael Almeda from Manila, Philippines

I found it challenging to unite members with diverse personalities and lifestyles. While I understood the significance of unity, I was uncertain about the methods to achieve it. However, during my visit to Korea and the “Father’s True Heart” Exhibition, I had numerous reflections, and most importantly, I realized the significance of viewing members through the eyes of Heavenly Father. Father embraces every child. As a pastoral staff member, if I emulate Father’s example, genuine unity among our members will become achievable.

As Missionary Almeda said, the schedule of this visiting group will be helpful to learn the necessary virtues as a pastoral staff. Among many educational programs and activities, what has resonated most deeply with your heart?

Missionary Reinaldo Yucra from El Alto, Bolivia

I cannot choose just one. Everything that was unclear to me became clear once I arrived in Korea. I had concerns about how to serve members, but Mother showed the best example. She attended to every detail, from our accommodation and meals to paying attention to our words. The love shown by the Korean members, brimming with Mother’s love, continually checked if we were comfortable, if we were hungry, or if we were doing okay, demonstrating various acts of care. Into my heart, I have deeply engraved the realization that I should treat my members as Mother does.

Missionary Diego Villablanca from Maipu, Chile

In the past, I used to live according to my emotions. Even after becoming a pastoral staff member, I believed I had changed significantly. However, when things didn’t go as planned in the gospel, I felt frustrated, and my understanding of the members fell short. This time, coming to Korea, I once again realized that Mother genuinely regards Her children as Her entire life and sole concern. Now, I truly desire to change. I would describe it as making my heart 100% transparent. This means that I want my Zion family members to see not my own colors, but the light reflected from Mother.

Missionary Jeffrey Vela from Termecula, CA, U.S.

When I participated in the visiting group as an ordinary member in the past, I was simply delighted and excited at the prospect of meeting Mother. However, now that I have come to Korea as a pastoral staff member, all I can see is Mother’s sacrifice. My sole desire is to swiftly fulfill the gospel work. During a special lecture, General Pastor Kim Joo-cheol emphasized the fundamental skills of pastoral staff, which include constantly meditating on God’s word and delivering only His teachings. Since everything necessary for completing the gospel is already recorded in the Bible, I’ll be committed to doing my utmost to fully obey and follow it.

When the visiting group concludes, you will go back to the gospel field. Do you have any goals or aspirations?

Missionary Jonathan Lim from George Town, Malaysia

Up to this point, God has graciously fulfilled all my aspirations for the gospel work. However, there was a prerequisite for this: that all the members would unite with a shared purpose and move forward in unison. The power of unity surpasses our imagination. Soon, we will embark on a short-term mission with Singapore Zion, and I am hopeful that we will complete the gospel goals in Malaysia and Singapore through perfect unity.

Elder Hilarion Calumba from Quezon City, Philippines

In the early 2000s, when I was born again as a child of God, there was only one church in the Philippines, a house church in Quezon City. In a country comprising over 7,000 islands, the idea of spreading the gospel to every corner seemed unimaginable. However, today we have hundreds of Zions, each bustling with brothers and sisters. Members willingly dedicate themselves to the gospel, traveling by boat and traversing jungles if necessary, to joyfully proclaim the truth of the new covenant. My aspiration is for the gospel to be fully preached in the Philippines and beyond, reaching the entire population of 8 billion. This dream no longer feels vague or unattainable. Our goal is within reach because God Elohim guides us, and our loving brothers and sisters are united around the world.