Enlightenment

A Glorious Name in the Heavenly Family Lineage

One day, while dining at my parents’ home, my father disappeared into his room after the meal and returned with a book in hand. It was a family genealogy—bound in black leather with gold lettering engraved on the cover. Even…

Gahng Min-seo from Seongnam, Korea

New Song Poetry Collection

One day, I noticed a deaconess holding a large-print New Song book and asked her why. I had assumed the large-print version—containing only lyrics without musical notation—was intended for elderly members who had difficulty reading small text or for young…

Im Ji-yeon from Seongnam, Korea

Surely This Is Our God

I was once someone who did not seek God. As a child, I followed my parents to temples and shrines, joining my hands in prayer to Buddha or various deities as they instructed. But as I grew older, doubts began…

Oyama Yuki from Fukuoka, Japan

Dreaming of the Universe

In his writings, American astronomer Carl Sagan introduced the “Cosmic Calendar,” a model that compresses the 13.8-billion-year history of the universe into a single year. According to this scale, the Big Bang takes place at midnight on January 1, and…

Jo Mun-gyeong from Cheongju, Korea

The Blessing of the One who Reads God’s Word, Hears It, and Take It to Heart

While on an overseas mission, I met someone who attended church but had never once opened a Bible. Believing it to be a book reserved only for clergy, he had never read a single verse. I opened the Bible and…

Park Ji-ho from Seoul, Korea

Let’s Talk for a Thousand Years in Heaven

The greatest lesson I learned during my three-week overseas mission was the meaning of brotherly love. Until then, I had admired our overseas members from a distance, viewing them as amazing prophets and key figures in God’s prophecy, but I…

Park Min-ji from Seoul, Korea

Youth

General MacArthur, renowned for the Incheon Landing during the Korean War, was 70 years old when he served in that conflict. In his office, he always kept a poem he often read like a personal creed, Samuel Ullman’s “Youth.” Youth…

Kim Hae-gyeong from Taebaek, Korea

The Heart Behind ‘Animo!’

While I was briefly standing still after sharing the message of the Passover with passersby, I sensed someone slowly approaching. When the presence stopped beside me, I turned in surprise to see a person cheerfully exclaim, “Animo!” while handing me…

Ahn Ji-yeong from Gwangju, Korea

Good Harvest From Good Soil

I visited my younger sister’s weekend farm on Ganghwa Island to harvest garlic and onions. The garlic cloves we had planted individually last fall had grown into six-clove garlic by the time of harvest. My sister and her husband were…

Ahn Hee-yeon from Seoul, Korea

Although I Am Less Than the Least of All God’s People

I wanted to be like Apostle Paul, who preached the gospel of the new covenant with tireless passion, enduring countless hardships and persecutions. While reflecting on his life, I came across this verse: Although I am less than the least…

Lee U-rim From Guayaquil, Ecuador

Let Your Conversation Be Always Seasoned With Salt

I recently came across a brief reflection on salt. It explained how salt can enhance our perception of other flavors—even sweetness. This is why, at times, a pinch of salt is added instead of sugar to draw out a sweeter…

Kim Seung-hyeok from Madrid, Spain

Swallowing a Pill

My daughter’s runny nose had worsened, so we went to the ENT clinic. During the check-up, she suddenly told the doctor that she wanted to try taking pills. Until then, she had only taken liquid medicine mixed with powder. The…

Kim Hyeon-im from Suncheon, Korea

A Beautiful Peace

While talking with one of my friends, our conversation turned to what makes us truly happy. My friend said she feels happiest when she enjoys complete freedom and does whatever she wants. But the things she described felt strangely hollow…

Jorgette from Edmonton, Canada

A Call From a Prisoner’s Mother

I work in the police department, handling inquiries related to detainees. One day, I received a call from the mother of an inmate. “My son has the right to receive medical treatment. Please take care of him,” she pleaded. She…

Karena Azile Bartee from The Bronx, NY, U.S.

Since You Have Received Everything

For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not? 1 Co 4:7 There is nothing I possess…

Mun So-yeong from Mexico City, Mexico

Although Daniel Learned That He Would Be Thrown Into the Lions’ Den

During the reign of King Darius over Babylon, the king’s favored servant Daniel became the target of jealous officials. Driven by envy, they conspired to establish a royal decree: that anyone who prayed to any god or man other than…

Gahng Sun-bong from Jinju, Korea

A Mother’s Pause

My grandmother recently underwent hip surgery, and my mom left home for a month to care for her. Naturally, I was concerned about my grandmother’s recovery, but I found myself worrying just as much about my mom. Was she eating…

Shim Cha-hee from Gwangju, Korea

The Power of Greetings

When my eldest child was 15 months old, we moved into the apartment where we now live. He is fourteen this year, and our second child—born after we settled here—is now nine. After coming to know the truth and beginning…

Park Jeong-hwa from Incheon, Korea

The Attitude of a Protagonist of Prophecy

I used to admire the young adults who, in accordance with biblical prophecy, devoted themselves to the gospel on the world stage. When I finally reached that stage of life and was given the opportunity to join them, my heart…

Park Chae-un from Incheon, Korea

Do Not Turn Aside Neither to the Left Nor to the Right

Parking is difficult. I’ve often stepped out of the car, thinking I had parked perfectly, only to find it sitting crooked within the lines. For a long time, I couldn’t understand why. Then one day, I discovered something simple yet…

Choi In-gyu from Ulsan, Korea