Faith & Life

Finding Brothers and Sisters Who Are Filled with the Fervor for the Truth

The State of Arunachal Pradesh in India is located 1,100 km [680 miles] east of Damak, Nepal. Its majority is the Mishmu tribe who has been living there since long ago. You may feel like you are in a different planet when you face their new language, culture, and tradition. In the age when the light of the gospel is being preached in Samaria and to the ends of the earth, this state are being cultivated by a brother who moved here to preach to his family and relatives. His family members realized the Spirit and the Bride, the Saviors in this age, preached boldly, and led many souls who were eager for the words of truth into the arms…

Damak, Nepal

Even While I’m Sleeping

Some time ago, I read an article about a mother taking care of her sick son. Her son suffered from a disease that caused respiratory problems followed by muscle contraction. The doctors who diagnosed his disease told her that he only had eighteen months to live. She took her son back home, and began to massage his chest as often as possible to relax his muscles. Even while her son was sleeping, she didn’t stop massaging him. The problem was when she needed to sleep. She took catnaps, but even while she was taking it, she couldn’t fall into a deep sleep, worrying that her son might die from the shortness of breath. So, the maximum hours that she could…

Wei Wei from Philadelphia, PA, USA

My Son’s Talent Show

On the day when I moved to the new home, I quickly unpacked all the stuff and was preparing to attend the Third-day service. Then, my husband received a pleasant call from a member; he told us to come to Zion close to our new house because there would be a dedication service. The person who cheered for joy the most was my fifth grader son in elementary school. As his wish was to meet Heavenly Mother even once, he jumped with joy at Mother’s coming to bless us. My son’s love for Mother was so big that his eyes welled up with tears by just thinking of Mother. He helped us preach to our family or acquaintances by showing…

Eom Jin-suk from Seoul, South Korea

Treasure

Everyone has their own personal treasure. To some, their hard-earned wealth is a treasure, to some their authority or honor which they have acquired after a great deal of effort is a treasure, and to others their children who are the apple of their eye are a treasure that cannot be exchanged for anything in the world. However, no matter how great and precious their treasure is, its value does not remain consistent. Their treasure is doomed to fade as time passes by, and there is no treasure that keeps its value forever on this earth. It may be a treasure to them during their lifetime, but it cannot be an eternal treasure. The situation is different if they make…

Change of Thoughts

Every week, I cleaned the street nearby my college with the ASEZ club members. But at some point, I found myself cleaning the same place because it went back to its previous state within a few days after we cleaned up. I even thought, ‘Does someone dump garbage intentionally?’ Seeing the street filled with garbage, I felt sad because the faces of my club members, who cleaned it up with the beads of sweat, lingered in my mind. Sometimes, I felt like our volunteer service was in vain. All of a sudden, I remembered the phrase, “change of thoughts,” on the Church of God website. If we think that we have done something for others, we tend to want something…

Busan, South Korea, Lee Seok-jun

A Kid Who Cannot See the Stars

The sound of kids’ laughter never ceased in a vacant lot in my neighborhood. Kids played there, forgetting about their hunger, and whenever it became dark, they gathered to count stars and look for constellations. Everybody enjoyed it except for one kid—me. “There are so many stars up there. You really don’t see any?” “Look! Connect those stars. They make the Big Dipper. It looks just like a ladle, just as we learned it at school.” “…” Whenever my friends asked me all these questions, pointing at the dark sky, I couldn’t say anything. They said the stars shine beautifully in the dark night sky like scattered jewels but those were just something I could only imagine. Why can I…

Jang Hui-won from Seongnam, South Korea

When We Look with the Eyes of Love

I ordered a clothes rack to organize my dressing room. The clothes rack arrived a few days later. Although I didn’t have time because of my night work, I put the rack together and started organizing the room. I wanted to finish it quickly, but I got tired when I was halfway done, and so I left it like that for several days. One day, my husband came back home and frowned, looking at the dressing room. “Why did you stop in the middle of organizing the dressing room? Do you feel good if the room is messy when you come home after working all day?” In this kind of situation, normally I would say, “It could happen if I…

Park Eun-jeong from Chuncheon, South Korea

Older Sister’s Confession of Love

It was the Lunar New Year holidays during the winter vacation when I was in the second grade of elementary school. My aunt, who had lived close at hand and moved to a remote city, visited our home. We were all smiles to see her family in a long time. Before returning, my aunt felt sorry to part that she wanted to take me and my sister to her home and show us here and there, and buy us some delicious food. I liked my aunt and wanted to follow her, but the school was about to begin and I got carsick easily that my parents stopped me. Eventually, my aunt took my seven-year-old sister only. That day, I was…

Han Yu-mi from Changwon, South Korea

“I Knew It!”

We call the ability to see what is likely to happen in the future foresight. On the contrary to this, there is a psychological phenomenon called hindsight bias. It is the inclination, after an event has occurred, to see the event as having been predictable. In a restaurant you visit for the first time, if the food doesn’t suit your taste, you say, “I already assumed the food wasn’t going to be good.” If someone makes a mistake, you say, “I knew it.” If a big accident occurs, the press reports that it was an expected man-made disaster. These can be referred to as hindsight. What is interesting is that even though people didn’t expect at all or predicted in…

Positive Words

Seven children of a similar age teamed up with their mothers and played games. When a child was blindfolded and threw balls, his mother standing at a certain spot got the balls in a large basket. With the same time and conditions, five teams had more than twelve balls in the basket, whereas the other two teams had only seven balls. This was an experiment done at a broadcasting station. After the game, they watched the video of the mothers and their children exchanging balls. The difference between the teams that put fewer balls in the basket and those with more balls was what the mothers said. While the mothers of the teams with fewer balls said negative words such…

Many Parts Working Together as One

At a young adult meeting, we received a lesson about the importance of time. The message was clear: As workers of the gospel, we must use the time God has given us wisely and meaningfully. As I reflected on how to use my youth to store up blessings in heaven, one strong desire took root in my heart—to preach the gospel in India, the most populous country in the world. Though the vision was bold, the journey to India required a lot of preparation. Learning Hindi became my top priority, but it was no easy task. I wrote, read, and memorized consonants, vowels, and frequently used phrases—only to forget them all the next day. But I didn’t give up. I…

Park So-yeon from Jeonju, Korea

It Feels Like Now Is the Time

These days, the work of the gospel is moving swiftly and astonishingly. I often hear fragrance of Zion that make me think, “Is this really happening?” Inspired by this new and vibrant atmosphere, I decided to share the message of salvation once more with the people around me. The first person who came to mind was the owner of a store where I used to work part-time. I had always felt grateful to her. Even though I was inexperienced back then, she took good care of me. Hoping she could enjoy a moment of rest in her busy life, I had invited her to “Our Mother” Writing & Photo Exhibition. But each time, she put it off, saying she was…

Kim Seon-jeong from Wanju, Korea

From Yokjido Island to Hansando Island: Proclaiming the Victory in the Gospel

After receiving the Holy Spirit of the autumn festivals, we felt a strong desire to complete the gospel mission as soon as possible. That earnestness led to the formation of a domestic short-term mission team. Zion family members from Daegu, Changwon, and Tongyeong united to build the city of truth even in small towns and island regions, and to shine the light of life on every soul. To put into action the words of Heavenly Mother, who emphasized unity, the pastoral staff planned the short-term mission and, together with the members, prayed earnestly for a month beforehand. With willing hearts, members from each Zion came together, and from one week before departure, they diligently practiced truth presentation every day, preparing…

Short-Term Mission Team from South Gyeongsang Province, Korea

Gimbap to Buy? Gimbap to Make!

My husband and daughter absolutely love gimbap. One day, I decided to let them eat as much as they wanted and took on a challenge I had long avoided: making gimbap myself. I had a rough experience making it in the past, and ever since then I’d declared, “Gimbap is meant to be bought, not made.” So this decision was a big one for me. On a Sunday morning, I busily began preparing the ingredients. Watching from the side, my daughter eagerly offered to help. “Mom, can I help? I want to do it too! Let’s make it together. It looks fun!” We spread rice onto the seaweed and added the fillings—egg, ham, pickled radish, fish cake—then tried rolling one…

Bae Mi-rah from Seoul, Korea

How We Became True Sisters

I’d like to share a deeply moving story—one that fills my heart beyond words—about a French friend I’ve considered a sister for years, who has now become my true spiritual sister. I first met her twenty years ago when I went to France on a mission trip. While preaching, I greeted a young woman who was walking up the stairs and said, “I’d like to be your friend.” In French culture, where friendship is something that grows through time and deep affection, my approach could have seemed a little unexpected. But she welcomed me warmly and later told me that the way I approached her felt refreshing and kind. Even after returning to Korea, we stayed in touch through emails…

Bae Yu-seon from Seongnam, Korea

With Unity

A story of a precious heavenly family we met in Botswana, Africa. From the moment we first met her, Anna warmly welcomed us. She was deeply moved by the truth about God the Mother and wanted to keep studying the Word. Before long, she started calling us “my sisters,” and after each Bible study, she would share heartfelt thoughts like, “I feel like I’ve finally found the way to heaven,” and “Now I can tell what’s true and what’s not.” As Anna grew stronger in faith and closer to God through each study, we offered her the blessing of becoming a child of God. Although we hoped she would accept right away, she postponed baptism, saying she wanted to tell…

Jeong Hyo-gyeong from Incheon, Korea

Until One Soul Returns to God

I work at an organization that supports elementary school students from underprivileged backgrounds. My role is to help these children stay committed to their studies, grow up with sound values, and live healthy lives. I also guide them in setting personal goals and reward them when they achieve them. Additionally, I help provide them with clothing, school supplies, and hygiene products. One day, my supervisor asked if I’d be willing to appear on a local TV program. It’s a monthly interview series that highlights people like me and the work we do. I was selected to be the featured guest for that month. At first, I felt shy and wanted to decline. But then I reconsidered—it could be an opportunity…

Devoni Mills-Catchings from Las Vegas, NV, U.S.

Following the Path Our Father Walked

Music has been part of my life for as long as I can remember. Collecting albums was more than a hobby—it was my joy. During my busy school years and even in the lonely days of studying abroad, music helped me relieve stress and brought me delight, inspiration, hope, and comfort. Now, my favorite music—without question—is the New Songs. These songs, which praise God Elohim, have the power to move the soul. Even after years of studying God’s precious word, I had only understood it with my head—not with my heart. It was through the New Songs that I finally realized the truth of salvation and the love of God. This happened around the time I had just begun a…

Min Jong-won from San Diego, CA, US

Reset My Faith: A Great Voyage Toward Heaven

Last year was both difficult and meaningful for me. It became the very foundation for a new leap of faith. At the beginning of the year, my family faced a financial crisis. To make matters worse, a medical checkup revealed an unexpected illness. Though I underwent surgery and received treatment, my recovery was slow, and the aftereffects weighed heavily on my already weakened spirit. Daily worries pressed down on me more and more. I grew weary in my gospel work and even found myself thinking, “What if I can’t continue?” Eventually, I thought, “Maybe it’s time to stop.” While battling this deep spiritual struggle, I happened to learn about Ernest Shackleton, a British explorer—and his story awakened my wavering soul.…

Kim Hui-jeong from Osan, Korea

The “I Love You” Declaration

“From now on, I’m going to tell you ‘I love you’ every morning before I leave for work.” With a solemn expression, my husband made this bold declaration. Because he’s usually so reserved, both my daughter and I were startled by his sudden announcement. “Wait—did we do something wrong? Or is this some kind of punishment?” we asked, half-joking. He laughed, surprised that we would think of it as a punishment. “I just realized I haven’t expressed it much. So I figured it’s better late than never,” he said. His words made me reflect on myself. Back in our newlywed days, we exchanged greetings and expressions of love all the time. But as the years passed and we settled into…

Ok Eun-hui from Changwon, Korea