Faith & Life

Creation of the Heavens and the Earth, Brilliant Craftsmanship

Michelangelo painted the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel for four years. One of the famous pieces of the ceiling is called The Creation of Adam. To complete it, he had to raise his arms all day, and no matter how painful, he continued the work with all his heart and soul. Once completed, he satisfactorily signed his name on the fresco painting and walked out of the church. Bright sunshine, a blue sky, and birds flying in the air . . . Michelangelo was mesmerized by the beauty of nature. It was at that moment he thought: ‘God created such beauty in nature without a trace to announce that it is His work of art, yet I wanted to boast…

Removing Stains

I’d like to share what I’ve realized while painting the Libreville Church in Gabon. We paint our Zion building every dry season. Since we cannot do it in the rainy season even though we want to, we have to paint in this season unless we want to be surrounded by dirty walls for a year. But there is one thing we must do before painting: stain removal. As it often rains and there is lots of moisture during the rainy season in Gabon, moss and mold which discolor walls are easily formed. If we just paint without removing stains, it looks good temporarily but mold will come back and walls will look worse than before. Stain removal is necessary, but…

Libreville, Gabon, Lee Jeong-ho

Like a Bolt Out of the Blue

I was busy arranging the kitchen till late at night because my family was planning to move out. Cleaning the refrigerator as a last chore, I opened a plastic bottle to see what was inside. At that moment, the contents in the bottle suddenly burst out from the bottle with a loud pop and splashed; the old fermented raspberry broth burst out. The kitchen was covered with the somberly reddish raspberry broth from the ceiling to the floor. It was just like a bolt out of the blue. I was shivering without knowing what to do in that unexpected situation. My husband, who was watching TV, rushed to the kitchen, surprised. He quickly grasped the situation and took the rag…

Seoul, Korea

Overcoming with Positive Thoughts and Attitudes

When people are sick, they usually hunch over, thinking they will find comfort and relief. However, research shows that sitting upright is more effective in overcoming pain than hunching over. The reasons are as follows: First, when you sit upright with a confident posture sticking out your chest, production of testosterone—a hormone that aids in pain relief, increases. Second, if you hunch, psychologically your body thinks that you cannot overcome the pain. On the contrary, if you sit up confidently, your body believes it can. This is seen psychologically as well. If you are troubled, lifting up your chin allows you to overcome more easily than lowering your head. When you have positive thoughts and attitudes, you are able to…

Choosing the Narrow Path: The Best Decision of My Life

In Wisconsin, where I was raised, and throughout much of the Midwest, people tend to lead traditional, family-centered lives, rarely moving far from home. So my choice to leave for New York City in pursuit of my dreams came as quite a shock to my family. My dream was to perform on Broadway. I wanted to step onto the world-renowned stages of Manhattan and eventually become a stage director. To pursue this goal, I majored in theater arts, studying everything from acting and directing to costume design and makeup. After earning my bachelor’s degree, I applied to several graduate programs and was given the opportunity to continue my studies in New York. Amid countless plans and decisions, it was God…

Allyssa Dunn from New Windsor, NY, U.S.

Tenacity

The Tarahumara in Mexico are renowned for their running ability. They call themselves “Rarámuri” (running people). To them, running a full marathon in a day is not a challenge. When hunting a deer, the Tarahumara chase after it. A deer may be much faster than the Tarahumara, but does not have their endurance. The Tarahumara never worry even if a deer runs fast and disappears from their sight; they can track it by following its footprints and secretions. In a day or so, they eventually catch the deer after it falls from exhaustion from sprinting for such a long time. Determination and perseverance have great power.

Conflict, an Opportunity for Everyone to Become a Winner!

Nowadays, crimes occur among family members very frequently in our society. A lack of communication makes even the members, whom you should love and care most, the objects of crime. Long-term conflicts deepen emotional confrontation and may cause a drastic action. Someone said, “Running a home is like gardening.” If you don’t pull out weeds at the proper time, even a beautiful garden will be covered with weeds. Conflicts are like weeds. There are always conflicts even in happy and ideal homes. A conflict is a proof that they are alive and that they love each other. Just because there is a conflict, it doesn’t mean that they don’t love each other; and just because they love each other, it…

Making Pittu

When there is a gathering for the male adult group in Zion, I prepare meals, selecting a dish among the menu they like. Although they are exhausted after working all day, they come to church right after work to study the Bible. Whenever seeing them, I want to make something for them and I care a lot about creating the menu. One day, I decided to make pittu, a traditional Sri Lankan food. I needed a special pot to make pittu. Pittu is thick and has a long cylinder shape, so a pot that fits the exact size is needed. When you put dough into the pot and steam it for about eight minutes, appetizing pittu is made. Although I…

Colombo, Sri Lanka, Baek So-hyeon

Put on Your Pink Lens

When you’re in love, your brain releases feel-good chemicals like dopamine and phenylethylamine. These boost your mood and deepen your affection for the other person. Suddenly, even small things seem delightful, and you naturally see everything in a more positive light. This phenomenon is sometimes called the Pink Lens Effect—when love makes the world glow in soft, rosy hues. This month, try looking at your family through a pink lens. You might be surprised by how many sweet, endearing qualities you notice—things you may have overlooked before. Let love brighten your vision! Tip See what you thought were fl aws as hidden strengths. Give generous praise when you notice something good. Choose to interpret your family’s actions kindly. Speak with positivity—even when you…

Pray for Your Family!

In the film Aladdin, a magical lamp grants three wishes. When Aladdin unexpectedly comes into possession of the lamp, he chooses to use his final wish—not for himself, but to help someone else. Through that selfless act, he finds a love he once thought impossible and steps into a happy ending. Just like that lamp, we, too, have a powerful gift: prayer—our direct conversation with the Almighty God. Prayer is vital for ourselves, but it shines even brighter when we pray earnestly for others, for such prayer can only come from love. This month, let us take time to pray for our family. God, who hears every prayer, will be pleased and listen with joy. Tip Set a regular time…

The Theory of Affordance

Why is it easier to study in a library? It’s because the space is filled with books, the atmosphere is quiet, and everyone around is focused on learning—conditions that naturally promote studying. This concept, where certain forms or images prompt a specific behavior, is known as the Affordance Theory. For example, the reason studying at home is difficult may be due to behavioral affordances: a TV or computer makes you want to turn it on, and a soft bed makes you want to lie down. But if we use affordance effectively, we can improve our concentration even at home—by creating an environment that resembles a library. Removing distractions and setting up a neat space with a desk and bookshelf can…

The Miracle on the Hudson River

In January 2009, shortly after taking off from LaGuardia Airport in New York, a plane was rocked by a loud explosion. It had collided with a flock of birds, damaging both engines. As the aircraft began to descend rapidly, Rick Elias, a startup entrepreneur onboard, heard the pilot instruct passengers to brace for impact. In that moment, he believed his life was over. Yet within those few short minutes, he had three profound realizations. First, he regretted all the things he had put off. Second, although he believed he had lived a decent life, he realized he had wasted precious time with loved ones because of his own selfishness and stubbornness. And third, the most urgent feeling of all: he…

The Beautiful Journey of Two Brothers

In Michigan, USA, a teenage boy named Hunter Gandee has a younger brother with cerebral palsy. Since his seven-year-old brother cannot walk on his own, Hunter began to wonder how he could help. Knowing that his brother loved to go outside and explore, Hunter decided to carry him on his back and take him farther than they'd ever gone before. This idea turned into a 64-kilometer (40-mile) trek. Carrying his 20-kilogram (44-pound) brother was no easy task, but Hunter says the experience gave both of them a sense of confidence and strength. The following summer, in 2015, Hunter took on an even bigger challenge—he carried his brother 91 kilometers (57 miles) over the course of three days. What started as…

A Noble Spirit of Volunteerism

The Church of God Young Adult Worker Volunteer Group (ASEZ WAO) members carried out a beach cleanup at Cancabato Bay in Tacloban, Philippines. The wet sand was soggy like a mudflat, and we had no tools—no gloves, no tongs. I was taken aback at the thought of cleaning with bare hands. “Will my shoes be okay? I might even ruin my pants,” I thought. Resigned to the situation, I stepped onto the beach. The moment I picked up some trash, I felt the damp, slimy texture and was hit by a foul smell, making me grimace. But when I looked around, the expressions on the other members’ faces were bright and cheerful. With smiles on their faces, they waded fearlessly…

Go Na-yeong from Gongju, Korea

The Impact of Good Deeds

In celebration of Earth Day (April 22), we carried out a cleanup activity on Randle Avenue in the Bronx. Along with about 50 members of ASEZ, the university student volunteer group of the Church of God, local residents and representatives from the New York State Assembly also participated. In two and a half hours, we collected enough litter to fill 40 garbage bags. The street we cleaned had actually been the site of a major cleanup effort once before. At the time, our group was the first to take initiative in that area, which had long been neglected and unmanaged, resulting in a large accumulation of waste. Most of the residents who saw us working expressed gratitude and offered words…

Kim Geun-u from Bronx, NY, U.S.

An Act for Myself

I participated in a volunteer activity in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia. It was part of the “Mother’s Street” cleanup campaign, held with the heart of a mother to care for the global environment. Local ASEZ members, along with male adults, female adults, and students of various ages, gathered at Teluk Likas Beach at 8 a.m. Among Kota Kinabalu’s many scenic spots, Teluk Likas Beach is especially popular with locals. From afar, the beach looked beautiful, but up close, it was covered in trash. Plastic bottles carried by the waves, scraps of cloth wedged between rocks, and even a discarded tire buried in the sand—seeing the beach suffering under so much waste was heartbreaking. We immediately put on gloves and began picking…

Han Sun-ju from Daegu, Korea

Cleaning Even the Hidden Corners

During the school break, the Church of God University Student Volunteer Group (ASEZ) carried out a street cleanup in Christchurch, New Zealand. The event was especially meaningful as it brought together not only ASEZ members from Korea, but also a local environmental group leader and ASEZ members from the University of Canterbury and Ara Institute of Canterbury. The volunteer activity took place along the Avon River and its surrounding trails. According to local officials, the area—popular among residents for walking and exercising—often becomes littered with household waste. We began the cleanup with the goal of improving both the environment and public awareness. Despite the chilly weather and strong winds, every volunteer worked hard at their assigned locations. The riverside and…

Gahng Ryun-gi from Seoul, Korea

Joyful Even in the Rain

On a cloudy and chilly Sunday, the weather forecast predicted a 90% chance of rain right at the time we were scheduled to carry out a street cleanup. We were concerned about whether the activity could go ahead as planned. Not long after we began, heavy rain started pouring, just as predicted. We ran to a nearby small shelter to take cover. Huddled together under the narrow roof, we waited for the rain to stop, chatting and singing songs to lift our spirits. The rain lasted for about an hour, leaving the streets muddy, but our determination remained unshaken. Some of us rolled up our sleeves and used shovels to gather the mud-covered trash. Others sang cheerfully to keep everyone’s…

Tapiwa Toruvanda from Harare, Zimbabwe

Creating a Future Free of Crime

ASEZ, the university student volunteer group of the Church of God, identifies global issues and puts creative solutions into practice. On this occasion, we visited elementary, middle, and high schools near our campuses and conducted “Reduce Crime Together (RCT) School,” a character education program for crime prevention through collaboration. Today’s youth, the leaders of tomorrow, are increasingly exposed to various crimes. As university students who have recently passed through that stage of life, we wanted to help our younger peers develop sound thinking and grow up in a safe environment. With that goal in mind, members from Dong-A University and Busan Health University joined forces to deliver the RCT School program to nearby high school students. It was our first…

ASEZ from Dong-A University and Busan Health University, Korea

Planting Gratitude and Joy in the Rain

In early July 2024, around 80 members of the Syari Church in Gangtok, Sikkim, India, participated in a tree-planting activity to combat climate change and prevent desertification. The Forest Department provided 210 saplings to support the effort. Although the planting site was in a remote area that required passing through a police checkpoint, the activity proceeded smoothly with the department’s assistance. On the day of the event, heavy rain began falling in the morning, yet the members’ faces remained bright. The rain, which continued throughout the day, was regarded as a “blessed rain” granted by God. Newly planted saplings must be watered generously to take root and grow well, and thanks to the rain, there was no need to bring…

Syari Church, Gangtok, SK, India