Faith & Life

House Money Effect

In 2002, an American businessman won the lottery, claiming a massive sum of over 10 million dollars, marking the largest individual win in lottery history. Despite already being a millionaire as the CEO of a construction company, he chose to use his winnings for charitable donations and rehiring workers who had been laid off during the economic recession. While many lottery winners face bankruptcy, he appeared to manage his fortune responsibly, diligently maintaining his work. However, he, too, was human. Following his lottery win, he became entangled in over 400 lawsuits related to incidents like drunk driving, assault, and attempted theft of his money. Additionally, he experienced divorce and tragically lost his granddaughter to drug addiction. Despite once being hailed…

Meaning of a Good Deed

We were worried as the day of our volunteer work was approaching; because we could have a slight problem due to a lack of volunteers. However, on the appointed day, more brothers and sisters gathered than we had expected. Despite the hot weather, we carried out the cleanup with enthusiasm. While cleaning every corner of the park in Harare, many people came and went. We briefly introduced our Church of God to those who walked up to us and asked us where we were from and why we were picking up trash with such bright faces under the burning sun. A member from the city council, who assigned the area to us to clean, was amazed and said, “I’ve never…

The Harare Church in Zimbabwe

Live Without TV for a Week!

Today’s family life is getting desolate due to the development of digital gadgets such as TVs, computers, cellphones, and game consoles. It is because the demerits of lack of conversation among family members tag along behind the merits of the devices that make our lives convenient and comfortable. Among the gadgets, TV is very familiar to us and it has been in our lives longer than any others. Do you spend more time watching TV than having a conversation with your family? This month, be free from TV for a week at least. And find what can benefit you or what you can do with your family during the time instead. Then, you will spend your time much more profitably…

Treasure Hunt

Our Zion had a street cleanup on Yulha Café Street, the main street in Jangyu, Gimhae. It is an area where a continuous cleanup is required, as there are many stores including restaurants. Soon after we started the cleanup, the bags we had in our hands were filled with trash. It was because whenever we found some trash, we all got excited and picked it up and put it in the trash bags as if we had found some treasure. “Here! Over here!” Hearing the excited voices from here and there, I laughed for quite a while with a sister who was next to me, saying, “Our church members must be the only ones in the world who get excited…

Lee Ji-won from Gimhae, Korea

I’m Ready

As I started working at a new company with a new heart, I earnestly prayed that God would allow me to meet a soul longing for the truth. It was a small company with only three female employees, including me. One of them was around my age, and we undertook similar tasks, so we soon became dependent on each other. As we got closer to each other, it was natural that I wished her to be part of our heavenly family. At first, all I did was just tell her briefly about the Church of God and the Bible, saying, “I go to church,” and, “The biblical day of worship is the seventh day, which is Saturday.” One day, I…

Jo Eun-bi from Siheung, Korea

Heart-Warming Memories

In summer, we use the heat index, and in winter, we refer to the perceived temperature. Perceived temperature reflects the temperature felt on the skin, influenced by factors like humidity, solar radiation, and notably, wind. Wind has the most significant effect on perceived temperature, typically causing it to decrease by approximately 1–1.5°C for every 1 m/s increase in wind speed. For instance, if the temperature is 0°C [32°F] and the wind speed is 10 m/s, the perceived temperature would drop to -15°C [5°F]. To raise the perceived temperature, it’s crucial to dress warmly with items like scarves, hats, and gloves to cover any exposed skin. Another method involves recalling happy memories. Researchers at the University of Southampton Psychology Department in…

God’s Gift

“How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?” Ro 10:14 In the pursuit of saving souls, the presence of an evangelist is undeniably crucial. I fervently prayed for the opportunity to fulfill this sacred role and to encounter a soul yearning for God's guidance. Finally, my prayers were answered, and I met someone who fit this description perfectly. To my surprise, she expressed a deep thirst for spiritual nourishment upon hearing the word church. Despite her efforts to find solace in various congregations, she had become disheartened by the lack of…

Kim Mi-hee from Geoje, Korea

Work Done by God’s Power

Recently, I was worried about participating in the short-term mission to Congo. It’s because I never used French spoken by the Congolese people. Even though I am not fluent in the language, God gave me courage and strength. “So he said to me, ‘This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the LORD Almighty.” Zec 4:6 Thanks to these words that I engraved on my mind throughout the mission, I was able to bear good fruit. Truly, a man’s ability does not matter as long as everything is done by the Holy Spirit of God. I no longer depend on my weak abilities. I only pray earnestly for…

Tapiwa Toruvanda from Harare, Zimbabwe

Love Is Patience

I’ve been preaching to my family and friends for years, but they didn’t respond. As I had no fruit for a long time, though being a young adult like the dew of the dawn as prophesied in the Bible, I worried that I might become like a fruitless autumn tree. Then one day, I came to realize what’s the most important element in saving a soul. When a preaching festival was in full swing, I met a woman who was taking a walk with her dog. The sister who was with me and I said hello to her, and when we asked her if she had time to listen to our preaching through the Bible, she readily said yes. After…

Noh Min-ah from Anyang, Korea

Serving With the Strength God Provides

“If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.” 1 Pe 4:11 Thanks to God’s grace, I’ve received much blessing by serving in Zion. However, I sometimes felt a little burdened with the duties. One day, I asked myself a question after reading this verse. ‘Did I serve in Zion with the strength God provides?’ If I did with the strength God provides, I would not feel tired but rather be joyful. How much more thanks I…

Kang Seon-yeong from Jinju, Korea

Revering God the Mother

Since receiving the truth, I have often seen and heard Heavenly Mother through church meetings. I always took this blessing for granted. However, a sermon I heard at the worship service gave me a sudden realization about what a great blessing it was. “I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.” Rev 21:2 The New Jerusalem, who came down from heaven, is Heavenly Mother. God the Mother, who is almighty, has come down to this earth to be with Her children. Hearing Heavenly Mother’s voice directly and seeing Her, our holy Mother, with our own eyes! How can this be regarded as a small…

Mi-ju Seo from Incheon, Korea

In the Love of Mother

My dad was the oldest son. After my mom got married to my dad, she looked after her parents-in-law, brothers and sisters-in-law, and her five children, and also did the farming work. I think she was destined to work a lot in life. To make matters worse, my family got in difficulty in living; my older sister got a big operation and my dad became sick, and so my mom had to even work in a factory. Whenever she came back home late at night, she couldn’t rest, doing house chores. Back in those days, we didn’t have a washing machine. So the biggest problem was doing laundry in winter. Whenever the water pipe froze due to cold weather, she…

Kim Sun-ho from Incheon, Korea

Father’s Hometown

“When we get a chance, I want to go visit my hometown with you all.” My father used to say this all the time. Whenever he said that, my sister and I would always answer indifferently, “Okay. Let’s go some day.” It took a long time for “that some day” to come. After getting married, I visited my father regularly, but I couldn’t afford to take him to his hometown. My father’s physical disability also played a part. As each year went by, he missed his hometown more and more. “I need to go there before I die. I miss my sister . . .” My father’s sad eyes seemed to be telling me that I shouldn’t delay any longer.…

Seo Jin-hee from Busan, Korea

God Is Patient With Us, Wanting Everyone to Be Saved

The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. 2 Pe 3:9 This is a scripture that made me cry during the second study after receiving the truth. The sister who was teaching me the Bible thought I was crying because I got scared of disasters, and she tried to comfort me, but that’s not why I was crying. Tears welled up in my eyes, because I felt so thankful to realize that God had been patiently waiting for me in order to save me. God’s patient love, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance! I,…

Kim Ok-gyeong from Uijeongbu, Korea

Whether They Listen or Fail to Listen

I flew to Europe to fulfill God’s word to preach the gospel to the whole world. Whenever I ask people here, “Have you heard of God the Mother?” many of them walk away, waving their hands as if they don’t care. I sometimes feel discouraged, but I have a source of energy that wells up. “Go now to your countrymen in exile and speak to them. Say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says,’ whether they listen or fail to listen.” Eze 3:11 Every single word in the Bible is fulfilled without fail. It is the same with preaching the news of salvation to all the peoples of the world. That’s why I boldly preach Heavenly Mother today,…

Jeong Hye-in from Guri, Korea

One Shot

There was once an exceptionally talented archery athlete who, despite his skill, found himself faltering in competitions after a single mistake. Frustrated by his inability to showcase his full potential, he sought guidance from his coach. In response, the coach offered a seemingly perplexing instruction: “Henceforth, you shall shoot only one arrow each day.” Though initially bewildered by the directive, the athlete complied, trusting in his coach’s wisdom. Day after day, he honed his craft with just a single shot at the target. In due course, the athlete emerged victorious in a crucial competition, finally breaking free from his string of setbacks. Grateful for his success, he approached his coach, seeking an explanation for the unorthodox training regimen. The coach,…

Exercise Keeps Family Happy

In our modern lives, we can receive the items we want at home without going to the market, and we can get documents without going to a government office. We can go anywhere by various means of transportation like car. Thus, the development of civilization has brought convenience and leisure to our lives, but this reduced the chance to move our bodies. Even the most basic exercise, walking, is not done properly. Lack of exercise leads to obesity as well as various diseases such as metabolic syndrome and chronic illnesses. Medicine is developing, but the number of patients with heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, diabetes, and cancer is increasing; this is because of lack of exercise. The diseases caused…

Why Was It Considered Impossible Back Then Even Though It Can Be Done Now?

Once deemed impossible to scale Mount Everest without an oxygen mask, this belief endured until the late 1970s. However, Reinhold Messner and Peter Habeler defied this notion in 1978, accomplishing the unprecedented feat of ascending Mount Everest without supplemental oxygen. Their success was the culmination of rigorous training to acclimate to the high-altitude, oxygen-deprived conditions of alpine environments. Since then, over 150 climbers globally have conquered Everest's towering summit, exceeding 8,000 meters, forsaking the use of oxygen apparatus. Why was it considered impossible back then even though it can be done now?

Good Energy of Voluntary Service

The day before the street cleanup in Namyang-eup, my body felt heavy and my head ached; it seemed that I caught a cold. However, I didn’t want to miss the opportunity to do voluntary service after a long time. The next day, when I arrived at the gathering place and put on the yellow vest, I felt energized somehow. As it was the day when a five-day interval Namyang village market was opened, there were lots of people, and the crowded streets were dirty with trash. While we were picking up trash with no time to stand up, sweat rolled down my back. The breeze that blew once in a while didn’t feel cold but refreshing. During the street cleanup, the…

Hong Hyeon-ja from Hwaseong, Korea

Demonstration of God’s Love

“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Ro 5:8 No one would dare to die for someone else. It’s even harder to give up one’s life for a sinner. However, there is One who demonstrated His sure love for us by being crucified in our stead while we were still unforgivable sinners. He is our Heavenly Father. Is there a greater demonstration of love than this? Now, we want to demonstrate our sure love to our Heavenly Father who loved us even to the point of death, by completely changing under His grace.

Lee Eun-suk from Saket, New Delhi, DL, India