Faith & Life

I Have Prayed for You

When I was a college student, I had many gospel activities. One of the most memorable experiences was having a prayer gathering with some Zion members in a lecture room. We used to meet at 8 a.m. before lectures began. As I was living far from my campus, I had to take a subway train at 6 a.m. to join the prayer gathering. Moreover, I often stayed up until daybreak to write reports and to study for exams. Although my body was tired, my heart was full of joy. Every time we gathered, we read the Bible. The following verses still remain in my mind. “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for…

Kim Min-ji from Virar East, Virar, MH, India

The Power of Unity

What do you think is the scariest animal in the jungles of Africa? You might think of a ferocious beast that has sharp teeth and strong claws, but there is an animal which even ferocious beasts are afraid of. That is the ‘ant.’ Ants move in a group, stretching over 5 kilometers (3.11 miles). All other animals, when they see a swarm of ants, get frightened and run away quickly. Even elephants, the largest animals on land, run away screaming, and lions also run away in the opposite direction from the ants as fast as they can. The reason why those animals are scared of ants is because of their tremendous teamwork. A single ant is so trivial, but when…

A New Dream Found in My Country

When I was about to enter middle school, my family’s circumstances got bad suddenly, and I had to leave my family and live with my aunt in America; I had to emigrate out of the blue, leaving my loving family. Fortunately, the life on the opposite side of the world wasn’t so bad. At school, there were many friends of my age from Korea, and I quickly became a friend of American students. Not long after I moved to America, my grandmother who was worried about me came to America and she left me no room to feel lonely or alienated. But I still missed Korea. A few years passed and I was more familiar with my life in America…

Lee Min-gyu from Seongnam, Korea

Until the Morning Star Rises in Your Hearts

It was when I was in the first year of high school. The math teacher handed out papers with an interesting pattern and told us how to look at it. When I did as the teacher directed, after a good while, I could see a three-dimensional shape built on the flat picture. Excited, I took it home and showed it to my mom. My mom, who succeeded at the end of a longer challenge, was amazed, seeing the picture again and again. The picture was a Magic Eye. A few years later, I received the truth through my older sister. Then my mom came to mind first. Mom was always living a hard life, raising her eight children along with…

Lim Ji-yeon from Seongnam, Korea

True Filial Piety

There is no one who likes sinners in this world. If someone has committed a heinous crime against God and humanity and everyone points the finger of blame at him, saying, “He deserves to be put to death,” even his family may be unwilling to go near him. However, a mother is different. She always stands by the side of her child even though all people in the world turn their faces away from him. Sometimes she may rebuke and whip her child because she wants him to grow up to be an upright person, but she can never give up on her child. She is the only person who can say to her child, “I still love you,” and…

The Mind of Mother

This person became the originator of “shiyi” (an imperial official who supervised food for a king) in China. This person also did all the household chores as a slave in the family, and that person was a teacher of everyone in the family. There is a legend that when this person was alive, there were mountains all over the country, but when this person died, the whole land was covered by water. Who do you think this person is? This is a famous riddle, which was once asked by a heroine in a TV drama that was broadcast in Korea. Yes, the answer is a “mother.” Shiyi (a dietetic physician or a food doctor) cared about the health of the…

Tied with the Bond of Peace

I am rather hot-tempered. I’ve become somewhat patient after becoming a child of God, but I haven’t completely changed yet. One day, my impetuosity hurt a member’s feeling. Regretting it, I was reading the Bible to look for a solution. Then these verses caught my attention. “Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” Ephesians 4:2–3 “Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace”—these words resounded in my heart. When things didn’t go my way, when somebody misunderstood my words or action, and when somebody thought the very opposite from what I thought,…

D.Tuvshinjargal from Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

With a Sense of Ownership

“The one with a sense of responsibility is the owner, and the one without it is a guest.” In the semester opening worship service, the words of Ahn Chang-ho, a Korean independence activist, echoed in my mind. If I take the initiative in whatever for the gospel with a sense of responsibility, I will get a good result. At the thought, my heart all of a sudden became full of excitement and anticipation; actually, I was half full of worries and half full of excitement before I started my campus life. As the new semester began, I made many close friends, and so I had many opportunities to deliver the truth. Moreover, Zion was right in front of my college,…

Kim Min-tae from Seoul, Korea

Witnesses

When people purchase something, if it is a simple product, they buy it after considering just a couple of factors, without much thought. However, if it is an item of high value, they find it difficult to decide whether to buy it or not. They carefully examine every aspect of the product so that they will not suffer any loss or damage. For this, many of them refer to the customer comments or reviews on the product. When it comes to their health which is much more valuable, they become more cautious. They prick up their ears to hear from those who know well by experience which hospital diagnoses patients precisely and provides appropriate treatment for them. It is the…

Repentance

“Please forgive me for my lack of love for my brothers and sisters.” “Please forgive me for my disobedience to Your words.” There were many times when I could ask God for forgiveness—on the Sabbath day and Third day every week, and the Day of Atonement when we confess all of our sins committed throughout the year. However, I just repeated vague prayers without sincerity. I knew my wrongs, but I just thought God would forgive me and prayed for my wishes rather than for contrition. I really never knew how to repent. Then this one verse changed me: “In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for,…

Jang Min-gyeong from Seongnam, Korea

The Trap of Habit

Running water purifies itself, but stagnant water, although it may look calm and peaceful, is bound to go rotten sooner or later. It is the same with people. When they behave according to their habits, they may feel comfortable because they are accustomed to them. However, when they try to change their habits, they find it tiresome and difficult to do so. If they become so familiar with their habits and do not try to change themselves or attempt something new for a long time, they fall into lazy habits or routines. Indulging in indolence and lethargy, they just keep themselves from attempting to change their thoughts and behaviors, and eventually they end up confining themselves in their habitual routines,…

Parents’ Joy and Happiness

This happened when we were driving to Wisconsin to see my husband’s mother who had hidden her sickness from us and only had a short time to live. It was not a planned trip but rather an emergency to be with her. Not to speak of worries about her health, it was not an easy trip with three active young girls in their car seats for hours. It was when we were driving through Montana. There was nothing but the sun and an ever stretching road before us. Talking to my husband about his mother, we were tired with mixed emotions. But all of a sudden, all three girls began to laugh aloud! We didn’t even know why they were…

Kristy Burkholder from Seattle, WA, U.S.

A Businessman Full of Vitality

There was a businessman who was always working joyfully, full of vitality. As his business prospered day after day, a journalist came to interview him. “You have such a bright face. Do you always smile like that?” “Yes, I do. I can’t help but smile because I am probably the most blessed person in the world.” “But life doesn’t always go the way you want it to, does it? I think there must have been dark clouds in your life.” “Yes, of course, but how could I expect a rain of blessings if there were no clouds in my life?”

God Does Not Break a Bruised Reed

I met God when I was going through many things. What would have happened to my soul if God had not given me a hand; I don’t even want to think about it. I was grateful that I could smile again after meeting God. However, the human heart is unpredictable. I soon started running out of the new strength I’d gained through the blessings of Heavenly Father and Mother as I was tossed about by temptations and storms of life. It was God’s word of love that saved my dying soul. “A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out, till he leads justice to victory.” Mt 12:20 “Ah! I was a bruised…

Kim Tae-hui from Cheongju, Korea

No Longer Live for Themselves

I had many changes in my life after accepting the truth and realizing the existence of the heavenly family and the Heavenly Parents who give life to my soul. The blessing of eternal life that I’ve received through the Passover skimmed fear off my mind, and the precious teachings of the Bible revived my soul day after day. Now, after more than a decade, I come to realize that the blessings I’ve received in the truth were not free of charge. “And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.” 2 Co 5:15 When my younger brothers and sisters were born in a…

Yun Eun-ju from Goyang, Korea

Advice from Editors

Barry Farber, a successful American consultant, was rejected 26 times until he was able to publish his first book. When he was rejected for the sixth time, he made a phone call to the publishing company. “What should I do to publish my book? Please tell me what I’m lacking in.” From that time forth, whenever he was rejected, he asked the editors what his manuscript was lacking in and took the necessary steps to make up for it. Finally, he received an offer to publish his book, and he said. “This book includes advice from 26 competent editors.”

Families of Great Men

There are people who inspire many people of the world: Those who left great achievements, those who realized their dreams after overcoming difficulties, and those who constantly researched and became successful in their fields. Their words and life stories about overcoming trials are passed down from generation to generation and sometimes become the role models for others. These great men could make such great achievements because they too were positively influenced by some others like their respected teachers and close friends. But most of all, their family members trusted and supported them to the end. As Mahatma Gandhi said, “There is no school equal to a decent home and no teacher equal to a virtuous parent,” it is no exaggeration…

The Secret of Getting First Place

There was a farmer who always got first place whenever an agricultural exposition was held. He always handed out his best seeds to his neighboring farmers. When people asked him for the reason, he said with a smile, “When wind blows, seeds and pollen are dispersed all over by the wind. If my neighboring farmers grow crops of poor quality, the pollen from the crops will be blown onto my fields and it will lower the quality of my crops. So, my neighbors’ farming is my farming.”

We Share Warmth

When it comes to a university campus, you may think of a clean space where future leaders and intellectuals stay. But in reality, you can see everywhere disposable cups, overflowing garbage bins, and dirty restrooms. You’ll often frown. Strangely though, it becomes clean when the morning comes. It is thanks to those who clean the campus from early in the morning. Our club members decided to express our gratitude to those who work hard on the campus for us to study under pleasant conditions. When we delivered cards and snacks, and gave ear to their stories, they were thankful. It was much more worthwhile than I had thought to share warmth with others. With a sense of ownership, we’ll take…

Lee Eun-ji from Seoul, Korea

I Will Be Joyful in God

I once struggled financially as my company went bankrupt. I tried many things, but I couldn’t find the answer. I felt like walking a long, dark tunnel alone. Thinking that I needed to pull myself together in times like this, I focused on listening to sermons, reading the Truth Books, the Bible more diligently. Among the verses I read, there was one verse that comforted me greatly. “Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God…

Park Min-gun from San Miguel, Argentina