Faith & Life

A Heaven-Like Home Filled with Heavenly Language

There’s a saying that goes, “A happy home is a little bit of heaven in advance.” Heaven is filled with joy and delight every single day, and the angels who live there speak a beautiful, gentle heavenly language. In the same way, a happy home is built on beautiful words—words filled with consideration, kindness, and humility. Happiness blooms where such words are spoken. And in a home like that, can’t we taste a glimpse of heaven even now? This month, try using this heavenly language generously with your family. A home where both the speaker and the listener feel joy through warm, loving words—surely that place would feel just like heaven. Tip Examples of Heavenly Language Words of affirmation: “That’s…

Meeting a Coworker on a Short-Term Mission Trip

While in Korea, I went on a short-term mission trip to Batasan Hills, a neighborhood in Quezon City, the Philippines. Before our departure, I looked up the location of the Zion we would be visiting—and was shocked to discover that it was very close to my company’s Quezon City branch. I had even spent two months there on a business trip two years prior, so the area felt familiar. I couldn’t help but imagine the joyful possibility of meeting my boss or a coworker there and sharing the truth with them. As the name "Hills" suggests, Batasan Hills was filled with steep slopes. Walking up and down the hills repeatedly reminded me of our Heavenly Father, who walked through mountain…

Kim Shin-hyeong from Mandaluyong, the Philippines

A Note on the Gas Valve

My wife often uses the gas stove, but every so often she forgets to turn off the gas valve afterward. I mentioned it to her a few times, but the habit didn’t really change. So one day, I wrote a small reminder—“Please check the gas valve after use”—and placed it just below the valve. The next day, after cooking and eating some ramen, I was resting in bed when my wife called out from the kitchen. “Honey! Why didn’t you turn off the gas valve?” I had forgotten too. Trying to sound casual, I said, “Even monkeys fall from trees sometimes,” but inwardly I couldn’t help but laugh. I felt embarrassed. I had been quick to point out her mistakes,…

Choi Seok-hwi from Seongnam, Korea

‘Hey, Almond, Calm Down!’

Everyone carries an “almond” inside their body. It’s actually the amygdala, a part of the brain named for its almond-like shape and size. The amygdala processes and responds to emotions, and it becomes especially active when we feel negative emotions. Once it is activated, stress hormones are immediately released. This is why keeping the amygdala calm is essential for both mental and physical health. This month, take care to keep your own—and your family’s—“almonds” relaxed and steady. When our emotions are stable, health and happiness naturally follow. Tip How to Keep Your Amygdala Calm and Stable Eat a balanced diet (especially omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants, and B vitamins). Get sufficient sleep. Take walks in nature. Engage your brain positively through…

Memories of a Train Ticket

With the holidays approaching, I logged onto the train reservation site to visit my family home for the first time in a long while. Holiday tickets are always in high demand—you have to log in early and wait in a virtual line before reservations officially open. After preparing carefully and trying my best, I barely managed to book a ticket. I checked the ticket again to tell my parents what time I’d arrive. But oh no— The departure time was different from what I remembered. I had made mistakes with train tickets before, so I thought I was being extra careful this time . . . but I still slipped up. That mistake brought back an unforgettable memory from long…

Kim Hye-seon from Seoul, Korea

God Planned Everything

After I accepted the truth, my mom and younger sister became heavenly family members the very next year. But my dad was different. He wouldn’t even listen to the message. Perhaps it was the influence of my grandmother, who used to run a prayer center, and my uncle, who was a pastor of a pioneering church—whatever the reason, my dad became furious whenever I brought up the truth and forbade me from speaking another word about it. Even as time passed, he remained immovable. Still, I was thankful that he no longer stopped me from going to church. They say that in every crisis, there is opportunity. It was during the COVID-19 pandemic that my dad began to change. Early…

Yeon Bo-rah mi from Jeju, Korea

Let’s Hold a Family Workshop!

Even though we may spend many hours together at the same workplace, staying focused on tasks often leaves little room for genuine communication. That’s why companies organize workshops—so employees can share ideas for future growth in a relaxed environment. Workshops aren’t just for business discussions; they’re also opportunities to strengthen teamwork through fun and engaging activities. So, why not bring this idea into your home? Try holding a “family workshop,” where everyone gathers to reflect on the past year and enjoy meaningful time together. This December, the final month of the year, create a warm and cheerful atmosphere with your loved ones and welcome the new year with unity and joy! Tip Ideas for Your Family Workshop Present the goals…

Question Mark Letter

Not long ago, while organizing my emails, a few messages caught my eye. They were from my younger sibling. Back when I was abroad and phone calls were hard to make because of local conditions, my mom had asked my sibling to email me on her behalf. When I opened those emails, nothing in them looked particularly special at first—just a series of questions: “Did you arrive safely?” “Are you adjusting to the time difference?” “Are you feeling okay?” “Did you unpack your things?” “Are you getting used to the food?” “Mom is so curious about how you’re doing. What happened today?” Worried about her daughter living in a foreign country for the first time, my mom had poured all…

Choi Yae-ju from Hwaseong, Korea

There Is a Zion Even in the Distant Island Nation of Micronesia

Micronesia, located in the western Pacific Ocean, is a federation of more than 600 small islands—fitting its name, which means “small islands.” Its total land area is slightly smaller than New York City, and it has a population of about 110,000. Although it lies closest to countries such as the Philippines to the west and Papua New Guinea to the south, the vast distances mean that few travelers or flights pass through. The gospel began to spread in Micronesia in 2017, when a sister from this country heard the truth through a relative living in Hawaii. Then in 2019, members of the Los Angeles Church in the United States carried out a short-term mission trip to help establish Zion in…

Short-term Mission Team to Pohnpei, Micronesia

On the Frontline of Obedience and Devotion

During my school break, I took part in a three-week short-term mission trip to Accra, the capital of Ghana in West Africa. From the moment I began planning the trip, my heart was already in Accra, longing to contribute to the completion of world evangelism. However, preparing for the journey wasn’t easy. The visa I applied for at the embassy a month before departure kept getting delayed, and I had to endure days of anxiety until just one day before my flight. Thankfully, God made a way. The Ghanaian government had temporarily implemented a visa-on-arrival policy for foreigners, allowing me to receive my visa at the airport and enter the country safely. Since the path had opened with difficulty, I…

Gang Cho-yeon from Incheon, Korea

My Sheep Listen to My Voice

The owner of the hair salon I used to visit recently accepted the truth. When she first heard about God the Mother, she was shocked and said, “I’ve been running this salon in this same spot for ten years, and I’ve never once heard about God the Mother.” Hearing that, I was even more surprised—there were still souls who had never heard the truth, not even once. Her family used to gather every Sunday at a large church in Seoul, but after witnessing severe corruption, including hereditary pastoral leadership, they decided to attend different churches near their homes. The salon owner herself, discouraged by pastors whose lives seemed far from God’s teachings, moved to another church—only to find that it…

Park Yoon-hui from Seongnam, Korea

Children like Isaac

Just as people say a day without laughter is a day wasted, laughing is the best medicine. Laughing is contagious. If you laugh, many good things happen. However, people don’t laugh very well. Perhaps, there may be nothing to laugh in this competitive modern society where materialism, individualism, and selfishness remain rife. Probably, the time we laugh most in our lifetime must be when we were babies where we had less of those. Sure enough, some sources say babies laugh as instinctive behavior to protect themselves from their newborn days. From about eight weeks after birth, they start smiling by looking at other people’s faces; and at around 52 weeks, they build up their social interactions and laughter is at…

Jo Mun-gyeong from Daejeon, South Korea

The Secret to Success

Restaurant A is the most successful stew restaurant in town. There was one man who went to restaurant A frequently. One day, he went to restaurant A to eat, but there were so many people that there was no empty seat there. While waiting for his turn, he looked at restaurant B located right next to restaurant A. Although restaurant B too serves the same stew as there was no one but flies flying around. The man was curious and asked the owner of restaurant A, “This restaurant always has so many people. What is the reason that your restaurant is doing better than the one next door?” “It’s because the two restaurants are selling different products.” “What do you…

Mom’s Half Memory

I have an unforgettable memory. One night when I was in elementary school, I had sharp pain in my lower abdomen. I just thought it was due to indigestion, but my mom noticed that something was wrong with me, and she took me to the emergency room. As she had expected, the result was not good. They said my appendix had become so swollen that it was on the verge of rupture, which could lead to peritonitis if I arrived a few days later. I changed into a patient gown and lay down on the operating table. Everything happened so suddenly. After the surgery, I started groaning as the anesthetic wore off. My groan turned into a scream. The doctor…

Park Su-bin from Seoul, South Korea

A Mother’s Heart That Seems to Understand the Heart of Heavenly Parents

I prepared pork ribs for dinner as a special side dish for my children, who had worked hard studying during their exam period. From draining the blood, removing the fat, boiling the ribs, then simmering them in seasoning with large chunks of potatoes, onions, and carrots—it took time and effort. Still, when I thought about how much my children would enjoy eating them, it didn’t feel troublesome at all. As soon as they came home, my hungry children clamored for food, and I proudly set a plate full of ribs before them. “Wow!” Hearing their delighted reaction made me happy. Because of my children’s picky eating—choosing only the ribs—what was left for me were the potatoes and carrots. Yet, simply…

Park Hye-young from Gimhae, Korea

Soft Words, Open Hearts

When you imagine the most comfortable position, you probably picture yourself lying in bed or relaxing on a sofa. Soft mattresses and fluffy cushions help your body release tension—and when the body relaxes, the mind follows. In the same way, for our words to reach someone’s heart with comfort, they, too, should be soft—like a cushion for the ears and mind. This kind of thoughtful communication becomes especially important in moments when conflict could arise: making a request, turning someone down, offering advice, or expressing a different opinion. In those situations, it is crucial to speak in a way that conveys your message without hurting the other person’s feelings. Gentle, respectful language helps your words land softly, making them more…

Good, Great, and Precious

With pride in being a citizen of Korea, I always tried to live honorably before others. Through various jobs, I met many people, and later I went to the United States to study the academic field I had long admired. There, I was exposed to cutting-edge knowledge and technology. Having lived as an engineer and scholar all my life, I was dismissive of religion. I never rejected anyone for their faith, but I was repeatedly disappointed by the improper conduct of some religious people, both at home and abroad. Deep down, I would sigh, thinking, “If you claim to believe, you shouldn’t behave like that.” I resolved never to live that way. Three years after settling in Jeju, Korea, I…

Kim Kwang-min from Seogwipo, Korea

The Prophet of the Nations Who Walks With God

By the grace of God, I am preaching the gospel in Japan. There are moments of deep joy, but also many moments of sorrow while sharing the gospel. It is not because of those who refuse to listen or try to hinder the work, but because I am not yet fluent in Japanese. If only I could speak a little better, this person might come to God. What if my poor Japanese prevents the truth from being delivered properly? While giving thanks to Heavenly Father and Mother for granting me the precious opportunity to preach the gospel abroad, I also felt sorry and inadequate because of my shortcomings. One day, while reading the Bible to strengthen my heart, a passage…

Baek Su-yeon from Sendai, Japan

Thank You for Not Giving Up on Me

When I first started working, I met an older colleague. For eight years we stayed in touch, and I am overjoyed to share that she recently received the blessing of new life. I had been steadily sharing the words of truth with her, but she did not accept the existence of God. Eventually, I no longer knew what more to say, and time simply passed in silence. Then one night, I had a dream. In the dream, she sent me a message saying, “Let’s go to a café.” When I woke up and checked my phone, to my amazement, there was a missed call from her. I called her back and told her about the dream. She laughed and said,…

Kim Saerom, Pyeongtaek, Korea

Beholding the Vision of the Gospel in Europe

From the very first online meeting to prepare for the mission until the moment we completed the work and returned home, every step of the Vienna mission journey became a time when the vision of the gospel in Europe was deeply engraved upon my heart. On the third day after arriving in Vienna, Austria, I was in the midst of preaching the truth. Then suddenly tears welled up in my eyes, and I struggled to hold them back. My legs were swollen, my body weary, and my mind burdened by pressure—but above all, my heart was filled with sorrow toward Heavenly Father. After only a few days of missionary work, I already felt so exhausted; then I realized how unimaginable…

Lee Subin, Gangneung, Korea