Faith & Life

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

The More We Love Our Heavenly Family

“So I will very gladly spend for you everything I have and expend myself as well. If I love you more, will you love me less?” 2 Co 12:15 This verse beautifully reflects the spirit of sacrifice that Apostle Paul had—his willingness to give up even himself for the sake of the people of God. Sometimes, loving our heavenly family requires sacrifice, patience, and endurance. Yet in the end, when all members come to understand that love and share it with one another, our hearts overflow with joy and gratitude. Remembering the love of Heavenly Mother, who gladly sacrificed everything for us, I will strive each day to serve and embrace my brothers and sisters in Zion.

Juhee Lee from Chennai, TN, India

From One to Four

Long ago, after giving birth to my daughter and while still recovering, I met members of the Church of God. At that time, I had been searching for the true God, wandering from one church to another. So when I heard the words of truth, I gladly received God. My husband, however, who placed great value on the Confucian traditions handed down in his family, was displeased that I attended church. The more I felt the piercing stares of my husband and his family, the more I devoted myself to serving my parents-in-law and keeping my faith with sincerity. Since God said, “There is a time for everything,” I believed that if I obeyed His teachings and endured patiently, the…

Kang Min, Suwon, Korea

Thanks to ‘Thank You’

People rely on each other in countless ways. Unless one lives entirely self-sufficiently in a remote place, meeting basic needs such as food, clothing, and shelter, we inevitably support and help one another. This fundamental aspect of life remains unchanged no matter how many years pass. When we receive kindness or assistance, whether significant or minor, we naturally feel inclined to give back in some way. At the very least, expressing gratitude is a simple yet meaningful way to acknowledge those who contribute to our happiness and well-being. Sometimes we leave words of thanks unspoken—because we feel awkward or shy, because we assume the other person already knows how we feel, or because we take their kindness for granted. Another…

God’s Providence and Love

“Mom, my tooth is coming in!” My nine-year-old daughter opened her mouth wide to show me a tiny new white tooth sprouting from her gums. Babies usually begin teething around six to eight months old, and by the age of five to eight, their baby teeth fall out and permanent teeth start to come in. As my daughter proudly showed me her new tooth, I suddenly felt God’s love. Though the tooth had pierced through the tender flesh of her gums, there was no bleeding, and she hardly felt any pain. When baby teeth grow, children often feel only a slight itchiness, causing them to rub their gums with their tongues or drool a little. I was amazed. Even in…

Choi Hyeong-sun from Cheongju, Korea

Not Getting Distracted

One day, I saw a young girl, probably in the lower grades of elementary school, walking along the street when she bumped her head against a roadside tree. Since the tree stood right next to the road, it could have easily led to a serious accident. The girl was holding a cell phone in her hand—she had been so absorbed in the screen that she didn’t even notice the tree before her. Watching her made my heart sink, especially as a mother raising a daughter. The walk of faith is much the same. We are meant to fix our eyes on heaven as our goal, yet I often find myself reflecting on whether I have ever been distracted by the…

Kim Hyun-im from Suncheon, Korea

The Value of a Glass of Milk

This is a true story that happened in America. A university student was thirsty while walking along the road. As he was passing by a farmer’s house, he knocked on the door to ask for something to drink. The farmer opened the door and asked his daughter to give him a glass of water. The girl brought him a big glass of milk and served it to the stranger wholeheartedly. As time passed, the girl grew up, and later became ill and had to undergo a surgery. The doctor in charge of the obstetric surgery was the university student who had come to her house many years ago. The surgery ended successfully, but the woman was worried about the expensive…

Be Conscious of God

In mid-November, the Namibia Zion in Africa planned a three-day short-term mission trip. The place we went to was Swakopmund, the second largest city in Namibia. Although we had our jobs and studies, we willingly volunteered for the mission. Those who could not go supported us with what was needed for the mission, wanting to participate in the gospel work of God. The short-term mission was prepared smoothly, but there was one thing that we were worried about: Most members received the truth less than a year ago, and a sister started her life of faith only five months ago. We were proud of the new members who were passionate, but at the same time worried if they would not…

Short-Term Mission Team to Swakopmund, Namibia

True Heroes

In American history, there are a group of people who conducted the “Underground Railroad,” who are now viewed as heroes. The reason is that they risked their lives in order to free slaves with a pure and loving motive, without receiving anything in return. From the 1600s until 1865, the slavery of African Americans was legal in the United States. There came a point in the 1800s when slavery was outlawed in the northern states of America but still legal in the southern states. During this period, many slaves tried to escape to the north so that they could live freely, though it was extremely difficult to do so. In order to assist in leading these slaves to freedom, many…

D. Carly Dinnie from Connecticut, U.S.