Faith & Life

Spreading Hope Across the Globe by Erasing Plastic Footprints

More than 330 members of the Gangbuk Central Church Association carried out the “Erasing Plastic Footprints” campaign around the Jungnangcheon and Uicheon Streams in Seoul. This volunteer activity was part of the “Global Hope Challenge,” held in celebration of the…

Kim Ju-yeong from Seoul, Korea

I’m Happy Because I Smile

It would be wonderful if we could always wear a bright and cheerful expression—but at times, that’s not so easy. Still, even in those moments, there is a secret to being able to smile: just go ahead and smile. In…

Dreaming of the Universe

In his writings, American astronomer Carl Sagan introduced the “Cosmic Calendar,” a model that compresses the 13.8-billion-year history of the universe into a single year. According to this scale, the Big Bang takes place at midnight on January 1, and…

Jo Mun-gyeong from Cheongju, Korea

A Truly Valuable Education

For students in the Church of God, the most anticipated time during school breaks is likely the student camp. Among the many programs offered, such as Bible studies, character education, volunteer work, and hands-on learning, my favorite activity is environmental…

Bae Sani-a from Daegu, Korea

Envisioning Instead of Predicting

The tablet PC is one of the smartest devices, often cited as one of the greatest inventions of the 21st century. It supports various functions, making it highly versatile and convenient to carry. The tablet PC began to gain popularity…

Gentle on the Outside, Strong on the Inside

Plantago asiatica springs back up even after being run over by a car tire. With its strong vitality, plantago asiatica is known to grow even better on paths where many people walk and it is frequently trampled. There are several…

The Blessing of the One who Reads God’s Word, Hears It, and Take It to Heart

While on an overseas mission, I met someone who attended church but had never once opened a Bible. Believing it to be a book reserved only for clergy, he had never read a single verse. I opened the Bible and…

Park Ji-ho from Seoul, Korea

Let’s Talk for a Thousand Years in Heaven

The greatest lesson I learned during my three-week overseas mission was the meaning of brotherly love. Until then, I had admired our overseas members from a distance, viewing them as amazing prophets and key figures in God’s prophecy, but I…

Park Min-ji from Seoul, Korea

Youth

General MacArthur, renowned for the Incheon Landing during the Korean War, was 70 years old when he served in that conflict. In his office, he always kept a poem he often read like a personal creed, Samuel Ullman’s “Youth.” Youth…

Kim Hae-gyeong from Taebaek, Korea

The Heart Behind ‘Animo!’

While I was briefly standing still after sharing the message of the Passover with passersby, I sensed someone slowly approaching. When the presence stopped beside me, I turned in surprise to see a person cheerfully exclaim, “Animo!” while handing me…

Ahn Ji-yeong from Gwangju, Korea

An Old Lady on the Platform

"Mind the gap" is a warning to watch the space between the train and the platform. At one time in the London Underground, this announcement was delivered in the gentle voice of an unknown actor. However, as digital technology was…

Preparing for Father’s Birthday

The three siblings gathered together to plan a birthday celebration for their father. As their father was turning sixty, the children wanted to prepare something special and put their heads together to come up with ideas. After much discussion, they…

Fresh Strawberries and Rotten Ones

On a table sat a basket of strawberries. Most were fresh, but about 15% were spoiled. Children were divided into two groups. One group was asked to pick out the fresh strawberries, and the other group to pick out the…

The Reason for Differences in Skill Level

Psychologist Gary McPherson had a question about children who play musical instruments: “Why do children progress so differently even when they receive the same lessons?” To find the answer, he randomly selected 157 children who had just begun learning to…

Although I Am Less Than the Least of All God’s People

I wanted to be like Apostle Paul, who preached the gospel of the new covenant with tireless passion, enduring countless hardships and persecutions. While reflecting on his life, I came across this verse: Although I am less than the least…

Lee U-rim From Guayaquil, Ecuador

Good Harvest From Good Soil

I visited my younger sister’s weekend farm on Ganghwa Island to harvest garlic and onions. The garlic cloves we had planted individually last fall had grown into six-clove garlic by the time of harvest. My sister and her husband were…

Ahn Hee-yeon from Seoul, Korea

Between Mistakes and Self-Reproach

As the saying goes, sports are an unscripted drama. The outcome of a game depends not only on the athlete’s skill, but also on various factors such as condition, weather, and the environment of the playing field. One of the…

Action

In a barley field lived a family of larks, huddled together in a cozy spot. One day, the mother lark said to her baby larks, “When the barley is harvested, we’ll have to move.” A few days later, the owner…

Joy Upon Joy

I actively participate in the church’s regular volunteer services. Recently, I joined a drainage maintenance activity. I had come across news reports stating that blocked drains could cause flooding during the monsoon season, so this was a perfectly timed effort…

Kim Sun-jeong from Gumi, Korea

Affluenza

In the state of Texas, United States, a teenage boy from a wealthy family caused the deaths of four people while driving under the influence of alcohol. The boy’s parents stated, “We gave him everything he wanted, but he suffered…