Global News

Earthquake Recovery in Noto, Ishikawa, Japan

On June 30, more than 60 members from various regions in Japan, including Tokyo, Fukuoka, Osaka, Kyoto, Kobe, and Nagoya, gathered in the Noto area of Ishikawa. It is to help the local residents affected by the devastating earthquake that struck on January 1, measuring 7.6 in magnitude. Immediately following the earthquake, recovery efforts were delayed due to the risk of further collapses, and the government did not grant permission for volunteer involvement. However, on the last weekend of June, when civilian relief efforts were finally permitted, volunteers from the Church of God arrived to lend a helping hand. The earthquake, which occurred on New Year’s Day, claimed the lives of approximately 300 people in Ishikawa Prefecture, and over 8,000…

Japan

Jun 30, 2024

Global ASEZ Summit 2024

The term global warming was first introduced around 50 years ago, and now the world has entered an era of “global tropicalization.” With growing concerns about the future of mankind and the earth’s environment, there is an increasing call for achieving carbon neutrality and preserving biodiversity. The importance of international cooperation to address these challenges is also gaining more attention. ASEZ, the Church of God University Student Volunteer Group, held an event to raise awareness and explore solutions to these global issues, leveraging its worldwide network of active members. The event was the Global ASEZ Summit 2024, held on June 30 at the New Jerusalem Pangyo Temple. Under the theme “2024 New Vision: Strong Solidarity for Global Environmental Restoration,” this…

Korea

Jun 30, 2024

IWBA Entrance Ceremony 2024

The IWBA Entrance Ceremony 2024 was held to inspire young adult members who are striving to make the most of their time in a "split-second society" while balancing work and faith, and to welcome the new students of the International Worker Bible Academy [IWBA] as they take their first steps into society. The event took place on June 9 at the Okcheon Go&Come Training Institute, marking the beginning of a year of education for young adult workers. Approximately 10,000 attendees participated, including young professionals from across the country, soon-to-be graduates from universities and high schools, pastoral staff, young adult and student group guidance teachers, and overseas members visiting Korea. Side events showcased various activities such as IWBA, ASEZ WAO (the…

Korea

Jun 9, 2024

Bible Seminar, “Family, the Source of Happiness”

As the Month of Family came to a close, the Church of God organized a significant event to highlight the importance of family. On May 30, the New Jerusalem Pangyo Temple hosted a Bible seminar under the theme “Family, the Source of Happiness.” The seminar, held at 1 p.m. and 8 p.m., drew over 26,000 attendees, including church members and local residents. Additionally, the event was broadcast in 15 languages—such as English, Spanish, Nepali, Cambodian, and Mongolian—via YouTube, where it garnered over 12,000 views from around the world. The event buzzed with excitement as participants arrived early to mingle in the rest zone. Families and neighbors gathered to enjoy refreshments and casual conversation. At the photo zone, attendees posed with…

Korea

May 30, 2024

Temple Dedication Service of the Churches in Sydney and Adelaide, Australia

On August 25 and 28, two churches in Australia, the largest country in Oceania, held temple dedication services. General Pastor Kim Joo-cheol participated in these services, along with the Sabbath morning service at the Sydney Church and Third Day worship at the Adelaide Church. Overseers from across Australia, some from New Zealand, and members from nearby churches such as Brisbane and Cairns gathered for the occasion. Following the blessing of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost, the pastoral staff and members rejoiced and celebrated the temples dedications with unified hearts, reaffirming their commitment to advancing the gospel work in Oceania. General Pastor Kim Joo-cheol prayed for God Elohim’s love and blessings to abundantly spread across the entire continent…

Oceania

May 28, 2024

Ascension Day Service and Sacred Assembly of the Day of Pentecost 2024

Two thousand years ago in Jerusalem, 120 saints gathered in the Mark’s upper room. After witnessing Jesus ascend to heaven 40 days after His resurrection, they devoted themselves to prayer every day until they received the promised gift from God. Then, ten days later, on the day of Pentecost, they were filled with the Holy Spirit. Overcoming their fears and hesitation, they boldly preached the gospel with the power of the Holy Spirit, leading 3,000 and 5,000 people to the truth in a single day. They spread the message of Christ beyond Jerusalem to Europe, opening a new horizon for the gospel. The Church of God, which inherited the faith and the truth of the new covenant from the early…

May 19, 2024

79th Overseas Visiting Group

In the spring, when the charming Ipomoea flowers and colorful azaleas brightly lit up the streets, the 79th Overseas Visiting Group visited Korea with smiles as bright as the flowers. The group, consisting of about 120 members, included members from 20 countries such as the United States, Canada, Peru, Brazil, Spain, the United Kingdom, South Africa, New Zealand, and the Philippines. These individuals, working in various professional fields such as law, medicine, academia, media, and business, arrived around April 25 for a 7-night, 8-day schedule, during which they renewed their commitment as prophets who will fulfill the will of God in the Age of the Holy Spirit. Heavenly Mother welcomed the visiting group with love, who had flown to Heavenly…

Korea

May 3, 2024

São Paulo City Council in Brazil Holds Event to Celebrate the 60th Anniversary of the Establishment of the Church of God

To mark the 60th anniversary of the establishment of the church, the members of the Church of God worldwide are intensifying their efforts in volunteering to share God’s love and bring hope to their neighbors and communities. Welcomed and praised across various sectors, the celebration of the 60th anniversary of the establishment of the Church of God took place at the City Council of São Paulo, Brazil, the largest city in South America, amid such positive strides. This event was made possible through the suggestion of São Paulo City Councilor Edir Sales, who proposed it after witnessing the sincere volunteer activities of the Church of God University Student Volunteer Group [ASEZ] during a street cleanup last January. Impressed by the…

Brazil

May 2, 2024

Global Hope Supporters Launching Ceremony

“[People are being] crushed under the grinding wheels of poverty [and that] entire communities are literally on devastation’s doorstep because of changing climate. Now is the time to prove you are listening.” Secretary-General António Guterres made his appeal to the international society at the SDG Summit held at the United Nations Headquarters last September. Even after the end of the COVID-19 pandemic, humanity is suffering from ongoing turmoil such as Earth tropicalization, global economic crisis, and conflicts between peoples and nations. In response, the Church of God held the Global Hope Supporters Launching Ceremony at the seminar hall of the New Jerusalem Pangyo Temple on April 30. In celebration of the 60th anniversary of the Church of God, this event…

Korea

Apr 30, 2024

ASEZ in New Windsor, NY, U.S. Holds the Future Leaders Forum at Columbia University

On April 17, ASEZ, the Church of God University Student Volunteer Group, in New Windsor, NY, U.S., held the ASEZ Future Leaders Forum at the Low Library rotunda at Columbia University. About 90 people, including ASEZ members, South Sudan’s Permanent Representative to the UN, professors, and environmental activists participated, sharing opinions of the roles of the university students living in the era of climate crisis. Before the event, a panel exhibition was held to introduce ASEZ’s diverse climate response activities. Some of guests expressed their willingness to participate in ASEZ’s environment protecting activities. At the discussion that began around 1 p.m., the South Sudan’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Cecilia A.M. Adeng, and environmentalist Paul Presendieu served as panelists. Ms.…

U.S.

Apr 17, 2024

5th ASEZ WAO Street Campaign

According to a report by the Global Monitoring Laboratory (GML) of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), last year saw the largest increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide levels in 65 years of observations. Among the six major greenhouse gases that exacerbate global warming and contribute to global boiling, the concentrations of carbon dioxide and methane are now over 50% and 160% higher, respectively, compared with pre-industrial levels, accelerating the Earth’s warming. On April 14, ASEZ WAO, the Church of God Young Adult Worker Volunteer Group, conducted the 5th ASEZ WAO Street Campaign as part of the “Mother’s Forest” project. This initiative aims to plant 8 billion trees—one for each person on Earth—to help reduce greenhouse gases. In the lead-up…

Korea

Apr 14, 2024

The Sacred Assemblies of the Passover, the Feast of Unleavened Bread, and the Day of Resurrection 2024

On March 24, 2024 (the 14th day of the first month in the sacred calendar), the Sacred Assembly of the Passover convened simultaneously in 7,500 Churches of God across 175 countries. The following day, the 25th, marked the Sacred Assembly of the Feast of Unleavened Bread; and on the 31st, the day after the first Sabbath following the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the Sacred Assembly of Resurrection Day took place, following the ceremonies outlined in the Bible. Members worldwide participated in these feasts, expressing gratitude to Christ, who, through His sacrifice on the cross, granted the forgiveness of sins, rose again on the third day, and bestowed upon them the living hope of resurrection. The Church of God in Davao,…

Mar 31, 2024

Passover Bible Seminar 2024, “Finding the Way”

On March 20, four days before the Sacred Assembly of the Passover, the Church of God held the “Passover Bible Seminar 2024” to share God’s love and blessings contained in the Passover. The seminar emphasized the importance of the New Covenant Passover, established by Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins and the blessing of eternal life. It was held two times at the New Jerusalem Pangyo Temple at 1 p.m. and 8 p.m. (Korean time). About 5,000 people, including church members, their families, and neighbors, attended the event. The seminar was also live-streamed on YouTube, with around 19,000 participants watching from countries such as Germany, France, Singapore, East Timor, Japan, Hong Kong, Nepal, Malaysia, and more. The video was…

Korea

Mar 20, 2024

[Go&Come Interview] Journey Toward the Completion of the Gospel With Mother of Love

Reflecting on the past year and planning for the upcoming one, the General Assembly serves as a time for the pastoral staff dedicated to the gospel to receive comfort from Mother and gain new strength and courage. At the General Assembly 2024, which celebrated the 60th anniversary of the church, pastoral staff members from both domestic and international regions gathered to share vibrant gospel news and visions under Mother’s blessings and grace. During this period, what insights did the pastoral staff gain, and with what mindset did they resolve to approach their mission? Between the events, I had the opportunity to listen to the stories of the overseas pastoral staff. Their confident voices conveyed their great expectations for the busy…

Mar 13, 2024

General Assembly Awards Ceremony 2024 & Worldwide Gospel Vision Proclamation Ceremony

On March 10, one day before the new year by the sacred calendar, the General Assembly Awards Ceremony 2024 was held at the Okcheon Go&Come Training Institute along with the Worldwide Gospel Vision Proclamation Ceremony. This event served as an opportunity to not only review the gospel work last year but also to reflect on the 60-year history of the church and reaffirm the commitment to the “preaching to 8 billion people.” A total of 13,000 attendees, including title or position holders and the pastoral staff both domestic and overseas, participated in the General Assembly. During the first part of the worship service, Heavenly Mother expressed Her heartfelt gratitude to the members who dedicated themselves to the salvation of souls.…

Korea

Mar 10, 2024

General Assembly 2024

Around the New Year of the sacred calendar (March 11), from March 6 to 13, the “General Assembly 2024” was held at the New Jerusalem Temple in Pangyo, Korea. In commemoration of the 60th anniversary of the church’s establishment, this significant General Assembly saw the participation of overseas regional representative pastoral staff as well as domestic pastoral staff, lasting for 8 days and 7 nights. Expressing deep gratitude to God Elohim for paving the path of salvation through the new covenant and for leading them consistently with love and sacrifice, the pastoral staff took this opportunity to review the gospel resutls of 2023, recalibrate their mindset, and look forward to the grand future of the gospel. A Time of Encouragement…

Korea

Mar 6, 2024

Worldwide Academic Year Opening Worship 2024

International University Student Bible Academy [IUBA] is an educational program of the Church of God, which assists university students, who are taking their first steps in their young adulthood, to plan a healthy future with true faith and correct values based on the teachings of the Bible. Since its establishment in 2014, many university student members worldwide have grown into talented individuals through IUBA education, enriching their campus life. The Worldwide Academic Year Opening Worship, where students gather to prepare for a new beginning by focusing on the word of God before the new semester, carried even more significance this year as it coincided with the 10th anniversary IUBA. About 8,100 people, including current students, freshmen, graduates, parents, young adults…

Korea

Mar 3, 2024

Winter Student Camp & Elementary Winter Vacation Camp 2024

For students, vacation is like a gift that allows them to accumulate new experiences beyond the confines of the classroom. At the same time, it can also be a time when routines become irregular and distractions abound. The Church of God holds camps twice a year, in the first and second halves, to help students build a foundation in faith, cultivate upright character, and expanding perspectives during the vacation period. The Winter Student Camp and Elementary Winter Vacation Camp in 2024 were flexibly operated according to the circumstances of each church from early January to the end of February. Camps were also held overseas in countries such as the United States, New Zealand, Peru, and India to provide students with…

Feb 29, 2024

School Year Opening Worship for Students 2024

On February 25, ahead of the new school year, the “School Year Opening Worship for Students 2024” was held at the Okcheon Go&Come Training Institute. This ceremony aimed to instill confidence and dreams in students and offer support for their school life, marking the second event of its kind, following last year’s initiative. Approximately 12,000 people attended, including around 7,000 middle and high school students, their parents, pastoral staff, and student group guidance teachers. Before the main event, various side events were organized at the main building of the training institute. Students looked around these events to gather information about student-related programs and activities, and they wrote down their resolutions for school life and the future on memo pads, posting…

Korea

Feb 25, 2024

60 Churches of God in Seoul Awarded the Seoul Metropolitan City Council Chairman’s Award

60 Churches of God across Seoul received the Seoul Metropolitan City Council Chairman’s Award. This recognition acknowledges their ongoing commitment to a range of volunteer activities, including environmental cleanup, group blood donation, and welfare initiatives, all aimed at fostering the development of the local community. At two separate ceremonies held on January 15 and February 16 at the Seoul Metropolitan City Council Chamber, a total of 14 and 46 churches respectively were honored with awards. During the ceremony on February 16, Deputy Chairman Woo Hyung-chan of Seoul Metropolitan City Council congratulated the churches. He expressed, “As those who are giving awards, we are honored because we are well aware of how devotedly the Church of God has served and inspired…

Korea

Feb 16, 2024