Dedication Services for Seven Churches in the Metropolitan Area

For about ten days from the end of August, the dedication services for seven churches in Gangwon Province and Honam Region were held one after another in a row. More than 30 churches in Incheon, Suwon, Hwaseong, Jinju, and Jejudo have been built and waiting for a dedication service to be held. It shows how rapidly the gospel is being accomplished not only overseas but also in Korea.

Starting with the Hongcheon Church and the Wonju Church in Gangwon Province on August 29, the dedication services were held in various places. In the Honam Region on September 8, the Yeosu Church, the Shingi Church in Yeosu, and the Maegok Church in Suncheon had the dedication services. The following day on September 9, which was the Sabbath day, the Bitgaram Church in Naju had the dedication service in the afternoon and the Gwangsan Church in Gwangju had one in the evening. The members praised God with joy and thanksgiving for granting the dedication services; in the Sabbath morning, a united service was held at the Seogu Church in Gwangju.

Through the dedication service, Mother prayed that each church would overflow with the blessing of the gospel fruit and said, “I’ve missed you so much. Thank you for keeping your faith and working hard for the gospel in this difficult time. Let’s cheer up by thinking of the kingdom of heaven.” Mother repeatedly complimented the members for their hard work and patience until the temples were completed.

Mother gave Her constant teaching of having compassion for others in all worship services. She awakened the members to see the present time, and said there are many people who are afraid of ceaseless disasters such as floods, earthquakes, wildfires, and wars. She also stated, “We should have pity on dying souls so that we can go save them. With the heart of the Good Samaritan, let’s boldly preach the good news of salvation and lead those who do not know where they are heading, to the way of life. That is why God established a church here.”

General Pastor Kim Joo-cheol said, “The truth that reconnects us, who have lost our relationship with God by committing sins in heaven, to God is the new covenant. The new covenant, which God established with the shedding of His blood, will not only be preached to the people in Korea or Asia but also to the whole world. Let’s preach to all people so that they can all return to God.” He also emphasized the confidence in God, saying, “Like our forefathers of faith, such as Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego, and Apostle Paul, those who have the conviction that God is with us and help us, makes a difference. With a firm faith that only God can save the world, let’s preach the new covenant and accomplish the mission of saving mankind” (Isa 59:2; 1 Jn 1:8–10; Mt 7:21–23; Ro 10:13–14; Da 3:16–18; Mt 28:18–20; 24:14; 2 Th 1:5; Jer 31:31–33).

Hongcheon Church

The Church of God in Hongcheon is located in Hongcheon County, which has the largest area among cities and counties in Korea. Hongcheon County has an area three times bigger than that of Seoul, and has many famous spots such as Mt. Palbongsan, Yongso Valley, and Garisan Recreational Forest. It is also famous for special products such as corn, pine nuts, and ginseng.

The Hongcheon Church, which was built with a total of two buildings—the main building and the education building, welcomes the members and neighbors with a clean appearance. The members in this region are diligently practicing God’s teachings through various activities, such as helping farmers, donating daily necessities and groceries for underprivileged groups, and street cleanup, to take care of the community of Hongcheon.

Wonju Church

The city of Wonju is an important transportation hub bordering Gyeonggi Province and North Chungcheong Province, and has been developed in Korea as the only innovative city and corporate city at the same time. The members had consistently kept their faith and delivered Christ’s love in this region for over 20 years. They were greatly moved by the completion of the new temple and the dedication of the temple after a long wait.

The new temple has five stories above the ground and is equipped with various facilities. The members are preparing events to communicate with local residents and move their hearts, such as the “Father’s True Heart” exhibition and the “Happy Seminar With Neighbors.” Moreover, they are both preaching the gospel and conducting volunteer activities in the city of Wonju and the surrounding areas.

Yeosu Church

Yeosu is visited by numerous tourists thanks to its big and small islands and the beautiful sea at night. The city is also an industrial city where the Yeosu National Industrial Complex and a world-class petrochemical complex were established. The Yeosu Church has been built at the foot of Mt. Gubongsan with four stories above the ground and one basement. Its straight appearance harmonizes with the surrounding landscape.

The members said that there were many people who had not heard of the truth of the new covenant in and around Yeosu. They made a resolution to preach the gospel to people in 45 islands by being united with Yeosu Shingi Church and Churches in Suncheon area.

Shingi Church in Yeosu

Preparing the dedication service, the members expressed their joy, saying, “It feels like a dream to hold two dedication services in one day in Yeosu.”

The Shingi Church in Yeosu has two stories below the ground and three stories above the ground. It is adjacent to an apartment complex and there are many houses around it, so it is good for neighbors to come and visit there. The members regularly carry out environmental cleanups; and the student group members received compliments and cheers from the local residents because of their street cleanups during vacations. Yeosu Shingi Church received the Citation from the Mayor of Yeosu and the Citation from the South Jeolla Province Blood Center in Gwangju for helping the community development and blood supply.

Maegok Church in Suncheon

Suncheon has many attractions, including the Suncheon Bay Wetlands, which is known as one of the world’s five greatest wetlands. Maegok-dong, where the church is established, is famous for its early blooming red plum flowers, which indicates the coming of spring season.

The members donate food for neighbors in need on national holidays and around New Year’s day, and carry out blood drives and street cleanups to bring warmth and happiness to the community just as people welcome a warm spring after a long winter.

Gwangsan Church in Gwangju

Gwangsan County has been developing rapidly even in Gwangju, the largest city in the Honam Region. The Gwangsan Church has been established in Seonun District, which is in the spotlight as a pleasant residential area, with one floor below the ground and three above the ground. It is close to Gwangju-Songjeong Station and Muan-Gwangju Expressway, which makes it very accessible.

The members said that they were extremely excited and happy for the dedication service because the autumn feast was coming right after that. They made a resolution to take pity on each and every soul and deliver the love of Mother who wants everyone to be saved. Through the Holy Spirit of the latter rain of the Feast of Tabernacles, they expressed their passion to preach the truth of the new covenant to 3.2 million residents of South Jeolla Province.

Bitgaram Church in Naju

The Bitgaram Church in Naju was established in the Gwangju-South Jeolla Joint Innovation City, which is also known as the Bitgaram Innovation City. In this area where many companies and large-scale residential complexes coexist, the members are carrying out various activities so that both existing Naju residents and people who newly moved there can form a happy community.

In July, about 250 members of ASEZ WAO (the Church of God Young Adult Worker Volunteer Group) from Gwangju and South Jeolla Provision carried out a large-scale cleanup at the Bitgaram Lake Park. Congress member Shin Jeong-hoon, who visited the volunteer site, said, “I feel proud to see young people doing good deeds. I would like to work together to make the world a better place.” The dedication ceremony was filled with congratulatory greetings from neighbors and congratulatory messages from all walks of life.