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 to Awaken the Prophet’s Mission

Throughout the General Assembly, Heavenly Mother encouraged the pastoral staff who had been dedicating themselves to spreading the gospel of the new covenant. Mother prayed for their names to shine brilliantly in the book of life as they endured difficulties, cared for brothers and sisters in various environments, and carried out the mission of saving souls. She provided teachings necessary for fulfilling the great gospel mission as children of God, instilling pride and responsibility in them.

From the opening to the closing worship services, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, Mother emphasized one thing—love. In a world growing more dim and uncertain, the foremost virtue a prophet must possess is love. Mother reminded that when they practice sacrifice, dedication, and servanthood demonstrated by God for the salvation of mankind, they can generously spread love to the church and society. Furthermore, Mother shared in detail the life of Christ Ahnsahnghong, who established the church in the difficult economic times of the 1960s after the Korean War by proclaiming the joyful news of salvation. Earnestly hoping that everyone would steadfastly follow in Father’s footsteps as heirs of heaven, Mother praised them, saying, “Because you tried to follow Father’s example, the gospel has spread even to remote areas of Africa.” The participants responded, “We will repay God who has entrusted us with the duty of a prophet.”

General Pastor Kim Joo-cheol emphasized what attitude a prophet should maintain. He explained that the important virtue a prophet should possess is faith that looks only to God and obeys His word. He said, “To fulfill the grand plan of the gospel as intended by God, we must fully adhere to His teachings rather than relying on our own thoughts and experiences.” Additionally, he encouraged, “Let’s minister with servanthood and understanding, so that our Zion family members, too can recognize the love of Heavenly Father and Mother through us, the pastoral staff. When the pastoral staff and the members unite in love, the day of gospel completion will come closer.”

Realize, Fill, and Envision

Following Mother’s desire for everyone to emulate the perfect God and fill the inadequacies of the past, this General Assembly was structured to prompt the pastoral staff to reflect on themselves and reassess the vision and direction of the gospel. Programs included the presentation of the 2023 annual report showcasing remarkable gospel results achieved by practicing Mother’s teachings and following Father’s path, as well as the Gospel Plan Explanation Session for 2024 and guidance on age-specific educational systems. A significant number of programs were pre-produced in video format to increase educational efficiency and concentration.

Particularly captivating were the presentations of exemplary cases from eight countries such as the Philippines, Mozambique, and Mexico. Missionaries struggled to convey God’s love and the truth of life amidst climate disasters, international conflicts, and economic crisis. They shared insights derived from their experiences. Missionary Lim Jae-chung from Bogota, Colombia, said, “Determined to deliver God’s love to the level of the members, I practiced warm greetings. As a result, Zion became more harmonious, and the gospel outcomes were positive.” Missionary Song Geon-woo from Accra, Ghana, said, “The gospel work does not depend on the environment or methods but on our obedience to God’s word.” Discussing how to apply the insights they empathized with in the gospel field, they detailed continent-specific plans and execution strategies for the completion of preaching to 8 billion people.

Every day during the General Assembly, Mother accompanied them in all activities from morning to evening, imparting timely teachings and filling them with confidence as needed. Under Mother’s careful attention and nurturing, the pastoral staff deepened their understanding and strengthened their faith. Pastor Jeong Won-bo from Seoul said, “In the past, I used to focus on how to effectively convey the words I heard at the General Assembly to Zion members. However, this time, I realized that it is more important to practice it properly myself before anyone else.” Missionary Lee Geon-haeng from Quezon City, the Philippines, said, “Mother not only gives us the words we need, but also shows us through real-life teachings what a pastoral staff’s life should be like. This year, I’m determined to care for my Zion members and practice love just as Mother does.”

Fulfill the Gospel With One Mind

On March 10, at the Okcheon Go&Come Training Institute, the “2024 General Assembly Awards Ceremony & Worldwide Gospel Vision Proclamation Ceremony” (see separate article) was held. Title or position holders contributing to the gospel, and the pastoral staff gathered together, expressing their hopes for the completion of the gospel mission and strengthening their faith. On March 11, the first day of the first month of the sacred calendar, a commemorative service for the General Assembly was held at the New Jerusalem Pangyo Temple in the presence of the pastoral staff and the female pastoral staff from the metropolitan area.

During the worship service, Mother earnestly prayed for the swift realization of the Father’s and all the members’ hope for the salvation of all mankind, saying, “As citizens of heaven, let us embody beautiful words and actions, guiding humanity into God’s warm embrace.” At the closing worship of the General Assembly held on the last day, Mother pointed out the characteristics of love (1 Co 13:4–7), which are patience, kindness, and politeness, encouraging everyone to develop the appropriate spirit and character befitting of prophets.

Until the end of all the schedules, Mother attentively listened to the words of each of the pastoral staff members, offering encouragement and tapping on their backs. She generously urged them, “I want all you prophets to bring joy to Heavenly Father. When you work with gratitude for the grace of salvation, everything will turn out well.” General Pastor Kim Joo-cheol emphasized, “Mother has repeatedly emphasized that the gospel must be completed with love. Let us put it into practice first. Helping each other, let us fulfill the gospel with love.”

The pastoral staff, who had engraved all the teachings on their hearts at the General Assembly, showed a fervent determination to advance the completion of the gospel. Missionary Adam Dickinson from San Diego, CA, U.S., said, “I realized what kind of prophet Father and Mother want us to be. I will immediately put love and obedience into practice, contributing to the salvation of all mankind with a transformed demeanor.” Missionary Choi Jong-woo from London, U.K., said, “God’s love embraces all and never misses a single person. I want to sow hope and happiness in everyone.”

In the year of 2024, which takes a new leap forward in commemoration of the 60th anniversary of the church, the pastoral staff members were united more than ever, saying, “We will dedicate our hearts and minds to making the vision of preaching to 8 billion people a reality, going beyond just dreaming of it.”

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