School Year Opening Worship 2023

“When I entered high school to study Arts, I was anxious about whether I could do it well in school. Hearing God’s word at this School Year Opening Worship, I was encouraged. Learning that our senior students were devoted to both their studies and their life of faith, I got confident to do the same.” Moon Chae-young, a Freshman at Gyeongnam High School of the Arts, Jinju, Korea

“Today’s event was a guide to teach me how to wisely help my child with God’s love as a parent of a high school senior.” Park Jeong-ah, a Parent from Gimcheon, Korea

The School Year Opening Worship, which was planned for the first time this year, was held at the Okcheon Go&Come Training Institute on February 26 to cultivate the faith and character of youths who were about to have the new school year. From the freshmen who were starting to attend middle school to the seniors in high school who would spend the last year in school, the youths full of dreams gathered the inside and outside of the training institute. More than 11,000 people, including their parents, student group guidance teachers, and the pastoral staff, attended the event.

In the first part of the worship service, Mother repeatedly expressed Her joy to the students who gathered together after a long time since the COVID-19 pandemic, and prayed to Father that they would shine a bright light on the world through their upright faith, godly characters, and good words and deeds. Mother delivered the words of Father who awakened us to the importance of faith and practice, and blessed the students’ future by saying, “You learn and practice what you see and hear because of your pure hearts. I pray you will follow the teachings of the Bible and benefit society.” She expressed Her gratitude to the parents who raise the students with love, and to the student guidance teachers who teach the youths God’s teachings according to their level of understanding.

General Pastor Kim Joo-cheol told the students who were trying to make their dreams come true, “God, who created all things, has promised to be with us and help us. Following the words of God, ‘Do not be afraid,’ let us boldly practice God’s will, go forth with faith, setting an example for others” (Isa 41:10). The students replied with “Amen,” which resounded in the training institute.

The second part of the event started with the awards ceremony. A total of 31 students, including the ISBA (International Student Bible Academy) Achievement Excellence Award winner and the 1st Student Bible Preaching Contest Gold Award winner, received the awards with joy. Mother congratulated and encouraged the winners, holding their hands after presenting the awards.

After the awards ceremony, various programs such as introduction of the ISBA program, presentations on ISBA education and activities, and videos were presented by the students and for the students. ISBA is a Bible education system that helps students grow upright and healthy through God’s teaching. The education is conducted online, so it is flexible for students to take it according to their schedules.

The students, who served as presenters and actors throughout the event, said, “God’s word is like the North Star that shows the direction in dark nights.” They introduced the ISBA education system in a way that the students could understand easily, and explained how to overcome worries and troubles that the youths face in common. A humorous skit was prepared by the students, and the audience learned a lesson and had fun at the same time.

The highlight of the event was the introduction of the ISBA club activities. The students of the Church of God have established clubs with various types, such as religion, volunteer services, academics, and arts, so that they can explore the truth with their friends and take the lead in doing good deeds, filling their school days with more meaningful time. Through the panel presentations and video interviews, the students shared their experiences: “I learned how to work with others through club activities and realized the values of consideration, yielding, and unity. My school life has become more enjoyable and rewarding.”

Mother complimented them that they followed God’s word with the faith, wisdom, and courage of our forefathers such as David, Joshua, Solomon, and Paul. She cheered them on, saying, “You are like the flowerbuds who are about to bloom. Let’s make the buds bloom in full.”

On the way home from the event, the students seemed excited for the new school year. Kim Na-yeong, a senior at Andong Seonghui Girls’ High School, who received the ISBA Achievement Excellence Award said, “I was very busy in school last year, but I gained great strength when I worked with my club members. We’re told to spend our school days without leaving any regrets because the period of school days is only once in our lifetime. I think everything will go well if we do what we saw and learned today.” Missionary Park Min-joon, who came to Korea from Lilongwe, Malawi, to attend the General Assembly, said, “I attended the School Year Opening Worship today and felt that God’s education is the best. In Malawi, the importance of youth education is growing more and more. We will prepare a separate education for the youths in Zion to help them become good members of society.”

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