[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 year ahead in 2024 and their excitement for the grand gospel work that lies ahead.

God bless you. You attended the General Assembly coinciding with the 60th anniversary of the Church’s founding.

Jeong Kyu-yong from Maputo, Mozambique

Having experienced an amazing year of spreading the gospel last year, attending this General Assembly is even more meaningful and fills me with gratitude. At the same time, it brings a sense of sorrow, knowing it signifies the long-lasting sacrifices of our Heavenly Mother.
It’s only been a year and two months since I was sent to Mozambique, but during that time, I’ve experienced many things I never encountered while ministering in other countries. Hundreds of pastors and believers from Protestant churches who heard the truth of the new covenant began keeping the Sabbath and eagerly awaited the blessing of baptism. The existing members rapidly grew, embracing their mission as prophets and volunteering as pre-branch church leaders. Amidst this, many souls have been led to the Pemba Branch Church, which is about 1,700 km (1,056 mi) away from Maputo. Right now, Mozambique is truly a place where the prophecy of “ten people from all languages and nations will take firm hold of one Jew by the hem of his robe” (Zechariah 8:23) is being fulfilled. It feels surreal, as if I’m dreaming.
I’ve attended this General Assembly with great anticipation for the work that God will unfold in 2024. Heavenly Mother has abundantly poured out the blessings of the Holy Spirit and provided all the plans and strategies to preach to 8 billion people. Now, all that remains is for us to carry them out faithfully.

Pastor John Casas from Washington, D.C., U.S.

When we commemorate something, we usually think of happy moments. However, I believe that true commemoration comes from reflecting on and remembering the journey that led to today’s achievements.
Looking back over the past 59 years, what we must truly understand and keep in our hearts is the fact that the sacrifices made by Heavenly Father and Mother for the gospel are deeply embedded in the Church of God.
Building a house starts with laying a solid foundation. The strength of this foundation determines the scale of the entire structure. Father laid the foundation of the Church of God, and upon this solid cornerstone, Mother is building a strong structure for worldwide evangelism. My role is merely to add a small decorative piece to the building that Father and Mother have already completed. While I’m honored to be part of this monumental moment, I feel sorry to God because I have not contributed much.

Missionary Joshua Dim from Edmonton, Canada

It is truly an honor to participate in the astonishing fulfillment of the gospel according to God’s prophecy.
There’s a saying that 3% of the salt in the sea prevents it from rotting. Similarly, people often say that a church’s mission is to make God known to 3% of the local population. The vision of preaching the gospel to all of humanity is an unimaginably grand goal for them.
However, in just a few decades, the Church of God has spread the gospel and established churches worldwide. This is something only the true church that God is with can achieve. I am deeply grateful that, despite having no special qualities compared with others, I’ve been chosen to be a coworker in this magnificent gospel work and to serve God’s people as a pastoral staff member.

I can feel your passionate enthusiasm. How did you feel about the amazing gospel results of 2023?

Missionary Min Jong-guk from Manaus, Brazil

The gospel is thriving in Brazil as well, but hearing about the success stories from other countries makes me both envious and curious about how to apply the new gospel strategies I’ve learned to Brazil.
I remember the first time I went to the Amazon jungle to preach to the natives. Honestly, I had some hesitation initially. The idea of venturing into an unknown world and meeting people who didn’t speak my language was quite intimidating. Walking through the dense jungle where even light couldn’t penetrate, and hearing the cries of wild animals growing closer, I felt a cold sweat run down my back. However, when I trusted in the command to “go and make disciples of all nations” and acted on it, we witnessed amazing gospel results. The indigenous people welcomed us, saying, “The Church of God is the first to come here to share this message,” and they quickly received the blessing of becoming God’s children.
I think it was the same with the gospel results last year. I realized that, regardless of country or church, those who listened to and learned from the words given by Mother, and then thoughtfully considered how to implement them, received great blessings when they acted upon them. After listening to the words of God during the General Assembly, I’ve resolved not only to listen to and relay these words to our members but also to practice them myself.

Missionary Choi Hyeong-hwan from Banaswadi, Bengaluru, KA, India

I agree with you. The difference lies in whether we act on the given words immediately or delay. Through various gospel experiences, I’ve come to understand that we receive greater blessings when we practice the teachings right away.

Missionary Lim Jae-chung from Bogota, Colombia

I was particularly impressed by the story of a new overseer who, despite language barriers, didn’t hesitate to show love through actions. Hearing how he supported members by packing lunches and helping in various ways reminded me of the genuine heart of Mother, who shows compassion and guide Her children to heaven. This example made me realize, “This is what true brothers and sisters, true family, look like.” It reinforced my belief that, before being a pastoral staff member, I need to practice love toward my brothers and sisters as part of the heavenly family.

Indeed, the common thread is that putting words into action is crucial.

Pastor John Casas from Washington, D.C., U.S.

At the opening worship of the General Assembly, Mother said, “If you are God’s children, do God’s work.” We often don’t fully understand what it means to do God’s work or what we need to practice, but God came in the flesh to personally show us everything. All we have to do is to follow the example set by God. We resolve to follow the path that Father walked and that Mother continues to walk.

Missionary Seol Yun-deok from Sao Paulo, Brazil

During the General Assembly, I received grace from various programs, including the educational sessions, but most importantly, I learned a lot from watching Mother tirelessly participate in every event with us. As an overseer, I sometimes delegate meetings to my assistant overseers, depending on the circumstances, but Mother, no matter how exhausted She may be, always stayed with Her children at every moment, demonstrating Her love through Her actions. Reflecting on the example set by God, who is the reality of love, I deeply repented and examined my own actions.

We come to realize that the source of all enlightenment is from Mother.

Missionary Choi Hyeong-hwan from Banaswadi, Bengaluru, KA, India

Isn’t there a prophecy in the Bible that God will teach us the way of salvation in Zion in the last days? According to the prophecy, Mother has come in the flesh and is leading the gospel. Since Mother is the words of the Bible, whenever we face difficulties, Mother is the answer.

Missionary Park Jeong-hoon from Rotterdam, Netherlands

When facing obstacles in sharing the gospel locally, I often ponder how Father and Mother would handle them. Rather than seeking out other special teachings, I reflect on Mother’s teachings and focus on helping each other put them into practice. This reflection changes my perspective and influences my surroundings. Instead of fixating on the faults of my brothers and sisters, I now turn inward to reflect on my own shortcomings first. The heart that once condemned the faults of others now seeks to understand their perspective and embrace them with empathy.
Through this General Assembly, I gained the realization that the gospel must not stagnate but continue to flow and spread to every corner of the world. Even if progress is slow, with patience and perseverance, the gospel will eventually flourish through the power of God. Especially gospel in Europe, where seeing immediate results is challenging, more patience and confidence in prophecy are required. I plan to continue pioneering not only in the local area but also in neighboring cities and countries. Together with other pastoral staff and leading gospel workers, I aim to practice and demonstrate the love of Mother as we strive toward completing the gospel mission in Europe.

Absolutely, the teachings of love given by Mother seem to be the solution to the gospel.

Missionary Park Tae-yeong from Santiago, Chile

It’s true that in an age of rampant individualism, love is the only way to heal the hearts of many souls, and the source of that love is indeed God the Mother.
I feel a sense of responsibility as a leader to pass on the love received from Mother without any shortage, so that souls worn out by the storms of the world can come to Zion to heal their wounds and recharge their energy. The church is a place where souls find comfort and inspiration within God. Whether it’s listening to the struggles of our family members, offering a warm embrace, or preparing delicious food with better ingredients, these small gestures make our family members laugh and enjoy joyful moments in Zion. Seeing this brings me great joy and reassures me that the church is alive.
This year, too, Mother has given us many teachings on love. I intend to discard my own thoughts and strive harder to obey the words She has given us.

Missionary Koh Hong-jun from Tokyo, Japan

Indeed, I feel the need to diligently spread Mother’s love not only within Zion but also outside, into the world. There are many people in the world living lonely and solitary lives, with nowhere to turn for solace. Especially in Japan, where there are numerous gods and many people pray to different gods, they do not know the true God who can save our souls. It seems that the inherent role of religion is to spread God’s love to these individuals and lead them to heaven.
The truth of the Passover, God’s promise that if we keep it, disaster will pass over us, is the medicine that comforts those who have no one to rely on and heals their wounds. I will make every effort to diligently spread this precious truth.

It’s truly a role that brings hope to the world.

Missionary Hong Je-hwa from Montreal, Canada

Absolutely! There have been many social changes since the COVID-19 pandemic. In particular, we often meet those who lose their purpose in life and wander in the midst of difficulties and confusion. This seems to be the case regardless of age. In times like these, we need to play the role of delivering hope. Since there are still many people who have not heard the news of salvation, we can look forward to seeing how many precious heavenly family members will be found in the future.
The future of the gospel is bright. I will go forward with the hope of completing the preaching to 8 billion people quickly.

Missionary Kim Joo-yeong from Paris, France

This might be similar in any country, but in France these days, many people are struggling to find peace of mind due to economic problems and various social conflicts. Because of this atmosphere, we often see people getting angry and into conflicts over small matters.
As children of God, we have the hope of heaven and enjoy true freedom and peace in God. Instead of being influenced by the harsh realities of the world, we should embrace a compassionate, gentle, and generous heart like that of Mother. This year, I will preach the gospel with the heart of Mother. I want to be reborn in a way that reflects the nature of a child of heaven and bring love and inspiration to those living without hope through the joyful news of salvation.

I look forward to the gospel work we will achieve together with firm determination in 2024.

Missionary Ahn Jong-chan from Douala, Cameroon

Looking back, there hasn’t been anything that wasn’t accomplished with God’s help. When I was sent to Cameroon in 2009, the only French word I knew was “bonjour.” In a rush, I asked around, created scripts, and learned by reading them. At the same time, I had to preach the gospel, deliver sermons, and take care of church members. I felt overwhelmed, wondering when I would learn French and effectively spread the gospel, but God had different plans. Despite people not fully understanding me, I prayed and preached diligently. Many souls were led to God and grew into gospel workers.
This reflects the 60-year history of the Church of God. Despite our shortcomings, our Heavenly Father and Mother have always blessed our earnest efforts abundantly. With the God of love by our side, the gospel plans for Chad and the Central African Republic this year are as good as accomplished.

Missionary Cheon Seong-gyeong from Kampala, Uganda

It is the same with the gospel in Uganda. By the grace of Heavenly Father and Mother, we’ve noticed that the pace of spreading the gospel is accelerating as time goes by. Not only are our church members grasping the teachings more quickly, but we’re also experiencing a rapid increase in new members. We deeply feel that all of this is happening under God’s guidance.
As we celebrate the 60th anniversary of the establishment of our church, we see it as an opportunity to gather our strength and strive for a new leap forward. If we seize this chance, Uganda’s gospel work will undoubtedly progress much more rapidly in line with God’s will. Despite often forgetting our resolve to change, we’re grateful for the opportunity to transform through this General Assembly. With gratitude, we will energetically leap forward.

Missionary Jeong Geun-seung from Adelaide, Australia

Just as mankind, who was destined to die because of sins, was saved through the obedience of Jesus, I would like to become “a person who changes the world,” and make a hurry to find another “one person,” the youngest brother. By doing so, I hope to fill the temple granted by Heavenly Mother with beautiful and abundant fruit this year.