ⓒ 2015 WATV
On Mar. 18, three days before the first day of the year 2015 by the sacred calendar, the General Assembly was held at the Okcheon Go&Come Training Institute, where spring was in the air. The pastoral staff in Korea and overseas focused on the Bible study for six days and five nights, starting with the opening service, made presentations by continent for the results of the gospel work for the past one year and for the year 2015 gospel goals, and also participated in the worldwide pastoral staff forum.
On the first day of the first month by the sacred calendar (Mar. 21), the General Assembly worship service was held at the Promise Temple of the Okcheon Go&Come Training Institute, attended by over 1,200 pastoral staff members in Korea and overseas and the title-holders from the Head Office. At the service held along with the Sabbath day service, Mother thanked Father for giving the New Year to give us more blessings, and prayed that all the children would look back on the past year, repent, and be reborn with spotless and faultless faith.
ⓒ 2015 WATV
Mother praised the pastoral staff who left meaningful results of the gospel by serving the members and taking good care of them with a humble attitude. She emphasized the importance of patience and said, “Thinking of God’s patience who endured the pain of the cross with His love for His children and following His sacrificial path is the gospel work.” Mother also said, “The testing of our faith is a process of cleaning the habit of sins and regaining the humble nature on the way to salvation. Please don’t forget that the heavenly blessings are given to those who do not give up and run the path of faith until the end.” Listing the characteristics of love: “Love is patient, kind, not proud, and not rude” (1 Co 13:4–7), Mother said, “Prophets must love the sheep like themselves and understand their hearts. Please get rid of arrogance, pride, and wrong greed, and take care of the sheep, following the will of God who is love” (Mt 24:12–14; Jas 5:7–11; Heb 12:1–4; 1 Pe 4:12–14; 1 Pe 1:6–9).
General Pastor Kim Joo-cheol started the sermon by saying, “It is more meaningful and blessed because the first day of the New Year by the sacred calendar fell on the Sabbath day,” and added, “Those who follow God wherever He goes can become the royal priesthood in heaven. Let us do our best to fulfill the mission to preach in Samaria and to the ends of the earth so that we won’t regret even if we go to heaven today.” He also emphasized, “I hope that you will all do the work of ministry in the way God is pleased with by understanding God’s will for appointing you as prophets, and fulfill the gospel work of the year 2015 in the way the members can feel happy and encouraged” (Mt 28:18–20; Ps 19:1–4; 2 Ti 4:1–5).
On the 23rd, the General Assembly, which was held in the presence of the Holy Spirit, ended with the closing worship service. The pastoral staff members in Korea and overseas, who were going back to each church, expressed their firm will, “For Mother, who has prayed with tears and sacrificed Herself to save us, we will definitely complete the world mission this year.” Pastor Kim Yul-san from the Ulaanbaatar Church in Mongolia expressed his resolution, “Last year, the short-term preaching was very active and many branch churches were established in Mongolia. As Mother said that everything would go well, the blessing of the year of jubilee was poured upon all Mongolia. This year, too, I will carry out my duty for the completion of the gospel work, diligently delivering love to the sheep in accordance with Mother’s words.” The pastoral staff and the members in Korea and overseas, who renovated their mindset for the gospel through the teachings of God Elohim, are expected to become busier for the gospel work this year.
ⓒ 2015 WATV
- 정기총회를 맞아 국내외 목회자들이 옥천고앤컴연수원에 모였다.