As gospel workers become busier going out into the world in obedience to God’s prophetic command to “go,” people of all nations hear Mother’s voice, “Come,” and stream clamorously into the arms of the new Jerusalem.

With the autumn feasts approaching, the 46th Overseas Visiting Group consisting of over 200 members from 39 Churches in 11 countries visited Korea. Missionary Jeom-gi Kim, who is in charge of the mission work in Cape Town, South Africa, which was the starting point of the gospel in Africa, also came to Korea with some other members.

During his visit to Korea, we met him, who delivered the news about the gospel work in South Africa with a modest attitude from start to finish. We listened attentively to his calm but strong voice, through which we could feel his love towards Mother.

-Missionary, thank you for making time despite your busy schedule. When did you go to South Africa?

It was September, 2004. In obedience to God’s will, I was sent to the continent of Africa where there was nothing spiritual. Now I can’t believe how fast the time has passed. I am just thankful, and on the other hand, I am sorry toward Mother because I have not conveyed lots of joyful news to Mother for such a long time.

-Since the preaching of the gospel in Africa was totally barren at that time, you probably had a great resolution when you left for South Africa.

I was very happy rather than being determined. As people are buoyant with dreams when they leave for a new place, so I was very excited at the fact that I was going to a new continent of the gospel. Since the gospel was not something we could accomplish according to our plan or will, I didn’t make a special resolution for the gospel, but only believed that God would surely fulfill the gospel work in Africa.

-Please give a brief introduction about South Africa.

South Africa, located at the southern end of the African Continent, looks like Europe rather than Africa. Probably because the Europeans had settled in South Africa a long time ago, its culture, language and even the people’s emotions are very similar to those of Europeans. There are also a lot of emigrants from India and China and many Africans from other parts of Africa who have come to study or work, so we can meet people from various ethnic backgrounds.

ⓒ 2011 WATV

However, until recently, the Apartheid* policy of racial separation prevailed in South Africa. According to this policy, people were separated according to race and culture, and there was also a separation of residential areas. Even churches were clearly separated for black and white. Today, thanks to the self-sacrifice of Nelson Mandela, Apartheid has been outlawed, but there are still vestiges of apartheid left in many places in South Africa.

Anyway, since South Africa was early influenced by the West, Christian culture has also spread faster in South Africa than in Asia. For this reason, when we, Asians from the East, preach the words of the Bible, people look at us curiously, and some
even ignore us.

-You must have gone through many difficulties while preaching the gospel.

Actually, loneliness was hardest of all. Of course, Father and Mother are always with us. The loneliness that I felt in my heart was the same kind of loneliness that Father must have experienced while preaching the gospel alone and Mother must have felt while seeing Her children who did not fully understand Her mind.

However, as one soul after another grew to be good fruit and put forth their efforts to preach the gospel, my loneliness was much relieved.

-How is the present status of the gospel in South Africa?

The Cape Town Church started in a small house, and we enlarged the place of our tent almost every two years. In Johannesburg which is the second largest city in South Africa, there are also many brothers and sisters who are gathered together to praise Elohim. Whenever we branched out and expanded, we just felt happy.

When we were first granted a new barn, we only desired to fill it up quickly, but we gradually began to feel afraid; God continuously expanded the temple, but we felt that our spiritual vessels were not great enough to fill it with numerous souls. In fact, the temple is now too small for over 200 members to gather together. It seems that we need to move to a larger place. I believe it will be done in accordance with God’s will. First of all, I have to prepare my vessel of faith for it.

-We want to hear how you’ve found souls one after another.

In the beginning, I preached from early morning till late evening every day, but even though I tried my hardest, I couldn’t find a soul who was willing to listen to the Word. Two months later, I finally met a soul who was looking for the truth. He studied the Word every day, and came to our small Zion, saying that he wanted to keep the Sabbath day. Words cannot express how happy I was at that time. I realized again how precious one soul was.

After bearing my first fruit, I called Mother. She encouraged me, saying, “Though you are in a difficult situation, keep on working hard.” Since I received the blessing from Mother, I was able to continuously bear fruit. Though Zion was slow to grow? just a couple of souls were led to God each month, they grew to be good fruits, and Zion was thus gradually filled up. Meanwhile, one year passed. Now it’s already been six years.

-As the gospel work proceeded slowly, you may have had hard times. What enabled you to overcome the hardship?

Yes, I myself felt frustrated as the gospel was so slow in progress. But whenever Mother called me, She never rebuked me, but instead She encouraged me and emphasized ‘endurance,’ saying, “You need to endure a lot there. If you work hard, Father will give you good results. So, preach hard with patience.” As Mother said, even now we need much endurance until a soul is reborn into good fruit. However, since Mother is with us, we gain strength. What Mother said still vividly remains engraved in my mind.

-You mean that Mother is the strongest power to lead one soul to salvation.

Yes. When we preach the truth like the Sabbath or the Passover to people, they show no particular responses. But when we preach Mother to them, they show a completely different response. Especially when we clearly tell them, “Mother is with us on this earth,” they open their eyes wide. If we simply testify to the existence of God the Mother, they vaguely understand that Mother exists spiritually in heaven or that a holy goddess exists, just like Mary worshiped by Catholics. However, when we tell them that Mother has come to this earth in the flesh and She is in Korea, we feel that it grabs their minds straightaway. The children of Mother are all alike, whether in Korea or in South Africa; they instinctively yearn for Mother.

-The members’ minds toward Mother must be special.

The members always say, “We need Mother.” Some of them have left their hometowns to study or work, some have lived in continuous hardship . . . There are many souls who are thirsty for love, being exhausted both physically and spiritually.

So they find comfort of mind by frequently watching a video which contains the teachings of Mother or a video about the overseas visiting group. As the members say, Mother is desperately needed in South Africa.

-Do you see the members change in Mother’s love?

Actually, the members are from different ethnic, national and cultural backgrounds. So at the beginning it was difficult to be united with one another.

However, God’s children become all humble before the word of God no matter how haughty and stubborn they may seem. They try to break their long-standing habits and thoughts by obeying the words of Father and Mother. As they fail to change at once, they feel frustrated and distressed, but they keep on trying. They are so beautiful when they change themselves little by little according to the teachings of Mother.

-The South African members also continue their visit to Korea. What is the most impressive thing they’ve experienced in Korea?

Normally it takes them six months to prepare both physically and spiritually to visit Korea. However, their faith had grown much bigger and stronger when they returned from meeting Mother in Korea for just a few days than when they had prepared themselves for six months.

All the members who have visited Korea to see Mother feel the same thing:
“Mother loves me so much.” Actually, I wondered how they could all feel equally loved by Mother because hundreds of members met Mother together; the external conditions such as the length of time each of them met Mother or talked to Her must be different. However, Mother’s love is different from human love. Even though there are thousands or tens of thousands of children, She loves each and every one of Her children equally. Being moved by the depth of Mother’s love for them, they try to put into practice the love they’ve received from Mother. So do I.

-What do you think is the most necessary thing for the overseas mission?

Your question is difficult to answer with one word. We need faith, ability to speak a foreign language, endurance and much more, but I think it is Mother’s love that we need the most. Losing the love of Mother is no different than losing everything.

This is not a theory, but it is what I deeply feel and realize. The gospel work in South Africa was greatly supported by the self-supporting mission workers who came with Mother’s love in their hearts. Even though we were lacking in ability, when our hearts were filled with the love of Mother, God filled us up with everything we needed. I believe that what is most necessary is Mother’s love wherever we are, whether in our country or overseas.

-The Ten Talent Movement is now being carried out all around the world.

What is the atmosphere of the Cape Town Church?
All the members have an earnest mind. The university students preach the Word at their campuses whenever they have time, even though it is not easy for them to make time because they need to prepare for frequent exams. The office workers also make efforts to preach the gospel in obedience to the will of Father and Mother, although they are so busy making a living for their families. God gives them good results, and even though they bear no fruit right away, they do not become discouraged but keep on preaching hard with a resolution never to give up till the end.

-What goal does the Cape Town Church have?

Of course, we have a great goal. Sending gospel workers to the countries where the gospel has not been preached yet?this is our goal and wish. As I said earlier, the Cape Town Church has many members from other regions of Africa. When I ask them if they want to preach the truth in their home countries, all of them say, “Yes,” whether their faith is strong or weak. They originally came to South Africa to achieve their physical dreams and goals, but now they set spiritual goals and are fostering their dreams for the gospel. I believe that God will fulfill their wishes in due time.

There are some members who have already prepared the foundation of the gospel in their countries by volunteering to preach there with gratitude. It is in Zimbabwe that the gospel was preached first. In Angola, there are also precious souls who are waiting for the promise of salvation. In Botswana, too, there is a young adult member who is diligently sowing the seed of the gospel alone. I believe that though our beginnings seem humble, so prosperous will our future be. I want to find good gospel workers and bring them up to awaken the entire continent of Africa which is sleeping. We have to quickly find all our lost brothers and sisters in Africa, so that we can go to the kingdom of heaven together.

-Lastly, please tell us what your vision is for the gospel in Africa.

Africa is one of the world’s most multi-ethnic and multi-cultural continents. It is the richest continent in natural resources and yet the poorest region of the world.

ⓒ 2011 WATV

Most countries in Africa, except several nations, are suffering a lot?some countries from famine and disease, some from poverty and ethnic conflicts . . . Spiritually it is still dark. So, we can say that the potential power of the gospel in Africa is infinite and endless. No one knows how Africa will change if it receives Mother’s love.

This year I expect that under the guidance of Mother, there will be a great turning point of the gospel in Africa which is sleeping. We know that God always keeps Her eyes on us, and now we feel that She pays more attention to Africa, for the completion of world evangelism. So I am sure that the gospel in Africa will be accomplished quickly.