ⓒ 2012 WATV

The new year 2012 in the sacred calendar has begun. From March 21 to 27, the 2012 General Assembly was held at the Okcheon Go&Come Training Institute, being attended by over 500 members of the pastoral staff from both inside and outside Korea. The members of the Church of God throughout the world put their minds together as one through prayer for the new year in the sacred calendar, and on March 23 (the first day of the first month in the sacred calendar) there was a commemoration service at the Promise Temple of the Go&Come Training Institute; over 500 title bearers from the Head Office, who are engaged full-time in the gospel, also attended the commemoration service.

Mother prayed to Father to pour out the Holy Spirit like a waterfall upon the whole world in the hopeful new year, and expressed Her gratitude to all Her children for working hard for the gospel, including those who were struggling for the sake of the gospel in overseas countries. Then She gave a sermon titled “My Sheep Listen to My Voice (Jn 10:27). In Her sermon She said, “The royal road to the success of the gospel is not doing something special but listening to God’s voice and putting it into practice—each and every word of the Bible which God has given us for our salvation.”

Mother added, “God gave us this command: ‘If you love me, feed my sheep.’ This shows us it is God’s will that we should lead God’s sheep that listen to the voice of God, through God’s word and way—not our own thoughts and methods.” She also encouraged Her children by saying, “Let’s willingly sacrifice ourselves to save a life like the good Samaritan, imitating the love of Father who willingly and joyfully suffered for His children’s sins, so that we will be born again fully enough to have greater faith and become greater vessels worthy of the heavenly priesthood.” Then Mother blessed Her children to bear the fruit of love abundantly by putting into practice the words of God who is life, so that they would shine like the stars for ever and ever (Jn 21:15-17; Jn 3:3; Lk 10:25-37; Php 3:19-21).

Amidst the presence of the Holy Spirit, the General Assembly went ahead as planned. This year, the detailed component of the overall schedule was focused on the “pastoral path”; there was intensive instruction on what kind of personality, faith and self-examination which God’s prophets should have. The pastoral staff members filled themselves with the Holy Spirit and resolved to fulfill the mission of the prophets with an awakened spirit, following in the footsteps of Heavenly Father and Mother who walked the path of serving others.

Since the beginning of the new year, the holy name of God has been being exalted among the nations and the prophecy that kings will come to the brightness of the glory of Jerusalem has been getting fulfilled amazingly. In 2012 which started amid the presence of Elohim’s great power, the members are powerfully carrying out the work of faith, looking forward to the glorious day when they fulfill the prophecy about the completion of the heavenly temple and sing a song of joy and praise to God.

ⓒ 2012 WATV