ⓒ 2005 WATV

On August 21, when the cool autumn wind was blowing gently, over 3,100 students gathered at the gymnasium of Okcheon Training Institute to attend The 19th New Jerusalem New Song Festival.

As this festival was for the middle and high school students, lots of events were prepared. Fun performances, face painting and many other events, which were offered by the volunteers from university students, gave pleasure to the students. The students were very excited about ice cream and drinks which were supplied free.

The worship service for the festival began at 1 p.m.. During the service Mother gave words of teachings to the students: "Students, keep your faith, depending on the power of God like the brave boy David and Daniel, and have self-confidence for you are the children of God," and gave cheerful words: "As everyone has troubles while living on this earth, so you students have many troubles. But if you overcome the difficulties, you will be given a great reward from God."

Mother mentioned various matters of the teenagers which are big issues these days and asked them not to follow the worthless worldly customs, but remain in good things. Mother asked them once again to reveal God's glory by good deeds and patience, knowing the value of salvation. She said, "Just as Esau despised his birthright and deplored after he sold it for a bowl of lentil stew, if you do not value the blessings you have received, you won't be given the heavenly crown, but only regret."

ⓒ 2005 WATV

10 teams participated in the festival and 800 members of the choirs gave praise and honor to God with new songs. Those teams passed the precontest, so almost all teams were proficient in singing. Before the main contest began, the students were impressed by a video and made up their minds, "We've realized how to please God as students, and even though we still lack, we will give more glory to God."

The festival began with a grand musical performance of Messiah Orchestra. Following "Rainbow Choir" from the Association of Kang-buk, Seoul, the choirs such as "New Jerusalem," "Very Shinny," "Kainos," "Angels of Smile," "We Love Jerusalem," "Morning Star," "Family," "Echad," "Everybody Very Shinny Morning Star," gave great impression and delight to the brothers and sisters with beautiful harmonies.

There was a special performance during the festival. The young adult members performed a conte named, "A Great Day of Saetbyuli." The story is about a student called Saetbyuli who preaches God's precious love to her friends, but not boldly. In her dream she meets the prophets of faith and hear their aims of the gospel, then she learns braveness and wisdom from them and pleases God by bearing good fruit. This conte was very impressive and gave a cool answer to the problem which most students had.

ⓒ 2005 WATV

The good competition took about two hours. While waiting for the result, they watched another video about the beautiful overseas members, who preach the gospel diligently to find our lost brothers and sisters even in difficult situations and study the words hard to be used as God's instrument. The students could learn with what kind of attitude of mind they have to preach the gospel.

Three teams were awarded with Incentive Awards, three teams with Bronze Awards, two teams with Silver Awards, one team with a Gold Award and one team with a Grand Award. The Grand Award was given to 'Everybody Very Shinny Morning Star" team from the Association of Dong-bu, Jeon-buk. Pastor Park Jong-oh from 'Everybody Very Shinny Morning Star" team, which had received the Grand Award last time as well, said, "We could receive the Grand Award twice because everybody obeyed God's word," "While we prepared for the festival we faced lots of difficulties, but the members of the choir tried to be united and overcame the difficulties with prayers. I think God who knows all these comforted us with this award. We give all the glory to Father and Mother." He also gave thanks to the students who did their best to praise God with one mind while preparing for the festival.

ⓒ 2005 WATV

Mother praised all the choirs, saying that it was not easy to decide which team was better than which team because they all did good, and said that their unity of love, which they had learned during the practice time, pleased God. Chief Pastor Kim Joo-cheol said, "I heard good news that the students realized many things through this new song festival," and asked, "Have a great ambition for the great universe. You are God's children who have the heavenly citizenship."

God gave an earnest word, "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will ishis good, pleasing and perfect will" (Ro 12:2). We should not conform to the pattern of this wicked world, but remain in good things with love which God had taught us and carry out all our roles as salt and light.
We hope the students will not conform the pattern of foolish Esau who lost his blessings, not knowing the value of what he had, but be the wise students like Jacob who received abundant blessings from God.