Many foreign Disciples Visiting Korea-Business Korea 2007-05

Many Foreign Disciples Visiting Korea to Learn the Faith
BUSINESS KOREA 2007-05
Many Forein Disciples Visiting Korea to Learn the FaithThe number of foreigners who visit Korea to seek the proper road of a believer through the truths of the Bible and the teachings of God, instead of following the trends of thought of the era-in which morality and ethics have been collapsing-has been markedly increasing in recent few years. To these people, visiting Korea is the path to Jerusalem. And they are pilgrims to a sacred place. Just like Jerusalem of the Middle East, where many Christians of the world find traces of Jesus Christ, Korea, to these people, is both a suzerain of the Gospel and a mysterious land of prophecies. Twenty-year-old male college student Darren Damon, from Cape Town, the Republic of South Africa, said, "Before I met a prophet dispatched from Korea, Korea was a small country unknown by me." Twenty five-year-old American male Julian Alexander Ramirez, from New York, said, "Korea, which has approached me as the Mother’s country, rouses up a small miracle in my mind. It seems that, through my visit to Korea this time, many parts of my life will change." And 49-year-old housewife from Lima, Peru, Ana Maria, showed how emotional the journey had been for her by saying, "My mind is very comfortably warm and happy like being hugged by my Mother. This is a special and amazing experience that cannot be had again all my life." A hundred other foreigners also made the pilgrimage. These people, who arrived in Korea on April 16, 2007, are disciples in foreign locations of the World Mission Society Church of God. They came to Korea from many places in the world, including the United States (65 persons), Australia, New Zealand, the Republic of South Africa, Ukraine, Peru, Mexico, etc. The first official visit was by the members from Los Angeles, the United States, in 2000. Until now, there have been 29 official visits. As the years pass, not only the size of the visitor groups but also the number of countries from which people hope to visit Korea have markedly increased. Even though their nationalities, languages, occupations and ages differ, they all share the same reason for coming to Korea, "a wish to become a true Elohist (People who love Elohim God)." Regarding the qualities and characteristics of a true Elohist, Rev. Kim Joo-Cheol, Chairman of the World Mission Society Church of God, explained, "The basic thing is to learn and adhere to the prophecies regarding Elohim God, who appears in the Bible, and the amazing truth of the new covenant recorded in the Bible." He also emphasized the fact that "Putting into practice ‘Mother’s teachings’, which are Elohim God’s teachings, is more important than anything else." He also stated the reason why most parts of the scheduled visit of overseas members consist of studying the words of the Bible and prophet education, and did not forget to praise the faith of those who gladly come to Korea, a far-away country, by saying, "They like studying the words of the Bible the most. The overseas members, who are saddened by the short time period of their visit, have a great passion for learning." The group this time visited Korea for two weeks. They learned deep truths regarding Elohim God that they had not heard before. They did not neglect the work of learning the characteristics as prophets delivering the words of God. They managed a very busy schedule, and visited many relevant places. In particular they toured the newly built Theological Seminary of the Church of God, the Education Center of the Jerusalem Temple, and the Church of God History Museum which shows the 6,000-year history of prophecy in the Old and New Testaments. In their studies, they learned about the truth of God Elohim in depth, the secret of the forgiveness of sins, the Jerusalem Mother, the earthly family and the heavenly family, the history of Abraham’s family, and how to present the Bible’s teachings. "It’s too good to be true that I see and touch the God Elohim, I can’t believe it," said Salome Escobedo from New York, "Even though I wanted to read the Bible in detail, I always had difficulties in passing through even the first chapter of the Book of Genesis in the Old Testament and the first chapter of the Gospel of Matthew in the New Testament. But I am so happy to learn and easily understand the teachings of the Bible, visiting the Zion which is built by God." The World Mission Society Church of God is a religion spread to the West from Korea. To the overseas members of the Church of God, Korea is both the land of prophecy where heavenly Jerusalemis and the suzerain of the Gospel. It is a matter of course that they want to learn about Korea. In between studies of the words of the Bible, the visitors learned about the etiquette and culture of Korea, the eastern country of courteous people. As well, they visited KBS, COEX Aquarium, Namsan (Mt.), Namsan Tower, and toured Seoul City. The overseas members of the Church of God returned to their own countries on April 26, after finishing all programs in Korea. After this meaningful visit, they became real Elohists who deliver the glory of heavenly Jerusalem. A church member explained that the church would continually host "Visit Korea" programs for the members all around the world. Rev. Kim Joo-cheol talked about the visitors using a quote from Isaiah, "Who are these that fly along like clouds, like doves to their nests?" He said that a large number of people from all nations would visit Korea to see the glory of the heavenly Jerusalem in this age of the Holy Spirit, and added, "The prophecy is being fulfilled in 2007 by many overseas members from all around the world who are visiting Korea to meet the heavenly Mother, who is the reality of the heavenly temple." The Church of God has steadily grown, effectively hushing worries that the number of Christians in the world is decreasing. Only during the Jerusalem Preaching Festival in 2006, over 90,000 members were added, and it now has a total of 820,000 members, who call themselves Elohists.