World Mission Society Church of God: Difference between revisions

The '''World Mission Society Church of God''' (hereinafter referred to as the “'''Church of God'''”) was established in 1964 by [[Ahnsahnghong|Christ Ahnsahnghong]]. The church believes in [[God the Father]] and [[God the Mother]] according to the Bible and follows Their teachings. The church follows the original teachings of the early Church of God that [[Jesus Christ]] and the apostles such as Peter, John, and Paul attended 2,000 years ago. It has flourished into a worldwide church with about 7,500 churches in 175 countries in only 50 years of its establishment. The number of registered members was 3.3 million as of January, 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://shindonga.donga.com/3/all/13/3114766/1 |title=3.3 Million Church of God Members Talks About the Path of Hope in Our Global Village |website= |publisher=Shindonga |출판사= |date=2022. 1. 3. |year= |first= |page= |series= |isbn= |quote= }}</ref><br>The Church of God carries out missionary work and volunteer activities with the goal of preaching the truth of salvation and happiness to all people around the world with the love of God the Father and God the Mother. This is accomplished by restoring the faith of the early Church and the truth of the [[new covenant]] established by Jesus. As God’s children, church members do their utmost to make positive contributions to their families, neighbors, communities, and nations while striving to cultivate their character to participate in the divine nature of Christ. In recognition of their efforts and contributions, the Church of God has received nearly 3,300 awards from various governments and organizations, including the Presidential Group Citation from Korea<ref name="대통령상">{{Cite web |url=https://watvaward.org/world/index.asp |title=Korean Presidential Citation |website=WATV AWARD |publisher= |출판사= |date= |year= |first= |page= |series= |isbn= |quote= }}</ref> , the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service from the U.K.<ref name="영국여왕상">{{Cite web |url=https://ukzion.watv.org/queens-award/ |title=The U.K. Queen's Award for Voluntary Service |website=World Mission Society Church of God in UK |publisher= |출판사= |date= |year= |first= |page= |series= |isbn= |quote= }}</ref> , and the President’s Volunteer Service Award from the U.S.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |url=https://watvaward.org/index.asp#awardUSAAnchor/ |title=U.S. President’s Volunteer Service Award |website=WATV AWARD |publisher= |출판사= |date= |year= |first= |page= |series= |isbn= |quote= }}</ref>

As the church became secularized, the truth of salvation, including the new covenant Passover, gradually changed and polytheism flowed into the church.<ref name="월간중앙">{{Cite web |url=https://jmagazine.joins.com/monthly/view/318953 |title=[Special Feature ● Luther's 500 Years of Religious Reformation—Church of God and Truth in the Bible] What Do They Believe and What Do They Practice? |website= |publisher=Monthly JoongAng |출판사= |date= 2017. 11. 17.|year= |first= |page= |series= |isbn= |quote= }}</ref> Eventually, the Church of God disappeared into history. In the 16th century, reformers such as Martin Luther, Calvin, and Zwingli held up the banner of the Reformation, criticizing the nature of the church and trying to restore correct faith, but they were unable to find the truth of the Bible taught by Jesus.

Various videos such as the Church of God introduction video, news from local churches around the world, video sermons, and animations, are also translated into each language, touching and enlightening the hearts of people around the world. They are accessible to everyone through the Church of God official website, Media Cast, YouTube channel, etc. The church also provides opportunities to share love online such as the “Flower Letter Campaign” and “Happy Webinars for Workers”<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://watv.org/healing-webinar-for-worker/ |title=The Church of God Holds ‘Happy Webinar for Workers’ |website=WATV.org |publisher= |출판사= |date= |year= |first= |page= |series= |isbn= |quote= }}</ref> to promote harmony among family members, friends, and neighbors who are hard to meet due to the restrictions from the COVID-19 pandemic.<small>{{참고|Church of God Missionary Work|l1=Church of God Missionary Work|설명=For more information}}</small>Overseas Visiting Group

Korea is where God the Father and God the Mother came from, and where the gospel of the new covenant was restored according to the prophecies of the Bible. For this reason, it is regarded as a holy land by the Church of God members around the world. As the number of overseas members who wanted to visit Korea to learn the love of Mother and to study the truth of the Bible increased, the Church of God started the [[Church of God Overseas Visiting Group|Overseas Visiting Group]] program in 2001. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, overseas members visited Korea a total of 75 times.<ref>{{Cite web|url= https://watv.org/history/ |title=Church of God History |publisher= |website=WATV.org |date= |first= |출판사=|quote= 2001 The 1st Overseas Visiting Group (U.S.) }}</ref><br>The church provides various programs for experiencing Korean culture and Bible study. Overseas members stay in Korea for about one or two weeks to deepen their faith and learn about the warmheartedness of a mother contained in Korean culture. After returning to their home countries, their faith grows even more and they also contribute to civilian diplomacy linking Korea and the world.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://monthly.chosun.com/client/mdaily/daily_view.asp?idx=7579&NewsNumb=2019087579 |title=75th Overseas Visiting Group Consisted of University Students Worldwide |publisher=Monthly Chosun |date=2019. 8.}}</ref>

The members of the Church of God all over the world treat each other with love, humility, and consideration, even though they are of different nationalities, races, cultures, and languages; it is because they are all members of the same ''heavenly family''. They respect each other as brothers and sisters as well as children of God the Father and God the Mother, talking politely to one another regardless of age, position, or title. They engrave on their hearts the [[Teachings of Mother]], which contains teachings about sharing love, yielding to others, complimenting each other, and serving others. Members even greet and share blessings with one another by saying, “God bless you.”<ref name=":3" /><br>The Church of God regards all people as a large family living together in a house built by God called Earth .<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://watv.org/church-intro/ |title=The World Mission Society Church of God Spreads Hope and Happiness All Over the World |website=WATV.org |publisher= |출판사= |date= |year= |first= |page= |series= |isbn= |quote= }}</ref> Therefore, they pursue the happiness of all people, based on the love that is shared in a family. Their positive mindsets contribute to increased communication and harmony wherever they are.

The Church of God helps families live in harmony, and awakens the members to the importance of family through educational programs, events, and seminars. [[“Father’s True Heart” Exhibition]] and [[“Our Mother” Writing and Photo Exhibition|“Our Mother” Writing & Photo Exhibition]] were held in the Church of God throughout Korea to remind the visitors of their parents’ love. The total number of visitors to these exhibitions exceeded 910,000. Additionally, numerous people have shared joy with their families by participating in the Seminars for Happy Family, [[Global Conference on Happy Family|various global conferences]],<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://watv.org/global-conference-on-happy-family/ |title=Global Conference on Happy Family |website=WATV.org |publisher= |출판사= |date=2019. 4. 6 |year= |first= |page= |series= |isbn= |quote= }}</ref> orchestral concerts,<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://english.watv.org/news/content.asp?idx=24584&page=12&back=all |title=Healing Concert with Mother's Heart Touring around the Capital Area Closed |website=English.watv.org |publisher= |출판사= |date=2013. 12. 1 |year= |first= |page= |series= |isbn= |quote= }}</ref> the New Jerusalem Festival<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://english.watv.org/news/content.asp?idx=803&page=25&menu=I |title=Gracious Opportunity to Share Love With Loving Family |website=English.watv.org |publisher= |출판사= |date= |year= |first= |page= |series= |isbn= |quote= }}</ref> as well as many other family oriented events.<br>The Church of God publishes various publications such as the monthly family magazine, ''[[Happy Home Preparing the Sabbath|Happy Home]]'', and regularly provides materials for members to readily communicate with their families. All of these tools are used to help build the faith of the members in their homes as well as encouraging them to lead a healthy life.

This is seen through the IUBA, IWBA, and IMBA global educational programs for young adults. Young adults learn not only the truth of the Bible but also about matters concerning moral character, leadership, and foreign languages, which are essential for them to become productive members of society. The church helps children and adolescents develop good characters and basic comprehension of the Bible through textbooks such as ''I Want to Be a Beautiful Angel'' (textbook for kindergarteners), ''I like God'' (textbook for elementary school students), and ''Soul'' (monthly magazine for adolescents). During the time period of school vacation, middle and high school student summer/winter camps as well as an elementary school summer/winter camps are held to provide diverse experiences such as Bible education, experiential learning programs, field trips, and volunteer services.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.shinailbo.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=1191827 |title=Church of God Opens Students Summer Camp |website= |publisher=Shinailbo |출판사= |date=2019. 8. 2. |year= |first= |page= |series= |isbn= |quote= }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://english.watv.org/news/content.asp?idx=37841&page=1&searchString=summer+camp&menu=I |title=2015 Summer Camp for Middle & High School Students |website=WATV.org |publisher= |출판사= |date= |year= |first= |page= |series= |isbn= |quote= }}</ref> The church also helps young adult members to prepare a firm foundation for a positive mindset and the formation of proper values through character education led by experts in the field.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://weekly.donga.com/3/all/11/1948461/1 |title=Church of God, A Guide for Upright Personality and Hopeful Dream |website= |publisher=Weekly DongA |출판사= |date=2020. 1. 16. |year= |first= |page= |series= |isbn= |quote= }}</ref><br>Education is also provided regularly to teachers who are guiding children, adolescents, and young adults, so that future generations can grow with faith and love. In addition to all this, education for title and position holders, who lead members with upright character and humility, are conducted to strengthen their competency and abilities. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, education was provided at the Okcheon Go&Come Training Institute, the Dongbaek Training Institute, etc., and is now held online.

The Church of God Headquarters provides educational materials and sermons through various media sources such as books, [https://watvmedia.org/en audio recordings, and videos], for the members to be able to access the word of God anytime, anywhere. Events are also held to help the members grow in faith and strengthen their personal abilities and become united. Through the [[Bible Preaching Contest|Foreign Language Bible Preaching Contest]],<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://english.watv.org/news/content.asp?idx=53388&page=1&searchString=bible&menu=I |title=The 16th Foreign Language Bible Preaching Contest |website=English.watv.org |publisher= |출판사= |date= |year= |first= |page= |series= |isbn= |quote= }}</ref> [[New Jerusalem Cultural Content Awards Ceremony|Cultural Content Awards]],<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://english.watv.org/news/content.asp?idx=49134&page=1&searchString=New+Jerusalem+Cultural |title=New Jerusalem Cultural Contents Awards Ceremony 2017 |website= |publisher=English.watv.org |출판사= |date=2017. 12. 10. |year= |first= |page= |series= |isbn= |quote= }}</ref> New Song Festival,<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://news.watv.org/internal/content.asp?articleid=i20170226981 |title=The 4th New Song Festival for Students and Young Adults |website=NEWS.WATV.org |publisher= |출판사= |date= |year= |first= |page= |series= |isbn= |quote= }}</ref> along with a variety of other events, members share brotherly love with each other.

In Korea, members have taken the lead in providing recovery and relief efforts and even preparing meals, whenever there have been nationwide disasters, including the Sampoong Department Store collapse, the Daegu subway fire, the Pohang earthquake, and the Sewol ferry disaster.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://monthly.chosun.com/client/news/viw.asp?ctcd=E&nNewsNumb=202003100052 |title=“A World Where No One Feels Lonely,” Is Made with God’s Love as the Basis |publisher=Monthly Chosun |date=2020. 3.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.incheonilbo.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=792291 |title=Church of God Donate 100 Million KRW to Help Pohang Earthquake Victims |publisher=Incheon Ilbo |date=2017. 12. 21.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.joongboo.com/news/articleView.html?mod=news&act=articleView&idxno=1211365 |title=Church of God Serve Free Meal at Pohang |publisher=Joongboo Ilbo |date=2017. 12. 3.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.kyeongin.com/main/view.php?key=890476 |title=[Sinking of Sewol Ferry] Church of God Serve Freemeal at the Sewol Ferry Disaster Site |publisher=Kyeongin Ilbo |date=2014. 8. 21.}}</ref> Members around the world have also made great efforts carrying out numerous recovery and relief projects for victims of various disasters such as the tsunami in Indonesia, the volcanic eruption in Ecuador, the hurricanes in the U.S., the typhoons in the Philippines, [[Church of God Nepal Earthquake Damage Restoration Work|the earthquake in Nepal]], torrential rains in Japan, the cold wave in Peru, etc.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://watv.org/emergency-relief/ |title=Emergency Relief |website=WATV.org |publisher= |출판사= |date= |year= |first= |page= |series= |isbn= |quote= }}</ref><br>As of 2021, numerous [[Church of God Community Service|community services]] such as disaster relief, blood donation, help for the underprivileged, medical support, and educational support have been carried out around the world about 22,500 times, and over 2.7 million people have participated. More than 1,000 blood drives have been held to help people in danger due to blood shortages, and nearly 85,000 people have donated blood among 203,000 participants. This is equivalent to saving more than 257,000 people since one person’s blood donation can save three other people.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://watv.org/blood-donation-relay/ |title=‘Worldwide Blood Drive to Give Life Through the Love of the Passover’ Was Held Over 1,000 Times |publisher=WATV.org |date=2021. 6. 20.}}</ref> Through such activities, the Church of God participates in the implementation of the internationally accepted Sustainable Development Goals [SDGs].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://news.watv.org/internal/content.asp?articleid=i20171207648 |title=ASEZ Global Forum for UN SDGs Implementation |website=WATV.org |publisher= |출판사= |date= |year= |first= |page= |series= |isbn= |quote= }}</ref> Recently, as the whole world is suffering from the COVID-19 pandemic, they have been helping with preventive measures and relief efforts, providing face masks, hand sanitizers, medical supplies, groceries, and daily necessities to different governmental departments, organizations, and to many vulnerable groups of people.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://news.watv.org/internal/content.asp?articleid=i20200304628 |title=Church of God Support Emergency Aid to Overcome COVID-19 |website=WATV.org |publisher= |출판사= |date= |year= |first= |page= |series= |isbn= |quote= }}</ref>

Church of God General Pastor Joo-Cheol Kim, Makes Speech in UN Conference |publisher=Munhwa Ilbo |date=2016. 12. 29.}}</ref> The reason the UN invited the Church of God was due to the fact that the church’s outstanding altruistic efforts to take the lead in relief efforts whenever there were disasters or hardships around the world were truly exemplary. Such can be seen through their relief efforts with the massive earthquake that occurred in Nepal and the various hurricanes across the United States.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://english.watv.org/news/content.asp?idx=49148&page=7&back=all |title=General Pastor Kim Joo-cheol's Speech at the UN Conference |website=WATV.org |publisher= |출판사= |date= |year= |first= |page= |series= |isbn= |quote= }}</ref><br>

Back in 2010, the Church of God visited the United Nations to help Haiti recover from the impact of the massive earthquake that shocked the country by donating $100,000 USD to CERF. During General Pastor’s visit, the UN suggested to form a partnership with the Church of God.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://english.watv.org/news/content.asp?idx=1320&page=21&back=all |title=General Pastor Visits the UN Headquarters and Delivers a Donation to Aid Haiti |website=WATV.org |publisher= |출판사= |date= |year= |first= |page= |series= |isbn= |quote= }}</ref>

Central governments, local governments, and universities in many countries agree with the Church of God’s vision and practices for the development and harmony of the global village, and its active participation in the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals [SDGs], which include environmental protection, educational support, and well-being promotion. The Ministry of Education of Nepal, the City of Bangalore and the City of Raipur in India, the City of Santo Andre in Brazil, the City of Tshwane in Rep. of South Africa, and the National Blood Institute of Mongolia have all signed a Memorandum of Understanding [MOU] with the Church of God, ASEZ, and ASEZ WAO.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://watv.org/partnership/ |title=Partnership |website=WATV.org |publisher= |출판사= |date= |year= |first= |page= |series= |isbn= |quote= }}</ref> ASEZ is carrying out environmental protection activities in cooperation with national government ministries and local government departments in 168 countries, 226 international organizations and civic groups, and 56,168 prominent community figures.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://news4trafford.co.uk/2021/11/17/church-group-that-cleans-up-old-trafford-wins-international-environmental-award/ |title=Church group that cleans up Old Trafford wins International Environmental Award |website= |publisher=News4Trafford |출판사= |date=2021. 11. 17. |year= |first= |page= |series= |isbn= |quote= }}</ref><br>UN Millennium Project President Jerome Glenn, a futurist, attended an ASEZ Conference whereby he encouraged young adults to work for and promote a sustainable future.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S3xaIHiOjJg |title=ASEZ Conference With Jerome C. Glenn, World Mission Society Church of God |website= |publisher=ASEZ Church of God University Student Volunteers YouTube Video |출판사= |date=2019. 10. 17 |year= |first= |page= |series= |isbn= |quote= }}</ref> Duberli Rodriguez Tineo, who served as the Supreme Judge of the Judicial Power in Peru, also participated in the conference on combating climate change and showed his support along with a lecture. More than 57,000 people from all walks of life, including Ban Ki-moon, the former UN Secretary-General, and Robert Huber, the Nobel laureate in Chemistry, have signed up to support and cheer on the activities of the young adults in the Church of God.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://weekly.donga.com/3/all/11/1948497/1 |title=A Step to World’s Happiness for Family, Neighbors, and Whole Mankind |website= |publisher=Weekly DongA |출판사= |date=2020. 1. 16. |year= |first= |page= |series= |isbn= |quote= }}</ref>

The awards ceremony was held in London, U.K. in November 2021 together with the awards ceremony of the year 2020, which was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Both ASEZ and ASEZ WAO received the Green World Award Gold and were appointed as Green World Ambassadors. ASEZ WAO also received the Green Apple Awards Gold and Silver. <ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/culture/2021/11/135_319380.html#:~:text=The%20organization%20launched%20the%20Green,development%2C%20and%20select%20the%20winners. |title=Church of God members win Int'l environmental awards |website= |publisher=The Korea Times |출판사= |date=2021. 11. 22. |year= |first= |page= |series= |isbn= |quote= }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://watvaward.org/world/content.asp?inter/1/1637/0/10 |title=ASEZ WAO GOLD Green World Award |website=WATV AWARD |quote=}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://watvaward.org/world/content.asp?inter/1/1608/0/10 |title=ASEZ KOREA GOLD 2020 Green World Award |website=WATV AWARD |quote=}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://watvaward.org/world/content.asp?inter/1/1634/0/10 |title=ASEZ WAO 2020 International Gold Green Apple Environment Award |website=WATV AWARD |quote=}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://watvaward.org/world/content.asp?inter/1/1635/0/10 |title=ASEZ WAO NATIONAL SILVER, Green Apple Environment Award |website=WATV AWARD |quote=}}</ref> Back in 2018, the Church of God and ASEZ won the Green Apple Awards Gold and Bronze together at the Green Apple Awards 2018.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://woman.donga.com/3/all/12/1556458/1 |title=Church of God Receives ‘Green Apple’ Award, One of the Four Major Environment Awards |website=Monthly Woman DongA|date=2018. 11. 29. |quote=}}</ref><gallery mode="packed" heights="180">