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== Community Service==
== Community Service==
{{그림 | 하나님의 교회-세월호 침몰사고 무료급식봉사 현장.jpg |너비= 320px |정렬=오른쪽섬네일 |타이틀= The Church of God free meal service site after Sewol Ferry sinking accident}}
{{그림 | 하나님의 교회-세월호 침몰사고 무료급식봉사 현장.jpg |너비= 320px |정렬=오른쪽섬네일 |타이틀= The Church of God free meal service site after Sewol Ferry sinking accident}}
Following the teaching of the Bible to “love your neighbors,” and the teaching of God the Mother, which teaches us that it is more blessed to give love, the members of the Church of God transcend borders, ethnicities, and religions to practice the love that they’ve learned from Christ by carrying out volunteer services around the world. Volunteer services are carried out in diverse fields such as the environment, social well-being, culture, physical education, and medical care. This is accomplished by the active participation of all age groups: housewives, field-related experts, university students, and middle and high school students as well. In particular, young adults are greatly encouraged to engage in such activities by becoming members of the  Church of God University Student Volunteer Group [ASEZ] and as members of the [[ASEZ WAO (Church of God Young Adult Worker Volunteer Group)|Church of God Young Adult Worker Volunteer Group [ASEZ WAO]]].
Following the teaching of the Bible to “love your neighbors,” and the teaching of God the Mother, which teaches us that it is more blessed to give love, the members of the Church of God transcend borders, ethnicities, and religions to practice the love that they’ve learned from Christ by carrying out volunteer services around the world. Volunteer services are carried out in diverse fields such as the environment, social well-being, culture, physical education, and medical care. This is accomplished by the active participation of all age groups: housewives, field-related experts, university students, and middle and high school students as well. In particular, young adults are greatly encouraged to engage in such activities by becoming members of the Church of God University Student Volunteer Group [ASEZ] and as members of the [[ASEZ WAO (Church of God Young Adult Worker Volunteer Group)|Church of God Young Adult Worker Volunteer Group [ASEZ WAO]]].


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 |website=Monthly Chosun |date=March 2020}}</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 |website=Incheon Ilbo |date=December 21, 2017}}</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 |website=Joongboo Ilbo |date=December 3, 2017}}</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 |website=Kyeongin Ilbo |date=August 21, 2014}}</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, [[Earthquake Recovery Efforts by the Church of God in Nepal|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=  |date= |year= |first= |page= |series= |isbn= |quote= }}</ref><br>As of April 2024, numerous [[The Church of God’s Community Service Activities|community services]] such as disaster relief, blood donation, help for the underprivileged, medical support, and educational support have been carried out in 102 countries about 28,000 times. More than 1,300 blood drives have been held to help people in danger due to blood shortages,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://jmagazine.joins.com/monthly/view/339728 |title=[Special Feature on the 60th Anniversary of the Church of God] Earth's Unified Platform Drawing Attention Even from the UN: The Church of God |website=Monthly Chosun |date=February 2024}}</ref> and nearly 111,000 people have donated blood among 263,000 participants. This is equivalent to saving more than 333,000 people since one person’s blood donation can save three other people. 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=  |date= |year= |first= |page= |series= |isbn= |quote= }}</ref> During the COVID-19 pandemic, they helped 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=  |date= |year= |first= |page= |series= |isbn= |quote= }}</ref>
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 |website=Monthly Chosun |date=March 2020}}</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 |website=Incheon Ilbo |date=December 21, 2017}}</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 |website=Joongboo Ilbo |date=December 3, 2017}}</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 |website=Kyeongin Ilbo |date=August 21, 2014}}</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, [[Earthquake Recovery Efforts by the Church of God in Nepal|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=  |date= |year= |first= |page= |series= |isbn= |quote= }}</ref><br>As of April 2024, numerous [[The Church of God’s Community Service Activities|community services]] such as disaster relief, blood donation, help for the underprivileged, medical support, and educational support have been carried out in 102 countries about 28,000 times. More than 1,300 blood drives have been held to help people in danger due to blood shortages,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://jmagazine.joins.com/monthly/view/339728 |title=[Special Feature on the 60th Anniversary of the Church of God] Earth's Unified Platform Drawing Attention Even from the UN: The Church of God |website=Monthly Chosun |date=February 2024}}</ref> and nearly 111,000 people have donated blood among 263,000 participants. This is equivalent to saving more than 333,000 people since one person’s blood donation can save three other people. 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=  |date= |year= |first= |page= |series= |isbn= |quote= }}</ref> During the COVID-19 pandemic, they helped 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=  |date= |year= |first= |page= |series= |isbn= |quote= }}</ref>

Revision as of 12:02, 7 June 2024

World Mission Society Church of God
The Church of God New Jerusalem Pangyo Temple
The Church of God New Jerusalem Pangyo Temple
FounderChrist Ahnsahnghong
Founded (Year)1964
Founded (Location)Republic of Korea
CategoryReligious group
ScripturesHoly Bible
PurposeWorship, Preaching the Gospel, Community Service
General PastorPastor Kim Joo-cheol
HeadquartersChurch of God Headquarters
WMC, Bundang-gu, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea
Representative ChurchThe New Jerusalem Pangyo Temple
Area served175 countries around the world
Scale7,500 churches around the world
About 3.7 million registered members
WebsiteChurch of God Official Website
YouTube ChannelChurch of God Official YouTube
World Mission Society Church of God Logo
World Mission Society Church of God Logo

The World Mission Society Church of God (hereinafter referred to as the “Church of God”) was established in 1964 by 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 60 years of its establishment.[1] The number of registered members was 3.7 million as of January, 2024.
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 4,200 awards from various governments and organizations, including the Presidential Group Citation from Korea,[2] the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service from the U.K.,[3] and the President’s Volunteer Service Award from the U.S.[2], and the Legislative Merit Medal from Brazil.[4]

Present Status of World Mission Society Church of God

Domestic title and position holders and overseas visiting group members gather at the Okcheon Go&Come Training Institute.
Domestic title and position holders and overseas visiting group members gather at the Okcheon Go&Come Training Institute.

There are over 7,500 Churches of God established in 175 countries, centering on the Headquarters and the representative church in the Republic of Korea (hereinafter referred to as "Korea"). In Korea alone, there are more than 400 churches in Seoul the capital, six metropolitan cities, Sejong Special Self-Governing City, and nine provinces. The Headquarters is located in Bundang-gu, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do, and the representative church is the New Jerusalem Pangyo Temple located in Pangyo New Town near the Headquarters. In Korea, the church has five training institutes in Okcheon, Yeongdong, Sejong, Yongin, and Seoguipo for education and events for the members throughout the world, and it operates the theological seminary for educating and dispatching the pastoral staff.

Since 2001, every year about 1,500 members from all over the world visit Korea through the Overseas Visiting Group program. There are currently 3.7 million members around the world who are carrying out missionary work to achieve the happiness of all mankind along with various volunteer services focused on aiding and supporting relief from disasters occurring throughout our global village.

Institutions and Facilities

The Church of God Headquarters
The Church of God Headquarters

Main Headquarters

The Headquarters is the Church of God’s representative organization that leads the world mission by supporting all the churches and members around the world to live true lives of faith and practice God’s will correctly in the fields such as worship, preaching, education, administration, and computing. As Christ Jesus said, “Go and make disciples of all nations . . . teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you”[5] the Church of God takes the lead in preaching the gospel of the new covenant to all people in the world.

Affiliated Organizations

The Church of God produces and distributes various educational and cultural content through its professional and competent affiliated departments such as the Video Mission Center, the Publication Mission Center, and the New Song Mission Center, to assist in the mission of world evangelism and the cultivation of an upright faith of the members.

  • Video Mission Center
The Video Mission Center produces various videos via live broadcasts and its own film productions. Diverse videos ranging from an introduction to the church, sermons, news of global church events, and the foundational teachings of the church are translated into nearly 70 languages and distributed to the Churches of God around the world. Access to information about the Church is open anywhere and anytime on its official website and YouTube channels.
  • Publication Mission Center
The Publication Mission Center delivers the truth and love of God Elohim to every place around the world by translating publications and books into various languages. The efforts made by this center enables members to learn God’s teachings and realize His love through various publications such as the Truth Books written by the Second Coming Christ Ahnsahnghong, sermon books that explain the will of God, photo essay books, essay books, and children’s story books. It publishes monthly periodicals such as the Elohist, a representative monthly magazine of the Church of God, the youth magazine titled Soul, and Happy Home a magazine which promotes family love.
  • New Song Mission Center
The New Song Mission Center delivers God’s love to the world through music, a common language for all nations. It not only produces and distributes New Songs to praise God Elohim, but also founded the Messiah Orchestra composed of the church members in 2000 to provide high-quality music content through heartfelt performances. The Messiah Orchestra holds regular concerts for the benefit and enjoyment of neighbors and families in their communities. Benefit concerts both on a small and large scale are conducted for earthquake victims in Chile and Haiti.

Training Institutes

The Church of God Jeonyisan Training Institute
The Church of God Jeonyisan Training Institute

The Church of God has five training institutes in Korea. The Jeonyisan Training Institute is the first institute to be established in Sejong City, where gatherings for pastoral staff and education for church members are actively carried out. The Okcheon Go&Come Training Institute in North Chungcheong Province is equipped with a large-scale facility that can accommodate more than 10,000 people. The Elohim Training Institute in Yeongdong-gun, North Chungcheong Province, has various educational facilities on site which are embraced by the beautiful natural scenery of Korea as its backdrop. There is no wonder why overseas visiting groups never miss a chance to visit this institute. The Dongbaek Training Institute, which is adjacent to the Headquarters, is useful for small-scale educational gatherings for the members. The WMC Training Institute in Seogwipo, which is the newest training institute among all, is expected to be used as an educational place to spread the gospel of the new covenant to people visiting Jeju from all around the world.

Theological Seminary

The Church of God Theological Seminary
The Church of God Theological Seminary

The Church of God operates its own Theological Seminary, which was created for the development and training of the pastoral staff. It is located at Okcheon Go&Come Training Institute in Okcheon, Chungcheongbuk-do, Korea. It is used to educate and train the future pastoral staff who will lead the Church of God, based on the biblical ideology of truth, godliness, and putting God's teachings into practice. The educational topics that are studied range from pastoral theology, pastoral ethics, sermon development, biblical history, introduction to the composition of the Bible, comparative religious studies, and proper church administration.[9] After completing four years of this educational program, which includes practical training such as preaching and volunteer services, the pastoral staff fly to major cities and even to remote regions throughout the world to carry out ministry in obedience to God’s will.

History Museum

The Church of God History Museum, which opened in 2006, demonstrates a three-dimensional representation of biblical history. It begins with the inception of mankind, the history and the future recorded in the Bible, the principle of salvation, and the development of the Church of God at a glance, on the basis of the Bible. The audience can see, hear, and experience the stories and records of the 66 books of the Bible through miniatures, videos, and real historical objects. The History Museum consists of eight halls: the Hall of Heaven, the Hall of the Old Testament, the Hall of the New Testament, the Hall of the Dark Ages, the Hall of Heavenly Father, the Hall of Heavenly Mother, the Hall of the Church of God, and the Hall of Future.[10]

History of the World Mission Society Church of God

Beginning Phase 1948–1985
The Church of God in Nakseom, Incheon, Korea
The Church of God in Nakseom, Incheon, Korea
  • 1948 Christ Ahnsahnghong got baptized on Nakseom Island, Incheon, Korea
  • 1964 The Church of God was established.
  • 1985 Christ Ahnsahnghong ascended.
The Church of God New Jerusalem Imae Temple
The Church of God New Jerusalem Imae Temple
The Inside of the Church of God History Museum
The Inside of the Church of God History Museum
Growing Phase 1986–2000
  • 1988 Registered Members: 10,000
  • 1995 The Jounyisan Training Institute was opened.
  • 1997 Three overseas churches were established.
  • 2000 Registered members: 300,000
  • 2000 Establishment of New Jerusalem Temple (at present New Jerusalem Imae Temple)
  • 2000 The Messiah Orchestra was founded.
Leaping Phase 2001–2013
  • 2001 Seven overseas churches were established.
  • 2001 The 1st Overseas Visiting Group from the U.S.
  • 2002 The Elohim Training Institute was opened.
  • 2003 Registered members: 500,000
  • 2003 WMC the Church of God Headquarters was opened.
  • 2003 Awarded the Presidential Citation from Korean government
  • 2004 Awarded the Order of Merit from Korean government
  • 2004 Awarded the Medal of Honor from Korean government
  • 2005 The Okcheon Go&Come Training Institute was opened.
  • 2006 The Church of God History Museum was opened.
  • 2008 Registered members: 1,000,000
  • 2009 The World Campus Mission was held.
  • 2011 The Dongbaek Training Institute was opened.
  • 2011 Awarded the President’s Volunteer Service Award (Gold, Lifetime Achievement Award) from the U.S. government.
  • 2013 Registered members: 2,000,000
  • 2013 World Mission Society Church of God Foundation was registered.
  • 2013 International Bible Seminar was held.
  • 2013 “Our Mother” Writing and Photo Exhibition was held.
Flourishing Phase 2014–Present
  • 2014 Year of Jubilee: 50th anniversary of the Church of God
The Church of God General Pastor Kim Joo-cheol is awarded with the Presidential Group Citation from Korean government.
The Church of God General Pastor Kim Joo-cheol is awarded with the Presidential Group Citation from Korean government.
  • 2015 Awarded the Presidential Group Citation from Korea
  • 2016 Preaching to Seven Billion Movement was proclaimed.
  • 2016 Resolution Rallies for World Evangelism
  • 2016 General Pastor Joo-cheol Kim’s speech at the UN CERF High-Level Conference
  • 2016 The New Jerusalem Pangyo Temple was established.
  • 2016 The WMC Training Institute was opened on Jejudo Island
  • 2017 Awarded the Group Citation from the Minister of Interior and Safety of Korea
  • 2018 Awarded the Green Apple Award, the Europe's representative environmental award
  • 2018 Awarded the Group Citation from the Minister of Health and Welfare of Korea
  • 2019 The 75th Overseas Visiting Group
  • 2020 Global support for the COVID-19 response
  • 2022 Awarded the Legislative Merit Medal from Brazil
  • 2023 Awarded The President’s Volunteer Service Award from the U.S. (a total of 60 gold awards)
  • 2024 Registered members: 3.7 million at 7,500 Churches in 175 Countries

Faith and Truth

God the Father

The Church of God firmly believes in the Trinity, and regards knowing the name of God as a matter directly related to one's salvation. The Trinity means that the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are the same in essence even though God the Father plays three different roles in each age. The Church of God believes that God the Father Jehovah from the times of the Old Testament, came as God the Son Jesus in the New Testament times. Furthermore, it believes that Jesus Christ who has come a second time in this age according to the prophecies of the Bible, that is, the Holy Spirit is Christ Ahnsahnghong. 

Christ Ahnsahnghong officiates the Passover in 1984
Christ Ahnsahnghong officiates the Passover in 1984

It is prophesied in the Bible that Christ is to sit on the throne of King David. King David sat on the throne when he was 30 years old and reigned for 40 years. Jesus was baptized at 30 years of age according to the prophecy, but He died on the cross after preaching for only three years. Therefore, when Jesus comes a second time, he is to preach the gospel for the remaining thirty-seven years after his baptism at the age 30 and then pass away.[11] It is Christ Ahnsahnghong who has fulfilled all these prophecies. He was born in Korea—the country at the ends of the earth in the east, according to the prophecy of the Bible, and began His gospel ministry in 1948 and returned to heaven in 1985.

The most important reason the Church of God believes in Ahnsahnghong as Jesus who has come a second time is that He gives eternal life to humans who are all mortal beings. The evening before the Crucifixion, Jesus Christ celebrated the Passover; He gave bread and wine to His disciples as the symbols of His flesh and blood and promised them the forgiveness of sins and eternal life, saying, “This cup is the new covenant.” The Passover of the new covenant had been observed until the Apostolic Age, but it disappeared as the church became secularized. For about 1,600 years throughout the Dark Ages and the Reformation, no one had been able to restore the Passover. However, Christ Ahnsahnghong restored the new covenant and led mankind to eternal life and salvation. Therefore, He is God the Father—Christ Himself, who has come a second time.[12]

God the Mother

The Church of God believes in God the Mother as well as God the Father. Many people believe there is only one God—God the Father. However, the Bible testifies about both God the Father and God the Mother as it states that there is “Our Father in heaven,”[13]and also that “The Jerusalem that is above is free, and she is our mother.”[14]
God appears as a male God and a female God throughout the Bible from the book of Genesis to the book of Revelation. In Genesis 1, God created man, saying, “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness,” and male and female were created in the image of God. This proves that the female image of God [Mother] exists as well as the male image of God [Father].[15]
Moreover, the plural noun Elohim [Gods] is used in the Hebrew Bible more than 2,500 times, starting from the first verse of the Bible that says, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” The Creator of the heavens and the earth is not a singular God, but Elohim [Gods]. On the last page of the Bible, the Spirit and the Bride appear to proclaim to mankind, “Come and receive the water of life!”[16] It is only God who can give the water of life. So in this verse, the Spirit is God the Father, and the Bride who is giving the water of life with him is God the Mother.[17][14]

God Comes in the Flesh

The Church of God believes that God the Father and God the Mother have come in human form to save all mankind in the Age of the Holy Spirit, not only existing as spirits. The church believes that God is omniscient and omnipotent, so He can come to this earth as a human at anytime He desires, and that we must believe in God who has come in human form according to the prophecies of the Bible.

Christianity is a religion that believes in God who has come in the flesh to give mankind salvation. The Bible testifies about Jesus Christ who was born as a baby 2,000 years ago: “God, the Word in the beginning, became flesh and made his dwelling among us.”[18] The Christian doctrine that God came as a human being provoked great animosity among the followers of Judaism, which was a mainstream religion in those days. The Jews attempted to kill Jesus Christ, accusing Him, saying, “You, a mere man, claim to be God.”[19] Eventually, they crucified Him under the false charges that were hurled against him.
However, after the resurrection and ascension of Christ, His disciples strongly testified about the “man Christ Jesus,” emphasizing their faith in God who came in the flesh.[20][21] Since that time, Jesus Christ has been proclaimed throughout the world as the Savior of mankind, and is worshiped by people all around the world. The Bible prophesies that Christ will appear a second time to bring salvation to those who are waiting for Him.[11] The prophecy of His second coming indicates His appearing in the flesh in the same manner as His first coming. God the Father and God the Mother are to come to this earth in the flesh as the Spirit and the Bride, saying, “Come and take the water of life,” just as God, who is the Word, did when He came as a man 2,000 years ago.[16] The Church of God believes that the Spirit and the Bride are to come in the flesh to give the water of life in this age as prophesied in the Bible, just as Christ came as a man 2,000 years ago as prophesied in the Bible.

Heavenly Family and Earthly Family

The titles of "father" and "mother" are used in a family. The earthly family consisting of a father, a mother, and children is actually a copy and shadow of the heavenly family. This means that there are God the Father, God the Mother, and God’s children in heaven as well.[13][14][22] A family is a community of love. This shows that there is also a spiritual family in heaven, which is a community of eternal love. Just as the members of an earthly family are related by blood, so are the members of the heavenly family. The members of the heavenly family are related by the blood of the covenant that God gives through the Passover.[12]
The Church of God members believe in both God the Father and God the Mother, and this belief has a profound effect on their lives. They take pride in being God’s children and the members of the heavenly family. Since the earthly family reflects the heavenly family, they love their family members and pay attention to improving harmony and happiness within the family. According to the teachings of the Bible, they try to make their home as if it were a part of heaven by honoring their parents, showing affection to their children, maintaining a strong bond among their siblings, and loving their spouses as themselves. They also care about well-being and happiness of all people and willingly volunteer to help people who are in various difficulties.

Feasts and Worship

The Church of God keeps the feasts of the new covenant according to the teachings of Jesus and the Bible. The most important celebrations observed by the Church include the weekly Sabbath and seven annual feasts in three times, including the Passover. Each of these feasts is based on the teachings of both the Old and New Testaments. They all contain the blessings of God, which are closely related to the salvation of mankind, such as the forgiveness of sins, eternal life, the gift of the Holy Spirit, the hope of the resurrection, and holiness. The Church of God keeps the feasts according to the laws of the new covenant just as they are recorded in the Bible. The members give thanks to God for His grace and love through godly worship, and by giving glory to God with prayer and praise.

Sabbath

Most churches today worship on Sunday, but the Church of God worships on Saturday, the Sabbath day. It is because the Bible defines the seventh-day Sabbath as the holy day of worship to God. The Sabbath was the day when God the Creator rested from all His work that He had done in creation for six days.

Historical facts and calendars show that the Sabbath is Saturday according to the modern 7-day week system. Jesus clearly stated that He is the Lord of the Sabbath,[23] and set an example of keeping the Sabbath of the New Testament by worshiping God in spirit and in truth and doing what is good. This was contrary to the regulation of the Old Testament where lambs had to be sacrificed. We can confirm through the Bible that not only Jesus and His disciples but also Apostle Paul kept the Sabbath as a custom even after the Crucifixion.[24]

Passover

Members of the Church of God in the New York area attend the Passover Sacred Assembly held at Lincoln Center in the U.S.
Members of the Church of God in the New York area attend the Passover Sacred Assembly held at Lincoln Center in the U.S.

The Church of God is the only church that observes the Passover just as Jesus Christ and His disciples did 2,000 years ago. The word Passover means that disasters pass over.[25] The Passover was the day when the Israelites were saved from the horrible plague, which brought destruction upon the firstborn, by putting the blood of the Passover lamb on the sides and tops of the doorframes of their houses just as God had commanded them. Furthermore, 3,500 years ago, they were liberated from their slavery in Egypt.[26][27]
In the New Testament times, Jesus Christ promised the forgiveness of sins and eternal life by giving the Passover bread and wine which symbolized His flesh and blood, and established this day as the new covenant the day before His crucifixion.[28] Those who keep the Passover according to the command of Jesus Christ become God’s children who have inherited God’s flesh and blood, and receive the forgiveness of sins, eternal life, and the blessings of heaven as well.[29][30]

Seven Feasts in Three Times

Inside of the Church of God History Museum
Inside of the Church of God History Museum
  • Passover: Evening of the 14th day of the first month by the sacred calendar/ A feast meaning “Disasters pass over”/ Christ’s Holy Supper day
  • Feast of Unleavened Bread: The 15th day of the first month by the sacred calendar/ A feast to get rid of yeast within your household/ Fulfilled on the day when Christ was crucified. (Participate in Christ’s sufferings by fasting.)
  • Day of Resurrection: The day (Sunday) after the first Sabbath following the Feast of Unleavened Bread/ Commemorating the resurrection of Jesus Christ/ Called the Feast of Firstfruits in the Old Testament
  • Day of Pentecost: The 50th day (Sunday) after the Day of Resurrection/ Commemorating the descent of the Holy Spirit/ Called the Feast of Firstfruits in the Old Testament
  • Feast of Trumpets: The 1st day of the seventh month by the sacred calendar/ The day to commemorate by blowing the trumpet/ A feast to prepare for the Day of Atonement
  • Day of Atonement: The 10th day of the seventh month by the sacred calendar/ The day when the Holy Place is cleansed and atonement is made once a year
  • Feast of Tabernacles: From the 15th day to the 22nd day of the seventh month by the sacred calendar/ Commemoration of the work of building the tabernacle and the preaching of Christ/ The feast in which the descent of the Holy Spirit is prophesied

Women’s Veil

As the regulation of worship, the Bible teaches that men should not wear anything on their heads, but that women must wear veils during prayer or worship.[31] This regulation about the Women’s Veil is a teaching of Christ. This regulation has been established to keep order in the church, and it reflects God’s providence of Creation. In the Church of God, men do not wear anything on their heads. However, women wear veils at the time of prayer or worship, according to the practice of the Church of God as it is recorded in the Bible.[12]

Baptism

Baptism is a ceremony whereby one is born again as the body of sin is buried in water.[32][33] The Bible testifies that baptism is the sign of a covenant with God—the sign of salvation. Baptism is the first step toward a life of faith and those who are baptized are granted citizenship in heaven as God’s people.[34] The Church of God teaches that true baptism is to be done in the names of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. This is done in accordance with Christ’s teaching to "go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,”[5] and that one must believe in God the Father and God the Mother before they are baptized.

Sunday Worship Is a Commandment Made by Men

Sunday is widely accepted as the Christian day of worship, however, the basis for it cannot be found in the Bible. Throughout the Apostolic Age, the Sabbath was kept according to the Bible, but a conflict began to arise as the church became secularized and the Western churches, which were centered in Rome, insisted on observing Sunday worship.

In AD 313, Emperor Constantine officially recognized Christianity, and in AD 321 he decreed that Sunday should be a day of rest and worship, calling the first day of the week the “venerable day of the sun.” It was this that caused the Sabbath worship to completely disappear and be replaced with the observance of Sunday worship. At that time, Constantine’s order was that all judges, citizens, and craftsmen should rest on the venerable day of the Sun. In other words, Sunday was not a day to worship Christ, but a day to worship the sun-god, which most Romans believed in at that time. From then on, Sunday worship established itself as the tradition of the church, and is the reason why most churches worship on Sunday even until today. However, the Church of God adheres to the teachings of the Bible and thus worships on Saturday, the seventh-day Sabbath, regardless of how long other churches have held onto man-made tradition of Sunday worship.

Christmas Is the Sun-God’s Birthday

Every year, most Christians celebrate December 25 as the birthday of Jesus, calling it Christmas. However, there is no record in the Bible that December 25 is the birthday of Jesus Christ. According to historical records, December 25 was the Roman winter solstice and the birthday of the sun-god, Mithra.[35] Around the fourth century, as Christianity became secularized, the birthday of the sun-god was introduced into the church and was regarded as the birthday of Jesus. The Church of God does not celebrate Christmas, a holiday stemming from a pagan religion and not found in the Bible.[12]

Revering the Cross Is Idolatry

Most people think of the cross as the symbol representing the Christian church, yet in the early Church that Jesus established and that the apostles attended the cross was never seen. Since the cross is an image, making a cross or praying in front of it is a violation of God’s command, “Do not make any image or worship it.”[36]
According to various books on Christian history and encyclopedias, the cross was one of the idols used in many ancient pagan religions as a symbol of faith or as a talisman. It was also used as an instrument of execution against Jesus during the time of the Roman Empire. The image of the cross was only introduced and set up in the church as the church became secularized. History records that the cross was set up for the first time in the church in the year 431, and it was erected on the top of the church steeple in 568.[37]
For this reason, the Church of God rejects the image of the cross, which directly violates the will of God. The Church of God respects and keeps the new covenant Passover promised through the precious blood of Christ, who was sacrificed on the cross.[12]

Church of God History

The General Pastor Kim Joo-cheol explains the present state of the church all around the world.
The General Pastor Kim Joo-cheol explains the present state of the church all around the world.

The Church of God was restored in 1964 by Ahnsahnghong who is the Second Coming Christ. Christ Ahnsahnghong opened the way to salvation by restoring all the truths of the new covenant that Jesus established 2,000 years ago; He restored the early Church of God. The Church of God, which was established by Christ Ahnsahnghong in Korea, has grown to have over 7,500 churches in 175 countries within 60 years.[1]

The Meaning of the Name of the Church and the History of the Early Church

The “Church of God” means a church established by God, and a church whose owner is God. In the Bible, the early Church that Jesus Christ established, and which the apostles Peter, John, and Paul all attended, was called the “Church of God.”[38] The Bible described it as the “church bought with God’s own blood.”[39]
The new covenant that Jesus kept and which He taught as an example for us is the complete truth of the early Church and the “gospel of the kingdom.” The saints of the early Church kept all of the precious truths that Jesus taught during His ministry, including the Passover of the new covenant established by the sacrifice of His blood shed on the cross. After the resurrection and ascension of Christ, the apostles and the saints of the early Church of God received the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost and boldly preached the gospel; this led the number of people who received Jesus as Savior to exponentially increase. The fact that the gospel was rapidly preached to Gentile nations and cities beyond Jerusalem and Judea is evident in the record of Apostle Paul’s missionary journeys. Churches were established in Ephesus,[40] Corinth,[38] Antioch[41] etc., and the gospel was preached in many European regions, including Thessalonica,[42] Athens,[43] Malta,[44] Perga,[45] Cyprus,[46] and Rome.[47]

Restoration of the Truth and Succession of the Early Church of God

As the church became secularized, the truth of salvation, including the new covenant Passover, gradually changed and polytheism flowed into the church.[48] 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.

It wasn’t until 1,600 years since the truth of the early Church disappeared that the Church of God was rebuilt. According to the parable of the fig tree, Christ Ahnsahnghong, the Second Coming Christ, began His gospel ministry in 1948 and restored the truth of the new covenant that had disappeared, including the Passover, the seven feast in three times, and the Sabbath. Furthermore, He re-established the Church of God in 1964. Currently, the Church of God is preaching the gospel in 175 countries as more and more people realize the truth of salvation and come from all over the world.

For details, refer to: History of the Church of God

Church of God’s Missionary Work

God said that He wants all men to come to the knowledge of the truth and to be saved.[49] Following the will of God, the Church of God is pursuing a “complete religious reformation” which is to restore the truth and faith of the early Church, by preaching the teachings of God, centering on the Bible. Consequently, the Church of God preaches the truth of the new covenant and the love of God so that all people around the world can come to the Spirit and the Bride who said, “Come and receive the water of life,”[16] and be able to receive eternal salvation and happiness.

Present State of Missionary Work

The Church of God began its overseas mission work in 1997 in accordance with God’s teaching to “go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation.”[50] The missionary work in North America, which began in Los Angeles, California, has spread so rapidly that the church is now established in all 50 states as well as several major cities in Canada. Through the missionary work in Central and South America, which began in Peru in 1998, the gospel has been preached even to the Amazon rainforest in Brazil and the valleys of the Andes in Peru as well. Today, there are over 7,500 churches in 175 countries around the world, including Europe, Asia, Africa, and Oceania. More than 80% of the members of each Church of God in every country are local people, and a significant number of them serve as local pastors.[51] 

Website of the World Mission Society Church of God
Website of the World Mission Society Church of God


The Church of God preaches the truth through various types of media such as brochures, videos, and the Internet so that people can hear God’s voice anywhere in the world. The Church of God produces and supplies various publications such as the Truth Books written by Christ Ahnsahnghong, sermon books that deliver the teachings of God, collections of essays containing the realization of the church members, collections of children’s stories, and other printed materials necessary for cultivating good faith and character. The news of salvation is being delivered even to the regions with poor communication as publications are translated into more than 60 languages. This includes languages that are spoken by large populations such as English, Spanish, Chinese, Hindi, and even local languages such as Khasis, Bengali, Croatian, and Gujarati.

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”[52] to promote harmony among family members, friends, and neighbors who found it difficult to meet during the COVID-19 pandemic.

For details, refer to: Church of God’s Missionary Work

Overseas Visiting Group

The 62nd Overseas Visiting Group
The 62nd 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 Overseas Visiting Group program in 2001. Until May 2024, overseas members visited Korea a total of 79 times.
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.[51][53]

Members' Life of Faith

Global Conference for Happy Family
Global Conference for Happy Family

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.”[54]
The Church of God regards all people as a large family living together in a house built by God called Earth .[55] 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.

Love for Family

Members of the Church of God in New Windsor, NY, U.S. head to the church to celebrate the Passover.
Members of the Church of God in New Windsor, NY, U.S. head to the church to celebrate the Passover.

The members regard the practice of love, starting from their home, as the basis of their life of faith. The guideline is to realize the kingdom of heaven through good deeds and warm words at home, which is the root of our society.

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 & 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, various global conferences,[56] orchestral concerts,[57] the New Jerusalem Festival[58] as well as many other family oriented events.
The Church of God publishes various publications such as the monthly family magazine, 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.

Centering on God's Word

The 16th Foreign Language Bible Preaching Contest
The 16th Foreign Language Bible Preaching Contest

The members of the Church of God, who believe in God the Father and God the Mother, as testified in the Bible, are constantly and meticulously learning the truth and reflecting on God’s teachings, believing the words of the Bible as the “water of life.” The Church of God conducts numerous educations tailored to various age groups and positions so that the members can understand the truths in the Bible correctly and cultivate their faith.

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.[59][60] 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.[61]
Education is 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 abilities. Education is provided at the Okcheon Go&Come Training Institute, the Dongbaek Training Institute, etc., and was held online during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Church of God Headquarters provides educational materials and sermons through various media sources such as books, 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 Foreign Language Bible Preaching Contest,[62] Cultural Content Awards,[63][64] New Song Festival,[65][66] along with a variety of other events, members share brotherly love with each other.

Community Service

The Church of God free meal service site after Sewol Ferry sinking accident
The Church of God free meal service site after Sewol Ferry sinking accident

Following the teaching of the Bible to “love your neighbors,” and the teaching of God the Mother, which teaches us that it is more blessed to give love, the members of the Church of God transcend borders, ethnicities, and religions to practice the love that they’ve learned from Christ by carrying out volunteer services around the world. Volunteer services are carried out in diverse fields such as the environment, social well-being, culture, physical education, and medical care. This is accomplished by the active participation of all age groups: housewives, field-related experts, university students, and middle and high school students as well. In particular, young adults are greatly encouraged to engage in such activities by becoming members of the Church of God University Student Volunteer Group [ASEZ] and as members of the Church of God Young Adult Worker Volunteer Group [ASEZ WAO].

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.[67][68][69][70] 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, the earthquake in Nepal, torrential rains in Japan, the cold wave in Peru, etc.[71]
As of April 2024, numerous community services such as disaster relief, blood donation, help for the underprivileged, medical support, and educational support have been carried out in 102 countries about 28,000 times. More than 1,300 blood drives have been held to help people in danger due to blood shortages,[72] and nearly 111,000 people have donated blood among 263,000 participants. This is equivalent to saving more than 333,000 people since one person’s blood donation can save three other people. Through such activities, the Church of God participates in the implementation of the internationally accepted Sustainable Development Goals [SDGs].[73] During the COVID-19 pandemic, they helped 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.[74] 

The Church of God delivers donations to respond COVID-19.
The Church of God delivers donations to respond COVID-19.

Supporting COVID-19 Relief Efforts

  • Providing personal protective equipment and other COVID-19 prevention supplies to the government, public offices, medical staff, police officers, firefighters, etc.
  • Providing personal protective equipment and other prevention supplies, food, and daily necessities to those who are vulnerable.
  • Donation for COVID-19 pandemic
  • "Heart to Heart” Project
  • “Cheer Up” project

Emergency Relief

  • Recovery efforts for natural disasters and accidents
  • Medical support for victims, donation of funds and relief goods, benefit concerts
  • Free meals for disaster victims
  • Disaster preparedness education

Alleviating Poverty and Hunger

Sharing love with neighbors on 2022 New Year’s Day
Sharing love with neighbors on 2022 New Year’s Day
  • Support with living expenses for the vulnerable
  • Support with food, daily necessities, and kimchi
  • Support with heating expenses and heating supplies, and repair homes in preparation for the winter
  • Support the improvement of housing

Health Care

  • Worldwide Blood Drive to Give Life Through the Love of the Passover
  • Free medical treatment for the vulnerable, support with vaccinations and medical expenses including medications
  • Donation of goods and cleanup for medical facilities

Clean Water & Sanitation

  • Water pump support for countries with water shortages
  • Conservation of oceans and waterways
  • Campaigns to save streams by using EM

Well-Being Promotion

The Church of God strives to promote well-being so that all neighbors, including children and the elderly, can live a happy life without being alienated.
The Church of God strives to promote well-being so that all neighbors, including children and the elderly, can live a happy life without being alienated.
  • Programs for children and adolescents
  • Assistance for seniors who live alone, consolatory party for seniors, free hair-styling service
  • Supporting programs for multicultural families
  • Support for social welfare facilities
  • Aid to underprivileged neighbors
  • Assistance for farming and fishing villages

Educational Support

  • Support for educational facilities and supplies
  • School environmental cleanup
  • Support for school expenses
  • Character education
  • Awareness promotion through forums, seminars, campaigns
  • “Mother’s School” project
At the opening ceremony of the 2003 Daegu Universiade, Aurah supporters present a flashlight performance of WE ♥ U.
At the opening ceremony of the 2003 Daegu Universiade, Aurah supporters present a flashlight performance of WE ♥ U.

Supporting Communities and the Nation

  • Appreciation visits to police stations, fire stations, and military bases
  • Social order campaigns
  • Volunteering for regional, national, and international events
  • “Reduce Crime Together” project

Promotion of Healthy Communication Among Family and Neighbors

ASEZ WAO carries out cleanup in Central Park, Songdo International City, Incheon, Korea
ASEZ WAO carries out cleanup in Central Park, Songdo International City, Incheon, Korea

Environmental Preservation

Global Cooperation

The Church of God cooperates with governments and various humanitarian agencies to solve common problems that the international community faces such as natural disasters, environmental concerns, diseases, and famine. All walks of life, stretching beyond country, race, or ethnicity, work in cooperation with the Church of God through mutual agreements, conferences, signatures of support on a variety of issues, etc.

General Pastor Kim Joo-cheol’s Speech at the UN

General Pastor Kim Joo-cheol attends the UN Central Emergency Response Fund [CERF] High-Level Conference
General Pastor Kim Joo-cheol attends the UN Central Emergency Response Fund [CERF] High-Level Conference

As the Church of God has been expanding the scope of its activities to help our neighbors around the global village and preserve the living sites, General Pastor Kim Joo-cheol was invited to the 71st CERF High-Level Conference held at the UN Headquarters in New York on December 13, 2016. With about 200 people from across different UN organizations, multiple member states, and many other non-governmental organizations attending the meeting, Pastor Kim Joo-cheol expressed his support for the activities of the Central Emergency Relief Fund and UN-sponsored organizations to help countries in crisis and also promised continuous cooperation and aid. Lisa Doughten, Chief of CERF Secretariat, said, “The Church of God is the first church to be invited to this conference.”[75] 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.[76]
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.[77]

For details, refer to: Pastor Kim Joo-cheol From the Church of God Gives a Speech at the United Nations

For details, refer to: The Church of God Donates to the United Nations

Signing of Agreements, Conferences, and Supporting Signatures

Futurist Jerome Glenn attends the ASEZ conference and discusses about the sustainable future with the university students from the Church of God.
Futurist Jerome Glenn attends the ASEZ conference and discusses about the sustainable future with the university students from the Church of God.

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.[78] ASEZ is carrying out necessary volunteer activities in local communities by signing MOUs with 154 organizations, including the Ministry of Education of Nepal and the Ministry of Environment of the Dominican Republic (as of October 2023).[79]
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.[80] 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 60,000 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.[79]

Awards

Presidential Group Citation, Medal of Merit, Presidential Citation
Presidential Group Citation, Medal of Merit, Presidential Citation

Around 4,200 times, countries around the world have awarded the Church of God medals of recognition, citations for excellence, and achievement awards for its continuous efforts through their volunteerism. The details of these awards can be found in the page below.

The Presidential Award From the Republic of Korea

For the contribution to the development of the nation and the unity of citizens, the Church of God received the Presidential Citation, the Presidential Group Citation, and the Medal of Merit from three Presidents of the Republic of Korea: President Kim Dae-jung in 2003, President Roh Moo-hyun in 2004, and President Park Geun-hye in 2015.[2] It is very unusual for a religious organization to receive the Presidential Group Citation. It was the result of highly praised efforts from the members of the Church of God in the areas of marine disaster relief and marine environment protection activities across many years.

For details, refer to: The Church of God Honored With the Presidential Award From the Republic of Korea

The President’s Volunteer Service Award From the U.S.

The President’s Volunteer Service Award From the U.S.
The President’s Volunteer Service Award From the U.S.

The Church of God was awarded The President’s Volunteer Service Award from the U.S. for contributing to a bright change by helping neighbors in need through comprehensive services such as environmental cleanup, blood donation, helping underprivileged neighbors, and disaster relief. This award is given in gold, silver, and bronze according to the amount of time devoted to service. In particular, the “Lifetime Achievement Award” is given to individuals who have devoted themselves to volunteer services for over 4,000 hours. The Church of God has received the Lifetime Achievement Award, the highest U.S. President’s Volunteer Service Award given to individuals, and 60 Gold Awards, the highest award given to groups. These awards were issued by three different administrations—those of Presidents Joe Biden, Donald Trump, and Barack Obama.

For details, refer to: The Church of God Honored With The President’s Volunteer Service Award From the USA

The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service from the U.K.

The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service from the U.K.
The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service from the U.K.

The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service is given to the organizations that have contributed to the community through constant and devoted volunteer service. After years of detailed and rigorous evaluations and verification of the result of the volunteerism, the candidates are presented for the Queen’s final approval. Elizabeth II, the Queen of the United Kingdom and the Head of the Commonwealth, which is an organization of 53 independent states, awarded the Church of God located in the U.K. with The Queen’s Volunteer Service Award in 2016 for making a positive impact on the community and the country through its constant voluntary service. The British royal family also conferred the title of the “Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire” [MBE] upon the Church.[3][81]

For details, refer to: Church of God Honored with The Queen's Award for Voluntary Service from U.K.

Green World Award & Green Apple Award

The Church of God, ASEZ, and ASEZ WAO received the Green World Award (Gold) and Green Apple Award (Gold, Silver, Bronze), which are international environmental awards for achievements in environmental protection. The Green World Award and the Green Apple Award are two of the most prestigious environmental awards in Europe, organized by The Green Organisation, which is a renowned international, non-profit, environmental organization officially recognized by the European Commission, the Royal Society of Arts [RSA], and the U.K. Environment Agency.

In 2018, the Church of God and ASEZ received both the Gold and Bronze awards at the 2018 Green Apple Awards ceremony.[82]

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[83][84] and were appointed as Green World Ambassadors.[85] ASEZ WAO also received the Green Apple Awards Gold and Silver.[86][87]

In 2023, AESZ WAO won the Bronze Green Apple Award in recognition of its efforts to protect the terrestrial ecosystem through the “Green Earth” project, and received the Green Apple Award for four consecutive years from 2020 to 2023.[88]

Media Reports

The media around the world is displaying much interest in the Church of God. As of May 2024, there have been about 12,200 media reports concerning the Church of God. Topics are diverse, and range from the matter of belief and faith of the Church of God, community service initiatives, and awards that have been received.

The media explained that the Church of God inherited the traditions of the early Church, introducing the core beliefs such as those of God the Father and God the Mother, and the new covenant Passover. The reports cover diverse aspects about the church, including their godly manner worship, the humble attitude of the pastoral staff and the members, their good deeds at home and in their neighborhoods, and their community services throughout the world. Based on these aspects, the Church of God has received favorable reports for following Christ’s example and working with genuine hearts.

External links

Related videos

  • Church of God Introduction Video

  • Church of God in Korea

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "In the Midst of Declining Religion, 7,500 Churches Across 175 Countries... 3.7 Million Registered Believers Worldwide". Monthly Chosun. February 2024.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "Major Awards Received". WATV.org.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "The U.K. Queen's Award for Voluntary Service". World Mission Society Church of God in UK.
  4. ↑ "The Church of God Honored With Brazil's Legislative Merit Medal". WATV.org. December 7, 2022.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Matthew 28:19–20".
  6. ↑ "Opening of Church of God Institute". Okcheon News. November 11, 2005.
  7. ↑ Elohim Institute Website
  8. ↑ "Church of God, Establishes New Training Facilities and Temple in Jeju". Kyeonggi Ilbo. August 8, 2016.
  9. ↑ "Education Course". The Church of God Theological Institute Website.
  10. ↑ "Mankind's Past, Present, and Future at a Glance". Kyeonggi Ilbo. January 16, 2014.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 "Hebrews 9:27–28".
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 12.4 "The Church of God Introduction". WATV.org.
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 "Matthew 6:9".
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 "Galatians 4:26–28".
  15. ↑ "Genesis 1:26–27".
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 "Revelation 22:17".
  17. ↑ "Revelation 21:9–10".
  18. ↑ "John 1:1–14".
  19. ↑ "John 10:33".
  20. ↑ "1 Timothy 2:5".
  21. ↑ "Philippians 2:5–8".
  22. ↑ "2 Corinthians 6:17–18".
  23. ↑ "Matthew 12:8".
  24. ↑ "Acts 17:2".
  25. ↑ "Exodus 12:11–13".
  26. ↑ "Exodus 12:7–11".
  27. ↑ "Exodus 12:25–27".
  28. ↑ "Luke 22:19–20".
  29. ↑ "Matthew 26:19–28".
  30. ↑ "John 6:53–54".
  31. ↑ "1 Corinthians 11:1–16".
  32. ↑ "Colossians 2:12".
  33. ↑ "Galatians 3:27".
  34. ↑ "Philippians 3:20".
  35. ↑ Birth of the Invincible Sun.The Free Dictionary
  36. ↑ "Exodus 20:4–5".
  37. ↑ A Dictionary of Dates Relating to All Ages and Nations, Haydn, J. and Vincent, B., London. E. Moxon and Co., 1863, p.198, “Cross,” Crosses in churches and chambers were introduced about 431; and set up on steeples about 568.
  38. ↑ 38.0 38.1 "1 Corinthians 1:2".
  39. ↑ "Acts 20:28".
  40. ↑ "Acts 20:17".
  41. ↑ "Acts 13:1".
  42. ↑ "Acts 17:1–2".
  43. ↑ "Acts 17:16–17".
  44. ↑ "Acts 28:1–8".
  45. ↑ "Acts 14:20–25".
  46. ↑ "Acts 13:4–5".
  47. ↑ "Romans 1:7".
  48. ↑ "[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?". Monthly JoongAng. November 17, 2017.
  49. ↑ "1 Timothy 2:3–4".
  50. ↑ "Mark 16:15".
  51. ↑ 51.0 51.1 "[Special Feature on the 60th Anniversary of the Church of God] 20 Years as a Bridge Connecting Korea and the World: The Overseas Members' Visit Program of the Church of God". Monthly JoongAng. May 17, 2024.
  52. ↑ "The Church of God Holds 'Happy Webinar for Workers'". WATV.org.
  53. ↑ "75th Overseas Visiting Group Consisted of University Students Worldwide". Monthly Chosun. August 2019.
  54. ↑ "[Special Feature ● Luther's 500 Years of Religious Reformation—Church of God and Truth in the Bible] 2.7 Million World Mission Society Church of God Saints' 'Grand Chorus'". Monthly JoongAng. November 17, 2017.
  55. ↑ "The World Mission Society Church of God Spreads Hope and Happiness All Over the World". WATV.org.
  56. ↑ "Global Conference on Happy Family". WATV.org. April 6, 2019.
  57. ↑ "Healing Concert with Mother's Heart Touring around the Capital Area Closed". English.watv.org. December 1, 2013.
  58. ↑ "Gracious Opportunity to Share Love With Loving Family". English.watv.org.
  59. ↑ "Church of God Opens Students Summer Camp". Shinailbo. August 2, 2019.
  60. ↑ "2015 Summer Camp for Middle & High School Students". WATV.org.
  61. ↑ "Church of God, A Guide for Upright Personality and Hopeful Dream". Weekly DongA. January 16, 2020.
  62. ↑ "The 16th Foreign Language Bible Preaching Contest". English.watv.org.
  63. ↑ "New Jerusalem Cultural Content Awards Ceremony 2024". WATV.org. January 28, 2024.
  64. ↑ "Heartwarming Cultural Content from the Church of God: Inspiring Growth Stories Rooted in Family Love and Faith". Woman DongA. February 29, 2024.
  65. ↑ "Student New Song Festival 2024". WATV.org.
  66. ↑ "The 4th New Song Festival for Students and Young Adults". NEWS.WATV.org.
  67. ↑ "'A World Where No One Feels Lonely,' Is Made with God's Love as the Basis". Monthly Chosun. March 2020.
  68. ↑ "Church of God Donate 100 Million KRW to Help Pohang Earthquake Victims". Incheon Ilbo. December 21, 2017.
  69. ↑ "Church of God Serve Free Meal at Pohang". Joongboo Ilbo. December 3, 2017.
  70. ↑ "[Sinking of Sewol Ferry] Church of God Serve Freemeal at the Sewol Ferry Disaster Site". Kyeongin Ilbo. August 21, 2014.
  71. ↑ "Emergency Relief". WATV.org.
  72. ↑ "[Special Feature on the 60th Anniversary of the Church of God] Earth's Unified Platform Drawing Attention Even from the UN: The Church of God". Monthly Chosun. February 2024.
  73. ↑ "ASEZ Global Forum for UN SDGs Implementation". WATV.org.
  74. ↑ "Church of God Support Emergency Aid to Overcome COVID-19". WATV.org.
  75. ↑ "Church of God General Pastor Joo-Cheol Kim, Makes Speech in UN Conference". Munhwa Ilbo. December 29, 2016.
  76. ↑ "General Pastor Kim Joo-cheol's Speech at the UN Conference". WATV.org.
  77. ↑ "General Pastor Visits the UN Headquarters and Delivers a Donation to Aid Haiti". WATV.org.
  78. ↑ "Partnership". WATV.org.
  79. ↑ 79.0 79.1 "ASEZ Takes a Step Closer to Humanity's Common Goal through Marine Ecosystem Conservation". News Gyeongnam. April 24, 2024.
  80. ↑ "ASEZ Conference With Jerome C. Glenn, World Mission Society Church of God". ASEZ Church of God University Student Volunteers YouTube Video. October 17, 2019.
  81. ↑ Gyeonggi Yearbook, Kyeonggi Daily News, 2021, pp. 248 to 259
  82. ↑ "The Church of God Wins 'Green Apple Award', One of the Top 4 Environmental Awards Worldwide". Woman DongA. November 29, 2018.
  83. ↑ "Green World Gold Award". WATV AWARD.
  84. ↑ "The Green World Gold Award". WATV AWARD.
  85. ↑ "The Church of God Volunteer Group Receives Green Apple Award and Green World Award". Sedaily. November 21, 2021.
  86. ↑ "ASEZ WAO GOLD Green World Award". WATV AWARD.
  87. ↑ "ASEZ WAO NATIONAL SILVER, Green Apple Environment Award". WATV AWARD.
  88. ↑ "The Church of God Receives Green Apple Organization's Bronze Award". The Joongbu Ilbo. November 24, 2023.
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