The Church of God Overseas Visiting Group

The 50th Overseas Visiting Group

The Church of God Overseas Visiting Group program was started to bring members from around the world to Korea so that they could study the truth of the Bible and experience the love of God the Mother. Korea is the place where the gospel of the new covenant has been restored and the Church of God has been reestablished. The program can be regarded as a pilgrimage for the members of the Church of God around the world. The program can range from a week to half a month. Since the first overseas visiting group from North America in 2001, a total of 75 groups have visited Korea up until the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.
During the visit, overseas members learn the truths of the Bible from various angles at the New Jerusalem Pangyo Temple, the Okcheon Go&Come Training Institute, and the Elohim Training Institute. Through lessons and instruction, members increase the depth of their faith and broaden their biblical knowledge. Participating in various events such as the Global Bible Seminar, they interact with Korean members and build friendships across national borders. After experiencing Korean history and culture by visiting local churches and famous places throughout the country, the members also share what they learned in Korea with their respective countries.

Overview of the Overseas Visiting Group

Overseas members tour the Church of God History Museum.

In the early 2000s, the Overseas Visiting Group program was formed. At that time, the Church of God was established in many countries through overseas missions. Since overseas members visited Korea for the first time in 1999, requests from members in every country where the Church of God was established flooded the Headquarters. The goal was to personally visit Korea, where the truth of the new covenant and the faith of the early Church was restored, and to strengthen their faith even more.
As the biblical prophecy says, “When the glory of Jerusalem shines on the whole world, people will assemble from afar, flying like doves to their nest,” members from many nations have visited Korea. Coming from more than 80 countries, members flown in from all over the globe, including Canada and the United States in North America, where Christians first sought a new world for religious freedom; Germany, France, and Spain in Europe, where the Catholic Church originated from; Nepal and Japan in Asia; South Africa, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, and Seychelles in Africa; Peru, Mexico, and Argentina in South America; and Australia and New Zealand in Oceania. For members in some countries, it takes three days for them to come to Korea. The reason members from around the world spend their time and expenses visiting the country is because it is the holy land where God the Father and God the Mother came as testified in the Bible. It is a historical center that has played a groundbreaking role in spreading the gospel of the new covenant throughout the world.
The overseas members of the Church of God aspire to experience the “land of prophecy” even for a short amount of time, meet Heavenly Mother in Korea, the motherland of faith, and learn about Her love firsthand. The overseas members who have visited Korea have seen and felt the fulfillment of the prophecies of the Bible by visiting the Church of God History Museum and local churches to see the progression of the church.

Interviews From Overseas Members

• Kai Herting (Germany): “I came to Korea to experience God’s love firsthand. The Church of God answered my many questions clearly through the words of the Bible, so I was convinced that this is the truth.”
• Jamie Lazo (U.S.): “After accepting the new covenant, I dreamed of visiting Korea. (Through this visit) I wanted to meet Heavenly Mother and learn Her love, become humble, and share that love with many people when I return to my country.”

Programs

The Church of God Overseas Visiting Group program was actively carried out before the COVID-19 pandemic. There were roughly 100 to 300 members per trip from various cultures and languages that came to Korea. They participated in various programs planned by the Headqurters of the Church of God such as educational seminars, events, visits to local churches, and cultural excursions.

Education and Events

Overseas members study the truth of the Bible at the Okcheon Training Institute.

Truth education accounts for a large part of the schedule for the overseas visiting groups. The members fervently study the teachings of the Bible at the Okcheon Go&Come Training Institute, the Dongbaek Training institute, and the New Jerusalem Pangyo Temple in Korea. They also learn the mindset and character they should have as believers. The education is smoothly carried out in the official language of each country such as English, Spanish, Japanese, French, Cambodian, Sri Lankan, and Telugu. Other languages are translated by local missionaries and members with the talent to speak other languages.
The members of visiting groups are also moved during events because they can interact with Korean members. By participating in global Bible seminars and conferences, and the Foreign Language Bible Preaching Contest, they interact with one another, transcending borders, languages, and cultures. At the 2003 Daegu Summer Universiade, they built friendships with people from around the world, playing an active role as Aurah Supporters together with the members in Korea. In 2019, on the 101st anniversary of the birth of Christ Ahnsahnghong, members from the United States, Peru, Mexico, Ukraine, Mongolia, Nepal, South Africa, and other countries who were talented in the field of culture and arts visited Korea. During this event, which was held at the Okcheon Go&Come Training Institute, members led various performances such as performing traditional musical instruments, folk songs, and quartets with the hope to build a harmonized global village for the future.

Interviews From Overseas Members

• Billy Ahio (New Zealand): “I’ve never learned such clear truth and received such great love. When I received the truth, I was so happy to receive the truth and realize God the Father and God the Mother.”
• Michael Kent Miller (U.S.): “I was greatly moved by how people from different countries, languages, and cultures are united with one mind. I hope that in the new year, all people around the world will be united and become happy together through the teachings of Mother’s love.”

Visiting Local Churches and Training Institutes

The overseas group visiting the Elohim Training Institute

During the overseas visiting group trips, members visit different churches and training institutes that have positively impacted the gospel. Some locations include the Church of God in Gwanak, Seoul, the first church to welcome the overseas visiting groups; the Church of God in Nakseom, Incheon, where the foundation of the gospel of the new covenant was established; and the Elohim Training Institute, where you can experience the beautiful landscape in different seasons. The members also had time to remember the love of their family members by watching the “Our Mother” Writing and Photo Exhibition and the “Father’s True Heart” Exhibition held in local churches.

Interviews From Overseas Members

• Anarisbeth Garcia (U.S.): “The Korean members waved their hands and greeted us with bright smiles. I felt once again that we, the children of God the Father and God the Mother, are heavenly family. It’s because we are united with one mind in love and happiness.”

Korean Culture Experience

Overseas members experience traditional Korean culture.

Many of the overseas members did not know much about Korea or visited the country until they came to the Church of God. The church organizes programs that can help members see the beauty of Korea through nature, history, culture, and architecture.

Overseas members of the Church of God have participated in various activities such as learning Korean etiquette, writing Korean alphabet, and learning gayageum (a traditional Korean plucked zither) by visiting historical landmarks such as Gyeongbokgung Palace, the main palace of the Joseon dynasty, Changdeokgung Palace, which is registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and Hwaseong Fortress in Suwon. High-tech industrial complexes such as Pangyo New Town and Songdo International City, N Seoul Tower, and Lotte World Tower are places that let others see Korea’s remarkable growth achieved in a short period of time. Members from all over the world have expressed their excitement after visiting the Presidential Residence, the National Assembly Building, the Independence Hall, and the Seoul Museum of History to understand Korea’s history. They also enjoyed visiting the Church of God History Museum to see the history of the Bible and the development of the church. The members from inland countries experienced the sea for the first time at the Coastal Wharf in Incheon and Wangsan Beach.

Interviews From Overseas Members

• Michael King (civil engineer, U.K.): “It’s amazing how such a beautiful palace is located in a modern city with strong dynamics. It feels very mystical, and it blends in very well at the same time.
• Lisa Ramos (aerospace engineer, U.S.): “Visiting this place and seeing it for myself, all aspects of Korea’s politics, culture, and economy feel even more mystic. It is amazing that the old and the modern are harmonized. I want to introduce these aspects of Korea to people when I go back to my country.”

Global Bible Seminar

Overseas members participate in the 2018 Arise & Shine International Bible Seminar.

The Global Bible Seminar is an event where members from various countries, who are engaged in various fields such as space engineering, biology, law, and accounting, gather together to illuminate the existence of God the Mother through their specialized knowledge and the Bible. At the seminar, the Church of God members and people who were interested in the Bible shared their understanding of God the Creator’s providence of salvation contained in the principles and laws of the world.

Interviews From Overseas Members

• S. Tumurbat (professor, Mongolia): “I realized once again that all systems in the world are related to God the Mother. How marvelous! I often realize the existence of God through land surveying and geography, which is what I teach.”"
• Miguel Carlos (professor, Peru): “Mental, psychological, and physical stability contribute a lot to the development of society. All this essentially comes from mothers. It is human nature to seek God the Mother.”
• August Kruesi (Senior Engineer for Development and Production of Aerojet Rocketdyne Rocket Engine Propulsion System, U.S.): “Mankind explored space in search of the process of life, but we have not found any life outside the earth. Now we need to focus on understanding the source of eternal life here. All life is given by mothers. . . . It is the will of God the Creator that a mother is the life-giving being. . . . The source of eternal life of the soul that mankind should seek is Heavenly Mother. The most precious gift I have received is the realization of Heavenly Mother’s love. I am most proud of the fact that I am Her child.”

For details, refer to: Global Bible Seminar

Global Conference for Human Happiness

2019 Global ASEZ Summit

Over the years, the size and scope of the overseas visiting groups have grown, and the Church of God began to work together with members from each country to discuss practical ways to share happiness with mankind.

In 2019, the overseas pastoral staff came to Korea to attend the General Assembly, and discussed together with the Korean pastoral staff the role of the church and ways members and citizens can build a happy family life. The 74th Overseas Visiting Group consisted of workers who visited Korea during their time off. During the trip, they shared their experiences and opinions on attitudes and actions that Christians and workers should practice.

At the 2019 Worldwide University Student Leadership Conference, university students from 41 countries established a vision as the global leaders of the next generation and built friendships beyond languages and cultural differences. At the ASEZ Global Summit, which was held during the period of the Conference, representatives from each continent shared the current status of major crimes in their continent and established a joint resolution to lower crime rate and lead the movement from their respective campuses.

Interviews From Overseas Members

• Ilona Suominen (student at the University of Helsinki, Finland): “I’m so happy that university students from all over the world have gathered together to discuss, learn, and work together. This kind of unity itself is desirable. I want to learn more and become an important member of society.”

Achievements of the Overseas Visiting Group Program

Cultivating True Believers

Members who visited Korea from India enjoy their calligraphy experience.

The Church of God Overseas Visiting Group program becomes a special turning point of faith for the members around the world. Through the program, they see the footsteps of Christ who came from the east and restored the truth in accordance with the prophecies of the Bible, and experience God the Mother’s perfect love firsthand. This brings confidence and enthusiasm to the faith of the members. In today's society where individualism is prevalent, members cultivate true faith and good character with the love they have received from God and contribute to family reconciliation, social development, and harmonizing communities.

Overseas members, who have different nationalities, languages, cultures, and ages, expand their view on life by experiencing a new culture together. Some members are greatly moved by the culture to respect the elderly, and they teach their children Korean etiquette.

The Korean members set a good example by serving the overseas members as helpers with Mother’s heart throughout their visit. They help by serving as translators, driving members to different locations, and ensuring the lodging is well-equipped with everything visitors will need. Carrie Song from Albany, U.S., said, “I will put everything learned through Korean members into practice from small details to big things, such as Mother’s love and concern, and kindness and care.”

The overseas members, who experienced the love of God the Father and God the Mother and united as a family with other members during their trip, returned to their home countries and took the lead in building unity and increasing happiness among people in the world. Based on the lessons learned in Korea, they try their best to show love every day with an altruistic mind. There are a number of people who realized the love of Christ and received the truth through the good deeds of the members as well as the truth of the new covenant.

“	The touching actions of the Church of God members are also playing a part in achieving warm harmony in the global society where individualism and selfishness prevail.	“
— 《The Dong-A Ilbo》 2016. 7. 14.

Interviews From Overseas Members

• Youssef Pena (graduate student at Ana G. Méndez University, Puerto Rico): “I heard that Koreans have good manners and listen to others well. I really think so! I want to learn good habits such as Korean greeting etiquette, respect for the elderly, and humility.”
• James Snazel (professor, U.K.): “Until I learned the gospel of the Church of God, I was the typical example of modern-day English people, who tend to be more individualistic and run toward greater honor, success, and a comfortable retirement. I feel joyful just by doing worthwhile work for the world with the church members. I take great pride in being a member of the Church of God.”

See also

• History of the Church of God
• Where Does Jesus Come a Second Time?
• World Mission Society Church of God

Related videos

• The Church of God Overseas Visiting Group

References

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  Church of God Official YouTube

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  Media Reports Worldwide

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