2024 Korea General Assembly Update

In 2024, the newly appointed executive committee of the Korea General Assembly began its term. Headed by the chairman, Pr. Myung Jo Heu, the committee members began to serve their two-year term together with the holy workers and council members of the various local churches. Accordingly, the Korea GA held a practical training workshop at their training center for holy workers on February 18th. There were 129 members coming from all over Korea. With the encouragement themed “The Spirit of Service”, Chairman Heu explained the regulations of the church, introduced the different departments (pastoral, evangelical, general affairs, financial affairs, and religious education), and provided training on the different departments. The training concluded with a prayer that each worker would serve the Lord with all their heart and mind in the positions entrusted to them, such that the church would prosper and grow, to receive commendation from the Lord as good and faithful servants (Photo 1).

Religious Education Department

The College Freshman Youth Visitation to Taiwan took place from August 25th to 29th, with twenty participants visiting various churches in Taiwan. Through fellowship with the local members, they were able to create beautiful memories during their visitation. We hope that in the future, these youths may grow in their faith and be instilled with a sense of mission to be faithful workers of the church. We also thank the Taiwan General Assembly for their hospitality, love, and support throughout this visitation trip. Additionally, the Religious Education Department is developing and promoting camps for students in their last year of junior high and senior high students, as well as nationwide camps for college freshmen, with the intent of fostering students’ growth (Photo 2).

Evangelical Department

In order to strategize evangelical initiatives, Korea GA established Jeju Island Evangelical Missionary Center; now, its efforts are gradually and continually coming to fruition. On September 8, 2024, the second baptism of the year was held. We had beautiful weather. With gratitude, three truth seekers received water baptism and gained new life, experiencing the rebirth as children of God. A total of four were baptized this year, one having been baptized earlier in the year. Believers from Cheon An Church and Dae Bang Church also attended the baptism, blessing the new believers. One of those who were baptized that day was Brother Wu, who had received the Holy Spirit on the Sabbath Day prior to the baptism and was filled with the Holy Spirit. We hope that everyone can keep Jeju Island Evangelical Missionary Center in their prayers. May the Lord open the doors of the gospel and give them the power to save souls (Photo 3).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Information Department

This year, a new book was published to help believers live a life of faith. This book was published by the Taiwan GA during the pandemic to encourage and promote family worship everywhere. The content of this book includes methods of family worship, vivid testimonies, and examples of family altar and worship. I believe this book will be a very good resource for families currently establishing worship in their households and provide a more challenging opportunity for families who have yet to begin family worship due to lack of experience or prior knowledge. We once again thank the Taiwan GA for providing this book (Photo 4).

Theological Training

Last year, on December 25, 2023, the 18th Theological Seminary Graduation Ceremony was held during the College Youth Spiritual Convocation (CYSC). After four years of training, two students graduated from the 18th theological training program. The ceremony was attended by many college students as well as the General Assembly’s executive committee members, local church members, and the theological students’ families. Together, they encouraged their hard work over the past four years and offered their blessings for the glorious journey God had given them. Please pray for these two workers who have been training over the past four years, that God’s power and help may continue with them always (Photo 5).

On February 7, 2024, the opening ceremony for the 19th cohort of the theological seminary was held at the General Assembly. This time, about 40 individuals attended, including 4 new theological students, their family members, the GA committee members, theological seminary staff, and instrumentalists from Jeon Ju Church, offering their congratulations and encouragement. After entering into the program, they first visited local churches around the country to understand each church’s current situation before officially beginning their  theological training. I hope that they will become useful vessels for God’s work, sanctifying themselves, being filled with the word of God, becoming soldiers for Christ, and preparing for God’s call (Photo 6).