Not a Single Soul Overlooked

There is an empty space in the memories of my school years—a place where memories of my mother should have been. When I was young, she had gone abroad to support our family, and I was raised by my aunt alongside my cousins. Sometimes I wonder where my life might have gone if God had not reached out to me during that time. Looking back now, all I feel is gratitude.

Two decades ago, when I first met the members of the Church of God, I was both intrigued and bewildered—Koreans were preaching the Bible in a foreign land. Their reason for coming was simple:

“Because the Second Coming Christ has come to Korea.”

Amazingly, it turned out to be true. The Bible clearly prophesied that God would come from the East. Although I was young, I had attended both Catholic and Protestant churches and studied at a mission school, yet I had never heard this truth before. Eager to learn more, I began visiting the Church of God whenever I could. At that time, the church was small, with about twenty members—only five of them Korean. Throughout the entire Philippines, there were fewer than five Churches of God, a surprisingly tiny number in a nation where most people profess faith in God. But the size of the church did not matter to me. The Church of God taught truths I had never encountered anywhere else. Watching the members follow the Bible exactly as it is written—believing in the Second Coming Jesus according to prophecy, observing the Sabbath, and keeping the regulation of veil—I became convinced that they were following God correctly.

The truth moved me deeply, but so did the character of the members in Zion. The brothers and sisters there were so warm and caring that they quickly felt like family. Their willingness to obey God’s teachings and their earnest desire to resemble His love made them truly admirable. At first, communicating with the Korean members in English rather than my own language was challenging, and cultural differences sometimes led to misunderstandings. Even so, nothing hindered me from learning the truth or experiencing God’s love. Because everyone’s faith was steadfast, we resolved to trust the guidance of the prophets and follow their lead. As I became more familiar with Zion’s culture and etiquette and spent more time with the members, misunderstandings gradually gave way to understanding. In Heavenly Father and Mother, I became convinced that we truly were one family.

I found myself wanting to follow the members’ example. Their zeal for the gospel was truly remarkable—not only the Korean missionaries who had come all the way to the Philippines, but also the Filipino members who had accepted the truth through them. Watching their tireless efforts to save even one more soul inspired me to begin sharing the truth with my own family. By God’s grace, my aunt and cousins, with whom I lived, soon received the blessing of becoming God’s children, and their faith grew steadily each day. Witnessing their transformation filled me with deep gratitude. At the same time, my prayers for my mother became even more earnest.

Although my mother respected my faith, she often expressed her concerns over the phone, not yet fully understanding the Church of God. Every day, I prayed that she would come to know the church and receive God Elohim—the one I most longed to share the gospel with. After two years of waiting, my prayer was finally answered. When my mother returned to the Philippines, I shared my hope that she would receive God’s blessings. To my delight, her heart was already open. After carefully studying the truth in Zion, she joyfully received baptism and said to me,

“I want us to be together.”

While she lived away from the Philippines, my mother surely missed me even more than I missed her. Through her longing to be with me—both on this earth and in heaven—I began to catch a glimpse of Heavenly Mother’s heart. Unable to bear separation from Her children, Heavenly Mother came to this distant earth to seek us. She willingly endured long suffering and trials so that Her sons and daughters might be saved, even though She had not reason to bear such pain. In the same way, Korean members traveled to the Philippines, sacrificing much to reach lost brothers and sisters despite language barriers. Because of their devotion, I am able to dwell in Zion today. I am overjoyed to be reunited with my mother and deeply grateful to have been brought back to our Heavenly Parents.

After becoming an adult, I devoted myself wholeheartedly to the gospel. Though the spread of the gospel in the Philippines was still small and fragile, we refused to let our circumstances hold us back and preached diligently. With over a hundred languages and tens of thousands of islands, it was easy to feel overwhelmed at the thought of reaching everyone. In those moments, we focused on the prophecy that the gospel would be preached to Samaria and to the ends of the earth, sharing the truths of the new covenant again and again. One of our greatest sources of encouragement was watching videos of Zion’s gospel work and accomplishments in Korea and other countries. Seeing the passion and achievements of fellow members worldwide inspired us and gave us hope that we, too, would be able to achieve the same. We shared the same dream as Zion families everywhere: “We will complete the gospel and bring joy to Mother.” By daring to dream big while focusing on the work in front of us rather than the outcome, one soul after another who longed for God Elohim was found. Gradually, Zion was established across countless islands and cities. I believe God delighted in our unity and shared purpose, bringing blessings beyond our imagination.

Finding more members brought a new responsibility: ensuring that no one was neglected and that each soul was nurtured. My concerns about how to guide them were instantly eased when I visited Korea and met Mother. She thanked me for my efforts and encouraged me to bear much fruit. I felt profound gratitude that She recognized even my small attempts, and I realized that sharing Mother’s love is the surest way to guide and nurture souls. As the saying goes, it takes a whole village to raise a child; likewise, it takes extraordinary care and dedication to embrace even a single person with love. Through this process, I began to understand, even in the slightest measure, the love and attention Mother gives to all Her children across the world. Today, with over one hundred Zions established in the Philippines and countless gospel workers growing in each, the salvation of the entire human race is made possible solely through the love and sacrifice of our Heavenly Father and Mother.

With a heart full of gratitude, I serve the members—tending to both their spiritual and physical needs and offering help wherever it is needed. Even amid a busy work life, I place God’s work first, dedicating at least one-tenth of each day to preaching. Father prepares a heavenly banquet for us, and Mother continually encourages us, reminding us that our labor is never in vain. For this reason, I never grow weary. With the love and sacrifice of our Heavenly Parents engraved in my heart, I will continue working tirelessly for the gospel, bringing Heavenly Mother the joyous news each day of finding Her children in the Philippines.