A Heart That Values One Soul

During the latter half of last year, I spent four months on a mission trip in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Ethiopia has its own unique official language, Amharic. Since it was my first time traveling to Africa and the language was completely new to me, I was filled with concern before my departure. I prayed earnestly to meet souls who could become pillars of the local church, and I resolved to rely solely on Heavenly Father and Mother as I boldly proclaimed the truth of the new covenant.

Approximately 44 percent of the Ethiopian population belongs to the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. Although this denomination was unfamiliar to me, I assumed that because they already believed in God and the Bible, they would readily say “Amen” and accept the gospel once I showed them the words of the Bible. However, reality was quite different. Many took great pride in their religious heritage, and some refused to budge no matter how clearly the truth was explained. Even when we suggested them to confirm their claims through the Bible, they would simply raise their voices more forcefully.

As I struggled with frustration, I remembered the teaching that we must preach with compassion for every soul. I began to feel a deep pity for those who practiced their faith so blindly, unable to see the true meaning of the Bible that God gave for our salvation. Determined not to overlook a single person, I resolved to share the truth of the new covenant properly. After each day’s activities, I returned to the dormitory and reviewed the Amharic phrases I had struggled with, practicing them repeatedly with the help of the local members. By the grace of Heavenly Father and Mother, I could feel my language skills steadily improving, allowing me to explain the truth far more deeply than when I first arrived. Even those who had once found the truth difficult to accept began listening quietly as I carefully guided them through the Bible, point by point.

As more and more people accepted God Elohim after several Bible studies, I thought the path ahead would finally be smooth. Before long, however, another difficulty arose: The new members struggled to accept Christ who came in the flesh. Although I believed I had thoroughly explained the biblical prophecies and their fulfillment, some closed their hearts after hearing groundless rumors, while others suddenly cut off all contact. Watching these precious souls—whom we found with such earnest effort—stop on their way to Zion because they could not recognize the true God was heartbreaking. My heart ached so deeply that all I could do was weep.

Only then did I begin to understand, even in the slightest measure, the heart of our Heavenly Father and Mother. I thought of Their earnestness as They walked rugged mountain paths and stony roads just to find one lost child; Their constant anxiety that the children They had found might be deceived by falsehood; and Their profound sorrow as They watched Their children drift away from Their arms. As I contemplated the heart of our Heavenly Parents, the only thought that filled my mind was, “I am so sorry.” It felt as though those precious brothers and sisters had left because I had failed to give them enough care or feed them the word at the right time. I resolved then and there never to leave a single soul feeling lonely again, but to care for each one with sincere love and help them remain steadfast within the truth.

Around that time, the Prayer Week of the Day of Atonement began, and I offered daily prayers of repentance for my shortcomings. During the Festival of Tabernacles, I earnestly prayed that God would allow me to find souls who would fully believe in and follow the Second Coming Christ. After hearing the words, “If you believe that you have received the Holy Spirit and preach, everything will be accomplished,” my heart was filled with renewed passion, and I began to proclaim the gospel even more boldly.

I also poured a great deal of effort into caring for the new members we had already found. I practiced navigating the Amharic Bible beforehand so that I could sit beside them during worship and help those who were still unfamiliar with finding verses. Together, we learned the Amharic New Songs line by line, and before they returned home, I always tried to share at least one more verse from the Bible with them. Throughout the week, I frequently checked in on them through phone calls and text messages. Gradually, the new members began to visit Zion more frequently, and those who had been studying the truth for a long time were finally reborn as God’s children.

Among them was Brother Getachew. He had been studying the truth for about two months and had even held a position in the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. Yet, the moment he heard that revering the cross is idolatry, he immediately threw away the cross he had been carrying; he was someone who obeyed the word without hesitation. I earnestly hoped that he would fully discern the truth and receive God’s blessings, but his family encountered unexpected hardship. For more than a month, we were able to stay in contact only through calls and messages.

One Sabbath during lunchtime, there was a knock at the church door. To my delight, it was Brother Getachew. As we spoke, I realized that he had not forgotten a single truth he had studied and still believed in them firmly. I then testified to him that Christ Ahnsahnghong is the Second Coming Jesus who appeared according to the prophecies of the Bible. After realizing the truth, he was reborn as a child of God that very day. From then on, he faithfully attended church every week, studying the prophecies of the Bible and steadily strengthening his faith in Christ Ahnsahnghong.

Another soul was Brother Abebe, who supported his family through strenuous manual labor. From the first day he heard the truth, he used nearly every lunch break and spare moment he had to study the Bible. When I invited him to attend the Sabbath worship, I asked if he would be okay, knowing how exhausted he must be from work.

He replied, “There is life here. Even if I’m tired, of course I will come to worship.”

Watching this soul gladly receive the words of the water of life, I prayed earnestly that he would always remain within God’s grace. True to his word, he attended the Sabbath evening worship and joyfully accepted Jesus’ new name as the Savior.

Witnessing the work of the Holy Spirit unfold before my eyes as these brothers diligently studied God’s words and kept His regulations, my heart overflowed with gratitude. Even in distant Ethiopia, there were truly precious members of the heavenly family waiting to be found. Through this mission, I came to realize more deeply how much earnest toil and hardship Heavenly Father and Mother must have endured when They came to this earth to lead the early Church of God. I finally understood why They taught us to cherish every soul and lead them with love. It is because God treasures each one of us beyond measure and loves us with all Their heart. I will never forget this love. Through prayer, loving care, and God’s words I will strive to become a child who practices love and sacrifice, ensuring that no one in Zion ever feels lonely again.