United by the Same Mission

As a young adult, I spent much of my time on short- and long-term missions in countries such as Mexico and Brazil. Having received the truth first in Korea, where our Heavenly Father and Mother came, I felt a deep sense of responsibility to carry the gospel to Samaria and to the ends of the earth. That sense of mission drew me into unknown lands. Even after getting married, I brought that same passion with me to Malaysia, where I continue to sow the seeds of the word. As I spent time here, I came to see that the members in Malaysia share the same sense of mission and are preaching the gospel in neighboring countries. Whenever I see them ready to go anywhere in search of our scattered brothers and sisters, wherever they may be, I am deeply moved and find renewed strength. Perhaps we share the same heart because we are all children of the same heavenly family.

Not long ago, my husband and I had the opportunity to spend a week preaching in Batam, Indonesia, with members from Masai Zion. For several years, the members in Malaysia had been supporting the gospel work in Batam, where Zion had yet to be established. Along the way, they had faced many challenges. Even though there was no telling when Zion would be established there, the members stepped forward in faith and volunteered for the short-term mission despite the difficult circumstances. I joined them with the same determination to find faithful souls who would one day become strong pillars of Zion and bring joy to God.

After a two-hour ferry ride, we arrived in Batam, Indonesia. The languages spoken in Malaysia and Indonesia are similar, which made communication relatively easy. Moreover, since there are many Christians in Batam, most people readily made time for us when we invited them to hear the word of God. Grateful for the circumstances God had provided, we joyfully shared His word.

However, although many people listened to the teachings of the Bible, they still held firmly to their existing beliefs. Some reacted negatively to truths they were hearing for the first time, while others were reluctant to leave the churches they had attended for many years. In a way, their reactions were understandable. After all, it is difficult for anyone to change beliefs that have become deeply rooted in their lives. Even so, we had to find a way to turn their hearts toward the truth.

“How can we help them accept the truth?”

The answer to the question that had been weighing on my mind since the beginning of our mission lay in the truth itself. As the Bible says, “For the word of God is living and active . . . . it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow” (Heb 4:12). Only the truth of the new covenant could open the eyes of the people there and revive their souls. Keeping this teaching in mind, we patiently continued sharing the word. Then, one by one, those who longed for God began to come forward.

When we first met Brother Samson, he spent nearly three hours studying the truth with us. Afterward, he rode his motorcycle to Zion on his own and received the blessing of baptism. The very next day, he brought a friend to Zion, and together they led another friend to receive the blessing of salvation. Seeing the three friends studying the Bible together in Zion filled my heart with joy.

On another occasion, while taking public transportation to our destination, we accidentally ended up in a different area from the one we had planned to visit. Although things had not gone according to plan, we encouraged one another, believing that God must have had a purpose in leading us there, and began preaching. At the entrance to a village, we met a young Christian man. He was amazed by the truth about Heavenly Mother and immediately received the blessing of new life. I was deeply grateful to realize that even when we were unaware of Father and Mother’s guidance, They were always with us, leading us along a path of blessing.

Even during meals, the members found time to share the word with those around them. A restaurant owner who had been watching them approached us and expressed interest. One of the area’s prominent business owners, she visited Zion on the Sabbath and received the Spirit and the Bride. She eagerly received every teaching, finding each one as sweet as honey, and expressed her heartfelt gratitude, saying, “Thank you so much for coming all this way to share this precious truth with us.” On the day our mission came to an end, she came all the way to the port to see us off and promised that we would meet again. True to her word, she later took a ferry to Masai Zion and faithfully kept the Sabbath there. I was both amazed and grateful, but my heart also ached to think that the new members could not freely gather together because there was still no Zion in Batam. I earnestly pray that a city of truth will soon be established for our beloved brothers and sisters in Batam.

This special short-term mission gave me a new perspective on the gospel. Since there were neither a Zion in Batam nor any gospel workers nearby to care for the new members, we did our best to turn their hearts toward Heavenly Mother and share as much of the word as possible to nourish them spiritually until their faith could stand firm. Unlike on previous missions, when I had focused mainly on finding as many brothers and sisters as possible, this time I found myself thinking and praying about what would happen after our mission was over. Through this experience, I came to understand, even if only a little, the heart of Father and Mother, who care for Their countless children and never cease to watch over them.

I also learned a great deal from the members who served alongside me. They always take a keen interest in the gospel work not only in Malaysia but around the world, and whenever an opportunity arises to go on a short-term mission abroad, they readily step forward. It is not because they have time or money to spare. They are already pressed for time and physically tired from earning a living and fulfilling their responsibilities in Zion. Even so, they treasure the calling to “preach the truth to all nations” and continue to devote themselves wholeheartedly to that mission. In the face of such unwavering passion, nothing can stand in their way.

I, too, will not grow complacent where I am, but will join the members in doing my part to hasten the completion of the gospel of the kingdom. I firmly believe that if we go wherever we are needed and proclaim the new covenant, it will not be long before we find all our lost brothers and sisters.