The Lifeline

I am the head of my household, blessed with a wife and two children. I had been supporting my family by working at a shipyard in Mokpo, Korea, but despite the hard work, the income was modest. As the economy took a downturn, so did my worries. Around that time, I heard about a promising job opportunity in Pyeongtaek. Considering the children’s schooling and the difficulty of relocating the entire family, I ultimately decided to go alone. The thought of leaving my beloved family behind and starting life in a strange place weighed heavily on my heart. While staying at the company dormitory and slowly adjusting to the new job and unfamiliar environment, the COVID-19 pandemic broke out. In the midst of my lonely and difficult life away from home, I never imagined that God was quietly working to lead not only me but also my coworkers to salvation.

Life in a distant place was not easy, neither in work nor in daily living. After work, I spent most of my time in a lodging even without a television. One of the few ways I tried to ease my loneliness was by watching sermon videos on the Church of God’s YouTube channel. Although I had accepted the truth long ago, my faith was shallow, maintained mostly for the sake of peace at home. I had little desire to deepen it. At my wife and daughter’s request, I observed the Passover each year and attended worship services once or twice a month. This went on for ten years. Occasionally, while listening to sermons, I found the words of truth truly remarkable, but life was busy, leaving little time to reflect deeply.

One day, a sermon came to mind, and I began listening to God’s word regularly, both during my commutes and in my room at night. As I continued to listen, my heart, once dry and barren, was gently nourished by the living water, and a seed of faith quietly began to grow. The truth that our Heavenly Father and Mother are the Parents of my soul took root deeply within me, and I came to realize that this truth is truly my lifeline, more precious than anything in the world.

At the construction site where I work, the number one rule is safety. When working at heights of six or seven meters, we must wear a safety harness and fasten what we call a “lifeline,” a rope that must be securely anchored to a safe point. Working without it is unthinkable. I came to realize that the New Covenant, which I had once taken so lightly, is just like that lifeline. It firmly anchors my soul to God and leads me on the path to salvation.

I couldn’t keep such a blessing to myself alone. Knowing how my coworkers face danger each day, I sincerely wished for them to be safe, both physically and spiritually. So I began to share the truth with them. By God’s grace, four of them came to know God. Through this experience, I came to realize that leading someone to salvation is an expression of how deeply you value their soul. In that moment, I understood why my wife had never given up on me all those years. With deep gratitude for my family’s patience and God’s grace, tears welled up in my eyes.

To be honest, until then, sharing the gospel had felt relatively easy. That changed when I tried to share the truth with one particular coworker. He was older than me, so I respectfully called him “hyung,” a Korean term used for an older brother or a senior you’re close to. He was always sincere in his work and greeted everyone with a humble bow, someone with truly admirable character. But as soon as I spoke about the word of God, his attitude changed completely. He looked me up and down and firmly warned me never to bring it up again.

The turning point came unexpectedly, during a casual conversation about our hometowns. To our surprise, we discovered that we had lived in the same small village, in the same district, during the same time. Finding someone from back home in a distant city brought a sudden warmth between us. As we shared more stories, he gradually opened up and told me he had once visited the Church of God in Busan and even attended the “Father’s Ture Heart” exhibition. He admitted he had looked into the church a few times, but said the truth about God the Father and Mother hadn’t settled well with him. He said he had practically sworn never to return. Although he seemed genuinely glad to have found someone from his hometown, he remained firm in keeping his faith separate. I wasn’t sure what to say or how to respond.

Still, I couldn’t just walk away. Even though I was hurt by his reaction and felt discouraged, I couldn’t ignore someone who seemed to be drowning before my eyes. That’s how I see preaching—reaching out with God’s lifeline to those who are lost and longing to be saved. As the Festival of Tabernacles approached, I resolved to try again. During the prayer week, I prayed earnestly, early morning and night, asking God to open his spiritual eyes and ears.

Around that time, our job sites were relocated closer to each other, giving me more opportunities to talk with him. I continued sharing the gospel patiently, and one day, he surprised me by asking for a detailed explanation about Christ Ahnsahnghong. With the help of the video sermons and the teachings I had received at Zion, I sincerely testified about our Heavenly Father. After listening carefully, he nodded and asked if I could send him a video link to study further. I sent it right after work. The next day, he came back with questions. Since he usually arrived at the site around 6:30 a.m., well before our shift began, I started coming in early too, just to meet him. We would have coffee and talk. Almost every conversation turned to church and the truth.

One day, he responded more warmly than usual, saying, “How do you know all this? That’s really impressive.” His positive reaction made me think that perhaps his heart was finally ready. So I gently encouraged him to receive baptism and become part of our heavenly family. But to my surprise, an awkward silence followed. After a moment, he gave a soft chuckle and said, “The atmosphere here is so nice, but why would you say something like that? It’s time for me to head home,” and stood up to leave. It was the fourth time he had turned me down. On the way back, I felt a heavy weight in my heart. Questions kept circling in my mind, “He listens so attentively, so why won’t he accept God? Was something lacking in how I shared the message?” I felt drained, even tempted to stop altogether. But I couldn’t give up. I continued to pray that one day, he would come to understand the truth deep within his heart, and I waited with quiet hope.

As the year turned, one day over our usual cup of coffee, he suddenly asked why I was so intent on preaching to him. I replied sincerely that just as safety is our top priority at work because it protects lives, what God cherishes the most is the work of saving souls. That is why I earnestly hope to extend that lifeline, even if it’s to just one more person.

“You didn’t take hold of the lifeline when someone else offered it in the past, but now, here you are again, with me. I believe this is God giving you another chance to grasp that lifeline. That’s why you must not let it slip away. I truly hope that one day, you will come to understand the truth in your heart and see where my sincerity comes from.”

After that, he didn’t say much. But a few days later, during lunch, he came over with his tray and quietly sat across from me. It seemed he had something on his mind. After a moment of silence, he finally spoke.

“I’ll take hold of that lifeline. I’d like to be baptized. And please, forget anything I may have said or done to disappoint you.”

It turned out that he had not only watched every video I sent him but had also taken the time to learn a lot about the Church of God on his own. His conclusion was quite positive. He said the church’s message was firmly rooted in the Bible, and when he had visited before, he was impressed by the sincere expressions and behavior of the congregation. Hearing his heartfelt words filled me with such joy that I hardly knew whether the food went down my throat or my nose. I calmed my excitement and warmly welcomed him, telling him he had made the best decision.

As the Lunar New Year approached, he expressed a desire to visit Zion in Mokpo while returning to our hometown. I anxiously prayed to God, asking Him to hold tightly to his hand, fearing that his heart might change or other distractions might come between us. A few days later, on the Sabbath, he visited Zion. After earnestly studying the word of God once more, he received the blessing of a new life and faithfully observed the Sabbath.

He has always been deeply committed to what he believes is right, and even after returning to Pyeongtaek, he continues to faithfully keep the commandments. He has thoroughly read the book “My Sheep Listen to My Voice” once and is now reading it again. Together, we have been joyfully sharing the truth and the blessings of Zion with our coworkers, taking the lead in the work of saving souls. During the recent Passover Preaching Festival, he led two people to God. Knowing that he is a soul who would follow God with all his heart once it was opened, I deeply regret the times I lacked patience, failed to try harder, and nearly gave up. I am truly sorry to our Heavenly Father and Mother.

Preaching the gospel is undoubtedly a precious and meaningful task. It is extending a lifeline of salvation to another soul. But I have come to realize that it is more than just that. Through leading the brother to the truth, I clearly came to understand that preaching also strengthens my own lifeline of faith. Out of my earnest desire to help him receive salvation, I found myself studying the Word more diligently, watching sermons regularly, and clinging to God more desperately in prayer. Even during brief visits to Mokpo, I practiced preaching with my wife, and at Zion, I received much help from older brothers in the faith. The family of Zion constantly encouraged me and prayed together for his salvation. Each morning on my way to work, I would find joy in thinking, “What truth shall I share with him today?” All of these moments were not only preparations to save him, but also precious times that built up my own faith and spirit. Even now, I continue to go to work early so we can study the Word together each day.

When I first left my family behind, it was an emotionally difficult time. But now I realize that even in that, God had a purpose, to lead me to find my heavenly family. I also know that I could never have done this on my own; I am deeply grateful to our Heavenly Father and Mother, who guided every step of my way, to the members of Zion who supported me as I took my first steps in the gospel, and to my wife, who has always stood by me.

Working at a construction site often reminds me of how precious life is. Because of that, I’ve come to feel even more deeply just how vital the safety of our souls is. Going forward, I will remain devoted to prayer and the Word, fastening my own lifeline ever more securely. With faith that I can do all things in God, I will continue to reach out to others and offer them the lifeline of salvation. I also pray that all our heavenly family members around the world, who carry the gospel with bright smiles even in far more difficult circumstances, will stay strong. Our God Elohim, who upholds us in every moment, is always by our side.