Kim Su-hyeon
Earlier this year, I went on a short-term mission to Sint-Niklaas, located in Belgium’s Flanders region. The gospel was first brought to this city by a family from Rotterdam, the Netherlands. For three years, there were no visible results, yet by the grace of our Heavenly Father and Mother, one by one, our brothers and sisters were found, and the house church that stands today was established. I could not hold back my tears as I reflected on how their steadfast trust in God sustained them, and I vowed to place my full trust in Him as I embarked on my mission.
After about twenty hours in the air, we arrived in Sint-Niklaas. The city was quiet, and with so few people on the streets, we initially had almost no opportunities to speak, let alone share the gospel. Gradually, however, more and more people began to listen. By the end of the week, my fellow team members and I felt a deep certainty: even if the results were not yet visible, God was at work in the invisible world, and He would allow us to find our brothers and sisters.
The missionary overseeing the Zions in Belgium and the Netherlands encouraged us by pointing to the life of the Apostle Paul in the Bible. Seeing how Paul poured his heart and soul into proclaiming the gospel, we reflected on ourselves and resolved to approach the mission with renewed determination. Beginning the next day, we gathered for united prayer at 5 a.m. Rising so early to start the day with prayer, I felt deeply the care and devotion Mother lavishes on us each day, leaving me both grateful and humbled.
Gradually, more and more people began coming to Zion to study the Bible. Yet even after long hours of studying, most were still unable to let go of their long-held assumptions. Day after day, the same struggle repeated. I could not help but imagine the heart of our Father when His children are slow to understand, and my own heart ached deeply.
Before long, only three days remained in our mission. We had prepared a Bible seminar, but with no suitable attendees, I felt anxious. Then, unexpectedly, someone I had met previously drove an hour to attend. I prayed earnestly that they would accept the promise of salvation, but they declined, saying they were content with the large church they attended. My disappointment was deep, reflecting the intensity of my hope. Yet each day brought new signs of hope: the day before yesterday, someone listened attentively to the truth; yesterday, another came to Zion; and today, yet another reached the baptism room. I felt a growing certainty that tomorrow, we would meet our brothers and sisters.
That wish was soon fulfilled. The next day, we traveled to the nearby city of Antwerp to share the truth with more people. While taking a short break at a train station, we met a woman and struck up a conversation. To our surprise, she lived in Sint-Niklaas—just four minutes from Zion. Though we were familiar with many of the locals in this small city, she had never met us before. She had also never heard about God the Mother and was curious to learn more. Before parting ways, we arranged to meet at Zion the following day.
That evening, as we gathered at Zion, the doorbell rang unexpectedly. Since we were not expecting anyone, we were all surprised. When we opened the door, a woman we had never met stood there, her face glowing with a warm, welcoming smile. She had seen us preaching before and, after carefully noting Zion’s address from a local member, had made the journey on her own. Thirsting for the truth, she spent two to three hours studying the Bible with us and joyfully received God Elohim. On the same day, another soul, who had been faithfully studying with us, was blessed with new life after four meetings. Because we had prayed in patience and unity, our hearts overflowed with gratitude.
All that remained was our meeting with the woman we had met in Antwerp. I felt nervous, wondering if she would keep her promise and if she truly was our spiritual sister. When she arrived at Zion right on time, all my worries melted away. When I asked if she remembered what we had shared the day before, her eyes lit up as she exclaimed, “It was really fascinating!”
After watching a church introduction video, we spent more time studying the Bible together. She had initially planned to leave at 5:00 p.m., but she became so absorbed in God’s word that she stayed until 5:30 p.m., then 6:00 p.m., fully focused. Without a moment’s hesitation, she was reborn as a child of God. Later, upon learning there would be an evening service, she hurried home to change and returned, eager to join the worship.
That day was our final worship service in Sint-Niklaas, and Zion was livelier than ever, filled with both new members—including the sister we had met—and longtime members. As I reflected on how God had guided each soul to this place, I was deeply moved. The hardships we faced while sowing the seeds of the truth were nothing compared with the joy of seeing the harvest. Realizing that the trials we endured to gather our heavenly family were blessings in themselves, my heart overflowed with gratitude.
Before returning home, the missionary encouraged us, saying, “We cannot expect to reap fruit from seeds sown yesterday. This place is like a field where the seeds of the truth have only just been sown.” I had felt a vague apprehension about Europe before experiencing it myself, but witnessing God nurture the seeds we had sown filled me with hope for the future of the gospel there. I longed to partake in the blessings of the abundant harvest that will one day come. Motivated by this, even now after returning home, I continue to study the Bible and improve my language skills.
At first, I joined the mission trip in Europe simply to help where gospel workers were few. In hindsight, I realize it was not merely my choice, but God’s call and grace, meant to broaden my perspective and plant hope within me. I will treasure the guidance and sacrifices of our Father and Mother in my heart and aspire to be a youth like the dew of the dawn, carrying that love to the world. I eagerly await the day when the seeds of vision sown in me will blossom and bear fruit.