God’s Providence in the Unseen World

Hearing the fragrance of Zion carried from every corner of the world, I came to cherish a dream of becoming an overseas missionary. Three years after first embracing that dream—one that made my heart race at the mere thought of it—I witnessed its fulfillment in Taupō, New Zealand.

Taupō takes its name from the largest lake in New Zealand. Renowned for its crystal-clear waters and breathtaking natural scenery, the city draws visitors from across the country and around the world. Yet the number of people who actually settle and live there is only about 20,000. Among them, heavenly family members who longed for God Elohim were gathered, and the Taupō branch church was established.

Because Taupō is a small city, local members have often encountered the same people repeatedly while preaching over the years. Some greet us with a smile each time we meet, while others respond negatively, focusing only on the word “disaster,” even when we are explaining how to be protected from it. At times, this has been deeply heartbreaking. Perhaps because many people come to Taupō seeking rest after a demanding life, or because they live surrounded by peace and comfort, God’s promise of eternal life did not easily resonate with their hearts.

Preaching the gospel day after day without seeing visible results can easily discourage the heart. Yet the members in Taupō continued forward without complaint, taking each step in search of their heavenly family. Like the prophet Jeremiah, who faithfully proclaimed God’s prophecy in Old Testament times despite constant rejection from the people of Israel, the members relied on the words of the water of life that God gives at the proper time and persevered in delivering the message of salvation. Trusting the teaching that obedience requires patience and ultimately leads to blessings, I too continued to share the gospel with faith. In time, the door of blessing opened, and new family members began coming to God one by one.

One day, some members visited the home of someone they had met previously, only to learn that the person had moved and that a new resident now lived there. When the members introduced themselves as being from the church, the new neighbor responded with interest, saying, “I don’t attend church, but I believe in God and the Bible.” Through that encounter, she studied the truth several times and, together with her daughter, received the blessing of new life. From that moment on, the sister never postponed or canceled a single Bible study. She came to Zion day after day to learn the truth and attended worship faithfully. Later, we learned that her cousin, who lives in another region, had accepted the truth six months earlier. We were filled with gratitude to Heavenly Father and Mother, who allowed us to meet a heavenly family member in such an unexpected place and who had already been guiding her family along the path of salvation—long before we could see it.

A sister who had recently accepted God welcomed us warmly from the very first moment we met. She shared her deep love for the words of the Bible and spoke of the long spiritual journey she had walked. Years earlier, after realizing that worship on the Sabbath—not Sunday—was God’s will, she had gone to the church she was attending at the time to share this truth. However, no one was willing to listen. Convinced that she could not remain in a church that did not follow God’s word, she eventually stopped attending and continued studying the Bible on her own. It was during that time of spiritual longing that she met us. As she listened to the truths of the Sabbath, God the Mother, and the prophecies of Daniel and Revelation, her long-standing thirst was satisfied. With joy and thanksgiving, she received baptism.

Not long after, something unexpected happened. At Zion, I use an English name, but one day the sister suddenly asked whether someone with my Korean name attended our church. When I told her that it was my name, she looked astonished. She explained that when she told her daughter she had begun attending the Church of God, her daughter replied that she knew someone from that church and mentioned my name.

When I was first settling into life in Taupō, I had once spoken with a pharmacist, briefly introduced our church, and encouraged her to listen to the truth another time. She knew me only by my Korean name, which she had seen written on a hospital prescription. That pharmacist turned out to be the sister’s daughter. Although we did not meet at the time, God guided the mother to Zion first, and later gave the daughter an opportunity to hear the gospel as well. Around the same time, we also learned that the mother of another newly baptized member was someone to whom I had shared the gospel the year before. Remembering our conversation, she had promised to come to Zion and study God’s word.

Through these experiences, I came to realize that the seeds of God’s word, sown with sincerity and devotion, will surely sprout in God’s perfect time—regardless of place or circumstance. Everything unfolds according to its appointed season. Though I may not know that timing, Heavenly Father and Mother know all things and personally guide my steps, showing me the path I should take and the work I should do. Because I am confident that the path guided by Father and Mother leads to eternal glory and true happiness, I strive to share the truth with at least one soul each day even when I see no immediate results. I firmly believe that a single act of obedience can become a turning point, quietly transforming countless things in the unseen world.

With this belief, I will continue to obey God’s word and grow into a child of mature faith who brings joy to Father and Mother. Until the day all our lost heavenly family members in Taupō are found, giving up is never an option. Kia Kaha!¹

¹“Be strong” in Māori.