A Turning Point

The word military instinctively brings to mind the image of a watch. In the early days of my service, I lived bound to the clock, constantly counting the hours—wondering when duty would end and when even a brief moment of rest might come. Confined within rigid routines, I assumed that this time would simply pass without meaning. At the time, I did not realize that God was using this season as a turning point for my soul.

Military life meant daily interaction with seniors, juniors, and peers, and our conversations naturally covered every topic imaginable, including matters of faith. When religion came up, people shared things they had heard or voiced questions they had carried for a long time. Having grown up attending Zion with my mother, I felt a strong desire to share the truth with them. Yet in honesty, I had done little more than follow along. My faith was barely enough to attend worship, and until then, I had never shared the gospel nor formally presented the truth at Zion. Still, a thought pressed heavily on my heart: if I remained silent, someone might come to accept falsehood as truth. And so, before I was even aware of it, my mouth opened. I began to speak, sharing the truth I knew.

When I tried to explain the Passover or the truth of the angelic world through the Bible, those listening asked question after question. I believed I would be able to answer, having heard God’s word since childhood, but I could not. My mind went blank. In a nervous attempt to buy time, I would postpone my response and later call the pastoral staff for guidance. Each time this happened, I felt deep remorse, coming face to face with how little I truly understood of Heavenly Father’s word.

By God’s grace, at my mother’s urging, I had brought my Bible, New Song, and Truth Books with me to the army. They sat untouched in my locker—symbols of intention rather than practice. But once I became aware of my own lack, I finally opened them. As I read, truths I had previously only skimmed began to come alive. Even when the content felt difficult, I did not close the book. Instead, I pressed on, and often the answers appeared on the very next pages. With each page I turned, my longing for our heavenly home grew stronger, and my conviction in Father and Mother, who revealed this truth, became firmer. Before I realized it, studying God’s word had become the most meaningful and precious part of my personal maintenance time.

One day, a fellow soldier showed interest in one of the Truth Books. He shared that although he regularly attended a Protestant church and had read many religious books, this was something he had never encountered before. Seizing the opportunity, I spoke to him about the Passover of the new covenant. It was the first time I had explained the truth with such earnestness. My heart raced, and my words came out slightly unsteady. Listening intently, he expressed genuine surprise, saying that he had never realized how important the Passover truly was.

After that conversation, he continued to ask questions, and each time, I was able to share God’s teachings with him. From that moment on, a heartfelt desire took root within me—that everyone around me might hear about the Passover at least once. Until my discharge, I spoke about the Passover whenever I could, praying earnestly that it would not be my own thoughts, but only God’s will and truth, that were conveyed.

Although my military service has ended, I firmly believe that the seeds of God’s word I have sown will one day take root in someone’s heart. At the same time, I came to realize that this work requires my own faith to continue growing stronger and more mature. Having learned that even the clearest truth cannot be shared without proper preparation, I am now determined to devote myself more earnestly to studying God’s word. As I continue to walk this path, I trust that my faith will deepen, and that the day will come when I can proclaim God Elohim with confidence and clarity. With this hope, I desire to fill each day with purpose by sharing the value of salvation and the boundless love of God with many souls.