World Mission Society Church of God

The 15th Melchizedek Literary Awards

Nation | Korea
Date | December 21, 2014

The life of Abraham who is the forefather of faith, the power of the Passover and the miracle at the Red Sea, the achievements of King David, Jesus Christ’s teachings, and the traces of the apostles who overcame persecution in the days of the early Church! The reason all these things that happened thousands years ago can be passed down even to this day is that they were written. Though times flow and ages change, the record of the Bible keeps its life force and value in all ages, containing the secret of salvation and the immutable truth.

On December 21, the 15th Melchizedek Literary Awards, which is a festival for the Church of God writers who take part in the gospel through writings, was held at the Holy Queen Hall of the WMC Head Office in Bundang, Korea. The Melchizedek Literary Awards that started in 2001 is an annual event, which plays a major role in training the prophets who displays God’s glory through writings. The awards ceremony was attended by around 400 members who were carrying out the literary mission: award winners and finalists, the head office members in the field of translation, publication, and video scenario, judges, literature club members, illustrators, photographers, and more.

Around noon, the worship service started. Mother encouraged the writers of Zion who are spreading God’s teachings through writings even to the places out of reach such as islands, mountainous areas, army bases, and remote areas in the world, and the members who are carrying out the mission in their fields as graphic designer, photographer, and illustrator. Mother also blessed them, saying, “When all are united and harmonize with each other, beautiful result is brought forth. I hope you will receive much reward in heaven by working hard with God-given talents.”

Mother awakened them to the importance of literary mission, saying, “Good writings lead the souls in darkness to light, and moisten the withered souls. Have one mind in the Holy Spirit rather than put up your own style, as the prophetic figures who display God’s glory, and implant love and hope for heaven in the hearts of people by creating the writings that contain God’s will” (1 Pe 2:9–12; Isa 60:1–3, 21–22).

General Pastor Kim Joo-cheol boosted the participants’ pride, saying, “Like the forefathers of faith like Jeremiah and Isaiah, you are greatly contributing to saving the world. I hope that you will deliver religious resonance and inspiration to the world through the writings that contain Father and Mother’s love and sacrifice.” After that, he emphasized on the mindset of writers, mentioning Philippians 2, “You can please God and inspire readers when you write, being one in spirit and purpose with your brothers and sisters, getting rid of selfish ambition or vain conceit, and considering others better than yourselves with a humble heart.” And he requested that they should create writings that save the world, console wounded souls, give strength to weary souls, and lead sinners to repentance, following the example of God who makes every effort to save all nations.

After the service, the awards ceremony was held. From June 1 to July 15, the 15th Melchizedek Literary Awards collected writings in six genres—novel, essay, children’s story, poem, column, and news article—written in Korean, English, Spanish, Chinese, and other languages. Out of 1,400 entries from the world, 36 winners—28 adults and 8 students—were awarded.

Mother presented certificates of award and prize to the winners with Her congratulations, and encouraged all the participants, saying, “You’ve worked hard day and night to write good articles. All of you here will be much rewarded in heaven.” The participants and award winners congratulated and cheered each other.

After the awards ceremony, two videos were played. One is the award-winning children’ story titled, “Yellow Toy Shop That Delivers Happiness,” which was dramatized as an animation and moved the audience; the story shows how a teddy bear realizes love and happiness through the owner lady and his friends. The other was a poem titled, “Another Umbilical Cord,” which sings the love of Mother who restlessly sacrifices Herself until Her children grow mature just as the umbilical cord provides nutrients to the fetus for nine months; this poem moved the audience with photos stimulating nostalgia, sand art, and soft background music.

Yoon Eun-ju, the winner in the genre of essay, said, “I’m very thankful. It seems that God gives this award to encourage me and strengthen my faith. I’ll try my best to create writings that move the heart of readers, without focusing only on forms.” Kim Hyo-jeong, the student winner in the genre of short story, expressed her ambition, saying, “In the process of writing under the topic of love, I’ve learned a lot. I want to deliver much inspiration to people and I myself want to grow by writing.” Other winners and participants too said with their fresh resolution, “As I was awakened to the importance of literary mission, being likened to such prophets as Isaiah and Jeremiah, I feel responsible and excited. I’d like to deliver inspiration and happiness to many people through the writings that please the Holy Spirit and are after God’s own heart, without being confined to my own thoughts.”

The writings written by the talented members who were produced through the Melchizedek Literary Awards are being used in every important part of the gospel. Good writings shine more brilliantly when they are in harmony with photos, illustrations, and graphic designs. “Our Mother” Writing & Photo Exhibition that started in June, 2013, and has been held in 28 cities of Korea with positive response from all walks of life, and of which the total number of visitors is over 330,000 is the fruit of harmony of many different fields.

Apart from “Our Mother” Writing & Photo Exhibition, the periodicals—The Monthly Elohist (the representative monthly magazine of the Church of God), Soul (the monthly magazine for students), and A Happy Family That Prepares for the Sabbath (the monthly magazine for families), textbooks for elementary school students and preschoolers, and many other books that implant faith, hope, and love in our hearts are all the fruit of harmony.

The good news of salvation is spreading farther and faster thanks to the vigor and efforts of those who perform the literary mission, being carried along by the Holy Spirit.