May 5th was the Children's Day, the happiest day for children. On that day, the children of God celebrated the Ascension Day with the hope for eternal heaven along Christ's ascension.

ⓒ 2005 WATV

The Ascension Day is a day to commemorate the Christ's ascension. God the Father came down to this earth to seek for His lost heavenly children; after He delivered the truth and died on the cross and resurrected 3 days later; and then He ascended to heaven from the Mount of Olives 40 days after His resurrection. An outdoor worship is allowed on this day. All the members of the Church of God give worship to God, being surrounded by nature, and fe the Creator's breath and power filled in all the creatures, commemorating the Christ's ascension. Worshipers also strengthen harmony with their own family and with spiritual brothers and sisters, and bear in their minds the hope for ascension.

This year, the members, who belong to the New Jerusalem Temple and live in Seongnam city area, had a worship in Gumi Park which is located in Gumi-dong, Bundang-gu in Seongnam city. They gathered in a well-shaded park with their family, leaving busy days; they looked brighter than the trees and blossoming followers. It was forecasted to rain from the afternoon, but they could have the morning worship under a warm sunlight and the afternoon worship under the cool clouds.

Heavenly Mother gave thanks to Father for His grace of allowing us to be rescued from eternal death and brought into eternal life, and prayed Father to pour down the Holy Spirit like a shower on us all over the world. Mother also asked Father to make us new so that we can ascend following the Christ, and to make us full of love enough to go to all peoples suffering from the a famine of hearing the news of life and lead even one soul more to Father, so that we can fulfill His command, 'Love your neighbors.'

ⓒ 2005 WATV

The Chief Pastor Joo Cheol Kim gave sermons in the morning and afternoon services, "It was an example to show us the living hope for ascension that Jesus ascended from the Mount of Olives 2,000 years ago. By Jesus' ascension we could have the hope for heaven and for changing into a beautiful and new being like butterflies and dragonflies's changing. So we, heavenly children, must have an absolute hope of going to heaven." He also said, "Let's bear in our minds the last request of the Christ, 'Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you (Mt 28:19),' and preach the truth of God to the whole world and do our best to carry out the mission of the watchmen of truth and of the workers of the new covenant, so that we can quickly fulfill the prophecy, 'you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth (Ac 1:8).' "

The heavenly children, the Christians living in this age, engraved upon their minds the last request of the Christ and made anew their resolution to be the witnesses of God who preach the new covenant in Samaria and to the ends of the earth.

After the morning service, there was a festival of the Children's Day. 90 children and their fathers and mothers were grouped into two teams: 'Heavenly Family Team,' 'Heavenly Kingdom Team.' They had various games which needed love and unity.

ⓒ 2005 WATV

The children, who were shouting for joy after arriving at the goal with their mom and dad's help, brought up the image of the heavenly children who would arrive at the goal, being cheered by the angels, after finishing the race of gospel with heavenly Father and Mother's help. Some performances were also shown between the games. After ending in a draw, all the children were given a cute and useful stationery set.

As the children's joy over a nice gift pleased their parents, spiritual children's joy over hope of ascension must have pleased God. Being determined to seek the rest of brothers and sisters, the members moved to their own place to get ready for the Prayer Weeks of the Pentecost promising the blessing of the latter rain of the Holy Spirit.