ⓒ 2017 WATV

The New Semester Opening Service is an annual event for university students of the Church of God. On March 5, 2017, over 4,000 people, including university students, pastoral staff members, and youth guidance teachers, attended the service held at the New Jerusalem Pangyo Temple in Korea. The students, who filled the main worship hall, the seminar rooms, and the multipurpose rooms, looked excited about the new beginning.

Heavenly Mother bestowed boundless blessings upon university students who were about to start their new semester, and complimented them, calling them prophetical figures who are faithful to their studies and devoted to the gospel work. “The prophetical figures are those who keep the words of God and put them into practice. Now the prophecies are being fulfilled swiftly. I hope you will make more efforts to practice God’s will and open the blessed future through love, courage, patience, enthusiasm, and wisdom that the forefathers of faith set examples of, in the energetic days of your youth,” said Mother (Mk 13:33–37; Ro 13:11–14; Heb 11:24–26; 2 Ti 2:22).

It was Gyeongchip (the day of awakening from hibernation), one of the 24 points in traditional east Asian lunisolar calendars. “Just as all things are waking up from hibernation around this time of the year, I hope all our young adults will rise up and stand firm as the protagonists fulfilling the prophecies of the Bible,” said General Pastor Kim Joo-cheol. He wished them to spend the days of their youth without regret by doing their hardest both in their study as students and in keeping faith as believers. “Living faith is to do according to the word, not just observing it. As the prophetical figures, let us firmly believe God’s prophecy that the gospel will be preached in Samaria and to the ends of the earth, and accomplish the prophesied results through deeds,” said Pastor Kim, emphasizing action and practice (Jas 2:14–17).

ⓒ 2017 WATV

After the worship service, the IUBA’s excellent performers and some in other fields were awarded and the presentation on good cases was followed. The presentation showed how the Church of God students had been performing a variety of volunteer activities throughout the world with their youthful passion and desire. They flew to 26 cities in 23 countries during the summer vacation, and 15 cities in 12 countries during the winter vacation, as the overseas cultural experience teams, and continued many activities such as tree planting, cleanups in the city and around the rivers, and visits to welfare facilities for children. In Korea, they held diverse events for foreign students studying in Korea such as culinary culture exchange, visits to multicultural children’s centers, and experiencing traditional Korean culture parties. In January this year, the ASEZ Church of God University Students’ Volunteer Service Teams carried out cleanups at more than 80 campuses around the world, to raise citizens’ interest in environmental issues and their will to improve them.

The certificates of appreciation given by public institutions and local governments in each country show that their activities have positive effects on international communities, beyond borders and cultural barriers, as well as on the university campuses.

The students, who were returning home after listening to vivid case presentations, looked more excited than before.

“I believe university students around the world can create great results if we work together for good things with our passion and knowledge. The volunteer services and seminars that I’ve carried out so far have not only helped others but also filled my shortage. It was a precious experience I couldn’t get from reading books,” said Cho Yeong-jin, a junior in Chosun University.

“I’ve attended the New Semester Opening Service, even after I entered the graduate school. The words of the Bible given during the worship service strengthen me and comfort me throughout the busy and exhausting semester,” said Jeong So-yeong, a student at Sogang University Graduate School of Media.

“I was excited but afraid at the fact that I would become a university student. After hearing the words today, I am no longer afraid but just excited. I believe I can have my first year without regret, if I do as my seniors did,” said Hong Ju-hui, a freshman in Inje University.

With the words of God, the university students have just stepped into the campus with their fresh hope and determination for the new semester.