ⓒ 2007 WATV

2007 was the year that the gospel spread throughout the world more rapidly than ever before and a lot of fruits were borne in every place around the world by God’s help and guidance. Finishing the year with gracious results and wishing to meet the new year with hope in God’s overflowing blessings, over 2,000 members attended the “2008 Prayer Service to Seek Blessings for the New Year,” held at the New Jerusalem Temple late at night on December 31, 2007. Just before the new year began, they prayed for the peace of all mankind and the completion of world evangelism.

Around 11:30 p.m., the members watched a video titled “Mother’s Hope,” preparing to greet the new year. They realized again the love of heavenly Mother who was silently leading Her children through Her endless sacrifice while “Go&Come” was actively and continually occurring according to the prophecies. And they earnestly hoped that Mother’s wish to find all Her lost children quickly would be fulfilled in this year.

Just before midnight, they did a countdown at the same time according to the announce-ment by the presider, and they greeted the year 2008 with cheers and hope. Soon, the prayer service began with a magnificent song performed by the Jerusalem Choir, and a cheerful song and dance by the Children’s Choir.

Mother thanked Father for having protected His children and given them heavenly bless-ings during the past year that was so eventful. She also prayed that the world evangelism would be accomplished more quickly and the blessings of Father would come upon all mankind in 2008. In Her New Year message, She encouraged and commended the children of Zion for keeping their faith and doing the gospel work as God’s fellow workers, and also wished them good health both physically and spiritually. Mother said, “Let’s fully prepare for the kingdom of heaven by practicing ‘giving love’ as the fragrance of Christ in our home, neighborhood and society, being joyful always, praying continually and giving thanks in all circumstances.” She repeatedly encouraged them to “diligently preach the good news of salvation to all people around the world in these last days when disasters are prevalent and to practice true love, so that they can obtain eternal life and joy, in obedience to the will of God who was sacrificed to the point of death in order to save all mankind.”

After Mother’s New Year message, General Pastor Joo-Cheol Kim encouraged the members, saying, “In the new year, let’s all depend on Mother’s word fully and awaken the whole world as the messengers of salvation, so that we can save all mankind and receive abundant heavenly blessings.”

Greeting the new year 2008 in which God has planned lots of work which is even more amazing than ever before, the members renewed their firm determination to complete the task of world evangelism prophesied in the Bible. They all wished to have a blessed year by fully performing their determination and share eternal happiness and joy with all mankind through the gospel, which God had given to them.