“2008 Launching Ceremony for Winter Short-Term Mission Teams,” a powerful step to complete world evangelism, was held at the New Jerusalem Temple on January 6. Last summer, the Summer Short-Term Mission Teams launched and the news of victory through the gospel echoed all over the world. This year, the Winter Short-Term Mission Teams launched; about 750 members of the winter short-term mission teams had been preparing to take vigorous steps to fly to 69 cities in 26 countries to preach the glory of heavenly Mother, learning foreign languages and cultures. Before the launching ceremony started, the short-term mission teams asked God for the power of the Holy Spirit and made a firm determination to proclaim the truth, the water of life, to the whole world.

Around 1 p.m., the worship service began with Mother’s prayer of blessing. Mother thanked Father for allowing His children to have the opportunity to take part in world evangelism, so that they were able to fulfill the prophecy that the gospel would be preached to all nations, and for giving them wisdom and courage. Mother also prayed that Her children would wake up sleeping souls all around the world and bear many seed-bearing fruits by boldly preaching the gospel, depending only on God because nothing is impossible without God’s help.

Through the words of life, Mother reminded the short-term mission teams of their mission, and blessed them, saying, “You have been called by God to receive the great blessings that God has prepared for you. So, as the children worthy of God’s calling, pray continually and preach the Word joyfully even in difficult situations, so that you will be able to return after bearing abundant seed-bearing fruits.” Mother also wished them good health both physically and spiritually and encouraged them to “be great gospel workers through the overseas mission by realizing deeply in their heart the sacrifice of God which they learned knowledge-wise.”

General Pastor Joo-Cheol Kim explained what qualities the prophets, who preach the gospel, should have, quoting Matthew 28:19, “. . . teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” He urged the members, saying, “It is useless to have a dream but make no effort. Let’s forsake such an idle faith and diligently teach all the people in the world to obey God’s word, earnestly asking God for the ability to teach the Word and to speak foreign languages.” He also encouraged the short-term mission teams to make all their efforts to carry out the overseas mission and find many workers who would play a great role in world evangelism, remembering the sacrifice of Mother who would be always with them and pray for them endlessly until they return from their mission trip.

ⓒ 2008 WATV

After the worship service, the Launching Ceremony for Winter Short-Term Mission Teams was held. While all the members were standing up, the representative member of the short-term mission teams went on stage and declaimed a written resolution to preach God’s precious love to the whole world as the messengers of the gospel. Soon, each continental representative of the short-term mission teams declared a launch report and announced a firm determination to help accomplishing world evangelism in obedience to the will of God. Then all the members of the short-term mission teams responded by saying, “Amen!”

At the end of the launching ceremony, Mother encouraged the members, saying, “Since you are taking steps to obey the will of God, God’s overflowing blessings are prepared for you. So, believe this and go. Have your wishes fulfilled by preaching the gospel as much as you can.”

After the launching ceremony, the short-term mission teams engraved Mother’s words on their hearts and committed themselves to go to all people around the world and find their lost family members from heaven, putting on the full armor of the Holy Spirit and arming themselves with the word of God.

ⓒ 2008 WATV

Before the sweet fragrance, emitted by the summer short-term mission teams, dis-appears, the winter short-term mission teams have taken their vigorous steps to emit the light of God’s glory, waving the banner of the gospel in all countries across the five oceans and six continents, so that they can wake up many sleeping souls and accelerate the completion of world evangelism.