On September 25 and 28, 'The 7th Foreign Language Bible Preaching Contest' was held at Okcheon training Institute. The contest was held twice, once for the men adult and young members on the 25th, and once for the women members on the 28th. More than 1,000 members who had passed the preliminary contest, held on September 3, attended the contest.

ⓒ 2005 WATV

The number of languages the members applied for was 24 including English, French, Japanese, Chinese, Spanish, and Russian. The participants gave thanks to God, saying, "We give thanks to God for allowing us to attend this contest although we don't speak foreign languages well." They also showed their resolution, saying, "We will put on the full armor with a foreign language to preach God's love to all peoples who do not know the love of God."

During the worship service, Mother said, "Now is such a dangerous age that so many people's precious lives are in a dire extremity because of the various disasters like earthquake and typhoon. Now the children of God should do their best for their duty of saving life," and asked, "Be the watchmen who blow the trumpet of the truth more strongly than ever in Samaria and to the ends of the earth." Mother also said, "God entrusted us to preach the truth of the new covenant to all nations. To carry out His words this contest has been held. Please be God's faithful messengers who preach the truth to all nations instead of God and be the children who preach the gospel diligently even in hard circumstances following the example of Father."

The Chief Pastor Kim Joo Cheol encouraged the participants, "The gospel is not preached only with the language skill, but with the firm resolution to find the lost brothers and sisters. When we have earnest mind to find them, God will give us the ability to speak in other tongues. Do not focus on which rank we are at, but preach the truth of life to the whole world whether people listen or fail to listen."

ⓒ 2005 WATV

The participants were grouped into 160 teams and had the contest in the Gymnasium and the Education Hall. The two places became full of the members' fervent voices as the contest began. All the members did their best in preaching and showed their firm resolution, saying, "Even though my language skill is not good, I will preach God's word until I find my scattered brothers and sisters. I will do my best to do the duty given to me."

After the contest was over, the participants had a chance to see two videos. Through the videos, they could feel how fast the overseas gospel is being fulfilled. Watching the overseas brothers and sisters' enthusiasm for preaching, they became more determined to fulfill the prophecy, 'This gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come (Mt 24:14).' The conte played by young adult members, under the title of 'Let Us Complete the Overseas Mission With Unity,' gave a deep impression and teachings to all.

The markers said that it was hard to choose the awardees because many participants were great in faith, passion and language skill. On the 25th, the Grand Award for English was given to Han Won-dong from Seoul, and for other languages to Choi Jae-gwang from Incheon who preached in Indonesian. On the 28th, the Grand Award for English was given to Deaconess Cha Jeong-seon from Jeonju and for other languages to Kim Eun-hee from Seoul who preached in Persian. The foreign members who attended this contest were given Special Awards.

ⓒ 2005 WATV

The awardees gave glory to God, saying, "We give thanks to God who granted us awards even though we lack so much. We know that God gave us the awards to encourage us so that we can preach the gospel to the whole world. We will repay God for His grace by preaching the gospel with all our heart and mind wherever we may go."

The whole world is trembling with fear because of destructive disasters that are happening over the whole world such as earthquakes, plagues and environmental pollutions. We are living in the age when we can fire rockets into the sky, make roads inside the sea and make a city under the ground. But no one has found the way to escape from disasters. God, however, gave mankind a very simple way of salvationthe truth of the new covenant, through which our life can be guaranteed; not a hair of our head will perish in any disaster. We should open our mouth wide and blow the trumpet of the truth toward the whole world.

"Hear the word I speak and give them warning from me (Eze 3:17)." Remembering these words of God, we should preach the new covenant boldly to all nations who are suffering from disasters.