With the spirit of peace, heartwarming soccer games took place.
<PineNews 14 May 2019> More than 300 local churches from the Youth Union of Korean Churches, part of Christian Gospel Mission (CGM), were gathered at Daejeon World Cup Stadium on 12 May to hold the 2019 International Peace Soccer Tournament. With the cheering from more than 40,000 CGM members, the atmosphere at Daejeon World Cup Stadium became even more vibrant than the 2002 World Cup.
Around 200 international players from 14 countries, including Korea, Canada, Hongkong, Japan, Taiwan, Malaysia, and Vietnam, and more than 2,000 cheering supporters were present. The matches of the 2019 International Peace Soccer Tournament were played with ‘Peace’ as the motto and with a sincere hope of the complete termination of all wars in the world. A continuous presence of a thick cloud cover over the stadium provided radiative cooling throughout the day.
The event began with a joint Sunday Service. It was followed by the opening ceremony, the semifinals, the finals, and the closing ceremony. During the Sunday Service, President Jung Myung Seok said, “The greatest blessing in human life is loving and serving God, brothers and sisters.”
During the opening ceremony of the 2019 International Peace Soccer Tournament, the Peace Cheering Group presented a performance that involved a large soccer ball with the words ‘Peace Soccer’ engraved. Leading on from that performance, large banners with drawings of an eagle and a cheetah each holding a soccer ball unfolded over the 2,000 performers.
President Jung said, “Peace soccer isn’t all about winning. It aims to promote the spirit of peace. Regardless whether you are in a team that has won or lost, let’s play peaceful matches with excitement.” He further mentioned, “Soccer isn’t just a sport. It is an artwork created by 11 players through harmonizing. I hope that today can be the day when you can show your skills to your fullest.”
After the preliminary rounds, the teams that qualified for the semi-finals were: Focus, Tiger, Cheetah, and Lion (Overseas Alliance Team). The teams performed thrilling matches. The final match was between Focus and Cheetah. Focus became the final victors from the breathtaking finals. A professional athlete from the Focus team who had been interviewed said, “With the spirit of faith in God, my team and I encouraged each other when playing the matches. I had a good time, having more fun than playing in a regular league game.” President Jung led and encouraged the tournament by playing with all the teams.
Without a doubt, the International Peace Soccer Tournament displayed the spirit of peace. During the matches, players lent their hands to the fallen opponents to help them get back on their feet. It was heartwarming to see how players encouraged other players who missed opportunities to score a goal by patting on their shoulders. The crowds also cheered for every single team. Whenever a goal was scored, everyone at the tournament became ecstatic and joyous.
A university student, Kim Heechan, mentioned, “It was awe-inspiring to see how people were in harmony through soccer regardless of their race, gender and culture.” Yang Jeesoo, who attended the tournament as a member of the cheering squad, said, “it was very charming to see the cheering squad cheering for all of the teams and players contrary to the usual cheering squads, who cheer for their team, their country and their favourite players only. Also, it was very fascinating to see how the players played the matches with delight and enthusiasm.
One of the staff mentioned, “We hope the spirit of peace shown through the International Peace Soccer Tournament will spread to all over the world, so that there will be no more wars, fighting and hatred. Young people will work harder to fulfil the true peace on this earth. Please look forward to the International Peace Soccer Tournament, which will be held annually.”
“2019 Rock Gemstone Festival” picture of brass band performing as part of the opening ceremony
[PINENEWS, reported by Hong Hwayeon] The Rock Gemstone Festival was held during the autumn season. It aimed to provide healing and solace for people who are tired of their busy daily lives, and attracted visitors.
Christian Gospel Mission (CGM, led by President Jung Myung Seok) held the 5th Rock Gemstone festival on 28 September 2019 at Wolmyeongdong Retreat Centre (aka. Wolmyeongdong). The festival lasted for 9 days, commencing with an opening ceremony, and ended on 6 October.
Wolmyeongdong is an attractive destination for both domestic and international tourists, due to its world-class stone landscape, ponds, giant waterfalls, grass lawns, dense pine forests and the top notch Korean mineral natural water. This place has been made known by people through word of mouth and the ‘Gemstone Rock Festival’ has become a global festival after its continuous development.
Since 1990, President Jung Myung Seok and CGM members have been making the beautiful, majestic and amazing world-class rock landscape in Wolmyeongdong. As part of the Rock Gemstone Festival, a 360 degrees rock landscape, formed by around 2,000 beautiful and amazing rock masterpieces, was presented to the audience.
Contrary to the weather forecast, the 28th of September, when the opening ceremony was held, had a deep clear autumn sky. Even though it was only the first day of the festival, more than 3,000 international tourists from Asia, including Taiwan, Malaysia, Singapore, Hongkong and 5,000 visitors from Korea came. A line of small but charming stone towers, made up of two piled rocks each, greeted the visitors as they walked along both sides of the 100m long path from the entrance of Wolmyeongdong to the pond.
The opening ceremony began with a friendly soccer match between Taiwan, Hongkong, Malaysia and Singapore. Later at 10am, the Sunrise Art troupe performed on the beautiful celebratory stage to the bright and humorous tunes of a 200-member brass band, receiving a big round of applause from the audience.
Visitors viewing the ornamental rock works at the Rock Gemstone Festival.
Jung Myung Seok, president of CGM, delivered the congratulatory speech and said, “There are masterpiece landscapes that are made by God’s design. Just like the inscription on the headstone (which reads), ‘designed by God, inspired by Holy Spirit, protected by Jesus Christ, and actions were taken by my disciples and I’, All the rock art works here in Wolmyeongdong are made and put up by God’s design. I hope all of you will enjoy your time here, and make unforgettable memories as you listen to the stories each rock gemstone has with God”.
At this year’s festival, President Jung had put in efforts to plant 11 pine trees and adorn the rocks. One can see hundreds of giant pine trees and even a 350 years old ‘pine tree masterpiece’ bonsai.
Visitors viewing the ornamental rock works at the Rock Gemstone festival.
The ‘1000 year Ornamental Rock Group’, consisting of domestic ornamental rock experts, is also having another exhibit. More than 100 pieces of rocks were exhibited, including 50 ornamental rocks that President Jung Myung Seok had found along the riversides through spiritual inspiration, and other rocks owned by the ‘1000 year Ornamental Rock Group’. Shapes and pictures that are carved on the stone by nature made the visitors speechless. The images of a human face, a woman, a smiling face, a bride, a mother, an eagle, a cheetah, a lion, a crane, and a palm tree immerse the viewers in nature’s amazing artistic touch.
The poem exhibition that was held during Gemstone Rock Festival.
The ‘poem exhibition’ that was held around the ambitious masterpiece rock landscape was also very popular among visitors.
Park (alias) from Seoul who visited the festival stated, “It was delightful to observe the stonewall walkway on the way to Wolmyeongdong. I was amazed to see how small rocks were carefully balanced and piled up, as if they were all stuck together permanently. I had thought they were bonded together using glue.”
Visitors from Asia who attended Rock Gemstone Festival purchasing ginseng products from Geumsan Ginseng Festival.
Visitors who attended the Gemstone Rock Festival also attended the Geumsan Ginseng Festival that was being held nearby.
The place where the Geumsan Ginseng Festival was held was bathed in yellow from shirts worn by visitors from Asia. International visitors and domestic visitors showed great interest towards ginseng, and crowded across the ginseng market and ginseng medicinal herb market streets.
The Governor of the Geumsan region, Mr Moon Jeongsoo, expressed his thankfulness towards the visitors by stating, “Geumsan is the home of Goryeo ginseng. Your interest towards Geumsan ginseng, which is one of the greatest foods for well-being with more than 1,500 years of history, is greatly appreciated”.
Every year, more than 1.18 million people visit Wolmeongdong to see its beautiful scenery.
2020 has been a challenging year for the entire world. The COVID-19 pandemic has tragically taken many lives and affected even more livelihoods.
Yet, Pastor Jung Myung Seok still behooves us to give even more thanksgiving and glory to the Trinity. Surely that is difficult – if we have lost loved ones, jobs, friendships… but that is truly what it means to “give thanks in all circumstances” (1 Thessalonians 5:18).
Yes, the road ahead is still uncertain, like walking through the mist. Even with news of the vaccines, there are news of the mutating variants of COVID-19 as well. The winter cold in the northern hemisphere brings about better conditions for the disease to thrive – making it a bittersweet white Christmas.
But what problem can be too big for our God? Instead, let us give thanks and glory, and God will surely hear our earnest prayers. Today, as we celebrate Christmas, may we remember that Jesus our Messiah was born in the midst of cruel hardships – the threat of death and without a proper place to be born. Yet, he overcame all and brought salvation to all mankind. We too will surely be victorious if we remember the true meaning of Christmas.
Pastor Jung’s long-awaited memoir of the Vietnam War has finally been translated into english! With glowing testimonials from the Commander-in-Chief of the Korean Armed Forces in Vietnam General Chae Myung Shin, Pastor Jung’s Battalion Commander Colonel Lee Yeong Woo, Pastor Jung’s Platoon Leader Colonel Choi Hee-nam, the memoir is rooted in factual struggles of life and death on the battlefields of the Vietnam War that only those who have experienced it personally will understand fully. Pastor Jung’s personal experience reconciles the irreconciliable : a sincere faith in God that behooves believers to “love thy enemy” vs a cardinal need to kill the enemy to win the war and stay alive.
This is a compelling story of a young man from rural Korea who was conscripted to fight the Communists in Vietnam. Even amidst the suffering and cruelty, there must be a way to turn this war into a battle for love and peace. This story also shows why many people – young and old – follow Pastor Jung as a role model of faith in Providence.
Korea Post is a longstanding and established english magazine established 34 years ago. It is subscribed by ambassadors in over 110 embassies and political institutions and provides essential information magazine for over 1.6 million foreigners living in Korea.
This 2020 article describes in great detail about Christian Gospel Mission, also known as Providence, as well as its retreat center Wolmyeongdong, and its founder Pastor Jung Myung Seok.
Ambition Masterpiece. The central landscaping feature in Wolmyeongdong.
Date: 20 Feb 2020
Popular scenic locations include places of outstanding beauty, places where famous people were born, and places of historical significance. This place, Wolmyeongdong (in Seomak-ri, Jinsanmyeon, Geumsan-gun, Chungnam province) used to be nothing more than a desolate valley surrounded by mountains: it was full of weeds and thistles, and visited by no one. Then in 1989, after hearing the voice of God, President Jeong Myeong-Seok began developing it with his followers. With whole-hearted devotion, they developed and beautified the valley, and so it was reborn as ‘The Natural Temple.’
A popular scenic location should have rocks, trees, and water, and people should visit it in all seasons. Wolmyeongdong is not lacking in any of these criteria. The topography and the shape of the surrounding mountains are both exceptional. It has a wide, green lawn, a large sports field that is larger than international standard sized soccer field, majestic rock landscaping, beautiful waterfalls, a lake, gazebos located at every vista point, medicinal spring water that has healed countless incurable diseases, hiking trails through pine forests that create the purest oxygen, huge boulders in intriguing shapes, and much more. All of these masterpieces of nature come together in harmony to create scenery of extreme beauty.
The monument atop the main rock landscape in Wolmyeongdong reads, ‘All of this was designed by God, inspired by the Holy Spirit, protected by Jesus Christ, and my disciples and I provided the skills and action.’
Neither the Great Wall of China nor the temples of Greece were built with majestic and mysterious boulders like Wolmyeongdong’s rock landscapes. Every year, more than a million people visit this valley from all parts of Korea and the world in order to enjoy the breathtaking landscape of Wolmyeongdong, unrivaled throughout the world.
Many regions became famous in the course of history because truly remarkable people were born there: Wolmyeongdong valley has also become known because of the great man who was born there. It has become an important place full of profound stories.
From the beginning of Wolmyeongdong’s development until it became what it is today, President Jeong worked harder than anyone else on the front line, receiving the detailed design directly from God through prayer each day.
Wolmyeongdong construction begins
Thus the place that only echoed with the lonely cry of cuckoo birds 30 years ago has now become a worldclass destination. It is a place Korea can boast of proudly to the world; a place regularly visited by people from more than 70 nations.
Church architecture is one of the most outstanding cultural features of Europe from the middle ages. Similarly, Wolmyeongdong has now become a temple, God’s palace, that will represent the religion of today.
On first seeing Wolmyengdong, visitors exclaim, “It is surely a masterpiece through which we can see the Omniscient and Omnipotent God! It’s like paradise on earth!” Astonished topographers say, “This is the greatest location; it is Jamiwon*!’
(*Jamiwon: a place with star-shaped topography regarded as a place of good fortune)
Panoramic view of Wolmyeongdong
If you have not yet visited Wolmyeongdong, try to make your way to these legendary hills. If you see it in person, you will naturally utter sounds of wonder and astonishment.
President Jeong shares deep teachings about life using the miraculous transformation of this place as a backdrop. He says, “Just as Wolmyeongdong became a different world when we developed it, a person’s destiny also changes according to how they make themselves. Make yourself with God’s Word. If you do, you will gain many things to enjoy throughout the life of your body and for eternity in spirit.”
Gazebos beautifully harmonize with natural surroundings
He was born in Wolmyeongdong, Seomak-ri, Jinsan-myeon, Geumsan-gun, Chungnam province. Starting in his early teens, Jeong prayed in the mountains for 21 years, read the Bible more than 2,000 times, and has studied God’s Word and put it into action for the past 60 years.
President Jeong preaching a sermon
He founded Christian Gospel Mission based on his philosophy of ‘Only God.’ He has delivered the Word God and Jesus taught him to people from more than 70 countries around the world. With that Word, he has guided more than a million people from Korea and abroad to live the life of a true believer.
Jeong graduated from The Methodist Wesley Theological Seminary in 1983. In 1998, he completed an executive management program at the graduate school of Administration, Chungnam University. In 2001, he received an honorary doctorate of philosophy from the Open International University under UNESCO in Sri Lanka.
His literary career as a poet was launched in 1995 when his poems were published in a monthly literary magazine, Munyehsajo, and since then, he has published six volumes of poetry called ‘Poems of Inspiration.’ In 2011, ten of his poems were printed in the Korean Poetry Encyclopedia, which spans 100 years of Korean poetry. His poems are loved by many, with volumes 2, 3, and 4 of his ‘Poems of Inspiration’ featuring on Kyobo’s best-seller list for poetry for several months. In addition to literature, President Jeong has a profound understanding of fine art, music, landscaping, sport, and other artistic endeavors. He founded a global movement of culture, art, and peace, and through holistic education he has raised talented and creative artists to promote peace and culture throughout the world.
Artworks and pine trees compliment the rock landscape
He constructed The Natural Temple according to the design God gave him and it is a masterpiece of landscaping that cannot be found anywhere else in the world. In just one year, he composed lyrics and melodies for more than 700 songs, published three albums, and held a gala concert. Thirteen solo art exhibitions testify to his prolific work as a painter and calligrapher. In 2011, his painting was selected as exemplary among all the artworks at the Argentina International Art Biennale. His artistic talent has been acknowledged in Korea and overseas.
In addition to six volumes of poetry, President Jeong has written about 150 religious books, such as The Word of Salvation, Predawn Pulpit, Conversations with the Holy Son, and The Record of History: the Spiritual World. He has also published collections of sermons (The Word of Life and The New Word of the Complete Testament) and collections of proverbs (Heaven’s Word and My Words, Proverbs of Wisdom, Proverbs from Sermons, Drawings and Proverbs of the New Time Period, and Proverbs of Resurrection in the New Time Period). He served in the Vietnam War not once but twice, between 1966 and 1969, and in 2018 he published a four-volume memoir based on his experiences, The War Was Cruel: Love and Peace. These books contain vivid testimonies about his extraordinary effort to actualize the philosophy, ‘love life’ and ‘make peace,’ and testify about the amazing deeds of God who was with him.
President Jeong at the front line of construction
The following discussion is about the history and the vision of Christian Gospel Mission (CGM), based on an interview with CGM’s Director of External Affairs.
1. Churches in Korea
Currently, CGM has about 100,000 members in Korea, including new and existing members and their families. In the past, we had around 400 churches in both large and small cities throughout Korea, but many were combined to form about 200 larger churches. Ten of the larger churches in metropolitan areas like Seoul and Busan have over 1500 members.
2. Oversea Churches
We have spread the gospel to people from more than 70 countries, including Japan, Taiwan, Malaysia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, and the Republic of South Africa. There are currently about 20,000 members overseas.
CGM members from across the world gather for an assembly
3. Which countries have the largest membership outside Korea? How do you spread the gospel?
Aside from Korea, membership in Japan and Taiwan has grown the fastest, and we also expect thatthe 70 other countries that have received the gospel will grow strongly in the future. The driver of this rapid expansion is the Word we teach. The Word is CGM’s greatest strength, and we base our faith on the Word. Rather than making evangelistic efforts through cultural events or volunteer service, which tend to produce short-term results, we have focused purely on spreading the gospel. More recently, however, we have extended our activities to other social contributions, working in connection with national and international NGOs that seek to provide lasting solutions to the various problems people face around the world.
Tens of thousands of members fill Wolmyeongdong at an event
4. The positive influence that CGM has brought to Korean religion and its future vision
As you know, South Korea is a nation of the mind and spirit. It even earned the label, ‘religious department store,’ for its array of religions and depth of spiritual discourse. Among these religions, Christianity has achieved notable growth and prosperity. At one point, Korean churches held significant influence over leading Christian countries in North America and Europe, foreshadowing a Christian awakening and the coming of the Messiah, but that influence has been in decline since the end of the 20th century. We are reminded of the Old Testament prophecy of Amos: ‘“The days are coming,” declares the Sovereign Lord, “when I will send a famine through the land—not a famine of food or a thirst for water, but a famine of hearing the words of the Lord. People will stagger from sea to sea and wander from north to east, searching for the word of the Lord, but they will not find it. In that day the lovely young women and strong young men will faint because of thirst.”’ (Amos 8:1113) In this time of spiritual famine at the turn of the century, our church has been a beacon of hope among Korean churches, with teenagers and college students comprising 80% of the congregation. These teachings, which are able to quench the spiritual thirst of this generation, were received by President Jeong directly from Heaven. His message emphasizes day-to-day faith expressed in action, and encourages believers to always serve the Holy Trinity and live out their faith in the midst of daily life. Many young people have found answers to their fundamental life problems in the teachings he demonstrates through his words and actions, and their lives show what an ideal life can look like. This is how our church is now seeing strong growth, despite ongoing opposition from more established churches. The members of Christian Gospel Mission strive to live as the salt and light of the earth in a society that has lost its sense of what is truly valuable, and strive to make a meaningful history of actualizing God’s sincere love and truth on the earth.
President Jeong promotes a culture of peace through sports
5. Prospects for overseas ministry
Languages and cultures differ, but truth is universal. God’s truth in the Bible is now being revealed, and this gospel will reach beyond the present 70 nations to the whole world in the next 10 years. We expect the gospel to impact both Christians and non-Christians.
6. What is the current direction of overseas ministry?
Asian countries like Japan and Taiwan are expected to continue growing strongly on the foundation of their impressive growth to date. Even in Europe, where the roots of Protestant and Catholic history go deep, our teachings are having an impact. Churches have also been established in major cities in America and Canada, and we are actively evangelizing in many parts of Oceania, Africa, and Latin America
Representative members of 22 European countries gather
7. What is the most notable difference between CGM and other churches?
CGM does not limit God’s power and His will by interpreting the scriptures literally or confining faith to the sphere of church. Rather, we help people realize that God governs society, culture, art, science, and everything else, not just religion. This is what separates us the most from the established Christian churches, which interpret the things of faith only literally and thus struggle to provide direction for members, and also separates us from other new religions that gradually center more on their leaders than on God. Another significant distinction is our determination to reclaim the arts and culture that have been corrupted by the world, through the Word of God.
8. What in Korea would you most like to show national ambassadors?
Wolmyeongdong is a beautiful, mysterious, and majestic temple built in nature, without equal in the world. Many artists and experts of various fields have praised its extraordinary features. The founder, President Jeong, always testifies that God designed it and the Holy Spirit and Holy Son protected us as we built it. The founder and the members put God’s design into action to make Wolmyeongdong a place full of stories with the Trinity. So it is most definitely the first place we would like to introduce to national ambassadors.
A picturesque view of the expansive grass lawnThe medicinal water of Wolmyeongdong, famous for healing thousands of people of various diseases.
9. What is your plan for external expansion?
Our measure of success is not the number of members. A large congregation is meaningless if we do not express the love and truth of God in our lives. However, in the course of living out this faith, our churches will continue to grow in size and number throughout the nation and the world. CGM is called the ‘Providence’ of God, and we believe that the world of Providence will see monumental growth with time.
Peace Soccer Event at Daejeon World Cup Stadium
10. What is it about Christian Gospel Mission that excites the hearts of young people?
CGM solves the fundamental problem of spiritual thirst for truth through God’s deep Word, and instills in young people a faith that is not delusional or conceptual but becomes life itself. This is our greatest power to motivate people.
In 2018, Taiwan, Christian Gospel Mission gave glory to God through a grand choir and orchestra performance. Praising the song, “Victory”, composed by Pastor Jung Myung Seok, the choir and orchestra weaved together brilliant melody and deep thankfulness into a masterpiece.
A rollercoaster journey revisiting the Sunday Message titles preached by Pastor Jung Myung Seok in 2017, Christian Gospel Mission (Providence). Happy Reflecting!
Providence Hub 