"Running Together, Living Together": Shincheonji Couple Found the True Meaning of Partnership on the Football Pitch

In celebration of "Married Couples' Day" in South Korea (May 21st), a unique love story from the Matthias Tribe Daejeon Church of Shincheonji is shedding light on what it truly means to walk through life as a team. For this particular husband and wife, the secrets to a harmonious marriage weren't found in a textbook, but rather on the football pitch and through their shared spiritual journey. A Match Made on the Pitch The couple's story began where they both feel most at home: the football field. The husband (referred to as A), a former professional football player in Thailand, returned to South Korea for injury treatment and tryouts. It was at a local football gathering in Daejeon that he met his future wife (B). While B had been practicing her faith at the Shincheonji Daejeon Church since 2006, A naturally joined her in 2015 after learning the Bible's teachings. For both, the Word-centered faith—which strictly emphasizes love and harmony—became the bedrock ...

A Nationwide Act of Gratitude: 116th Graduates Prepare Kimchi for Korean War Veterans Across Korea

Every winter in Korea, kimjang—the traditional preparation of kimchi—becomes a symbol of warmth, community, and care. This year, that warm tradition grew even brighter as graduates of the 116th class of the Zion Christian Mission Center joined together across multiple cities to prepare kimchi for Korea’s national heroes.

In Paju, Yeongdeungpo, and other regions, newly graduated members of the Shincheonji Church of Jesus gathered with one heart to honor the sacrifice of Korean War veterans and national merit recipients. Their message was clear:

“What we learned through the Word, we now practice through love.”

 

A Unified First Step After Graduation

For the 116th graduates, this kimjang was more than a volunteer event—it was their first step in living out the teachings they studied for months during their Bible education.

Across the country, graduates came together under the theme “A Warm First Step Toward the World.”

🔹 Paju (Simon Tribe)

  • 200+ graduates participated

  • 1 ton of kimchi (200 boxes) prepared

  • Delivered to the 6.25 Korean War Veterans Association (Goyang & Seoul branches) and local offices

Participants shared heartfelt reasons for joining.
One graduate said she came because:

“Service is love and joy. I wanted our veterans to have food that feels gentle and comforting.”

Another participant from Africa expressed gratitude for the sacrifices made during the Korean War and said that sharing kimchi felt like giving back the joy received through the Word.


🔹 Yeongdeungpo (Bartholomew Tribe)

  • Graduates prepared 100 boxes of kimchi (5kg each)

  • Delivered to 10 veterans’ organizations across Seoul, including

    • the Korean War Veterans Association

    • the Disabled Veterans Association

    • the Bereaved Families Association

Many participants mentioned personal connections to veterans.
One graduate said she thought of her grandfather, a Korean War veteran, while preparing kimchi:

“To honor those who protected our country with their youth—this is the least I can do.”

Volunteers of all ages worked side by side, sharing techniques like cutting the cabbage roots for better flavor and packing each box with care.


Honoring Those Who Built Today’s Korea

Both regions emphasized the same message:
The freedom and peace Korea enjoys today were built on the sacrifice of veterans.

Local veterans’ associations expressed deep gratitude:

“If kindness like this continues, it will truly strengthen our country.”

Leaders of the volunteer groups shared that this service is an extension of the biblical teaching to love and serve others, emphasizing that the graduates’ efforts represent a small light that can warm the local community.


The Cultural Meaning of Kimjang

Kimjang is more than food preparation—it is:

  • A UNESCO-recognized cultural heritage

  • A tradition of sharing with neighbors

  • A way communities support one another during winter

By joining this tradition, graduates connected Korean culture with their desire to put faith into action.

A First Step, With More to Come

Across Korea, the 116th graduates carried out kimjang with one purpose:
To begin their new journey as believers by serving others first.

They expressed their commitment to continue supporting veterans, neighbors in need, and their local communities.

As one participant beautifully said:

“Love we learned through the Word becomes complete when shared.”

This nationwide kimchi-making service reflects the heart of the 116th graduates—a heart that chooses gratitude, service, and warmth as they step into their next chapter.


Source:  https://vo.la/XYFmZ9l & https://vo.la/2lJ2Yd5

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