"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 of their mutual understanding.

Moving from Competition to Cooperation

As a former pro athlete, A’s life had always been defined by ruthless competition and constant comparison. However, his perspective shifted dramatically through both his marriage and his faith.

"When playing professionally, I never had peace of mind because I was always competing," A reflected. "But through our faith community and church life, my capacity to understand others grew. I learned the immense value of walking together rather than running alone."

Like a football match where a goal cannot be scored without seamless teamwork, the couple realized that marriage and faith require the same synchronized effort. "You have to understand, love, and become one within the Word to make it to the finish line," they shared.

Overcoming Slumps and Building Trust

Their journey hasn't been without its lighthearted disagreements. A jokingly shares how hard it is to receive "cold, objective feedback" from his wife after a tough match, while B recalls feeling slightly slighted when her husband didn't hold back his powerful shots during a futsal game.

Yet, the field is also where they fall in love all over again. During a severe slump when A struggled to score, he finally found the back of the net during a crucial match. He immediately dropped to his knees on the grass to pray. Watching that moment, B recalled feeling deeply moved: "I felt a profound sense that we were enduring the hard times together as one."

A Vibrant Sports Culture that Breaks Barriers

The couple’s dynamic lifestyle is a direct reflection of the robust sports culture within the Shincheonji Daejeon Church. The church actively hosts generational sports programs including men’s and women’s football, baseball, basketball, martial arts (Taekwondo), and track events.

"On the field, age and titles don't matter; cooperation and encouragement do," the couple explained. "Sweating together naturally breaks down any emotional walls. We fall, we get back up, and we become closer."

Looking in the Same Direction

On this Couples' Day, the duo expressed a simple yet profound wish: to continue looking in the exact same direction. Football and faith taught them how to live together before learning how to win. Today, they continue to sprint down the field of life, side by side, bound by a shared goal and an unbreakable faith.

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