On July 13th, 2025, churches from San Francisco, Fresno, Sacramento, and Bakersfield all gathered in the World Mission Society Church of God in Hayward to participate in a New Song Festival, Talent Show, and Awarding Ceremony.
The event was composed together with the purpose to acknowledge the receipt of U.S. President’s Volunteer Service Award. The event also comprised of music and talent show to acknowledge members’ great efforts in volunteer work. , This was a great opportunity to showcase the various talents of the members of the Church of God, show the love brothers and sisters have for one another and for Heavenly Father and Mother by gathering together with one mind.
Awarding Ceremony
In December 2024 and in March 2025, these churches united together to host blood drives, which resulted in over 100 donors per event. Because of this gracious result, the Church of God in Fresno, Sacramento, Bakersfield, and San Francisco all received the U.S. President’s Volunteer Service Award, which was presented during the event by the Recovery and Evaluation Chief at the California Department of Public Health, Brandon Torigian.
After presenting the awards to the Church of God, Mr. Torigian gave remarks and stated, “It is vital for communities to look out for one another,” and “No organization can do it alone. It takes people like you; volunteers that step up not because they have to, but because they want to. This church understands this deeply. You may not realize this, but some people that you help may be in their darkest moments, praying to God for help. Then without even knowing it, you are God’s response to them.”
ASEZ Volunteer Work
The Church of God actively participates in volunteer work to shine the glory of God. Even during this event, Church of God members from Korea who were part of the IUBA visiting team gave a presentation about ASEZ’s international work. During the presentation, ASEZ ambassadors from Korea stated, “ASEZ has the goal to reduce crime all throughout the world.” By displaying the international volunteer work, the hope is that local members can feel encouraged to participate in local volunteer work to accomplish the goal of sharing Mother’s love throughout the whole world.
New Songs and Talent shows
To add grace to the event, a New Song Festival was held. In the Bible, God’s people always gave praise to God through New Songs. Also, in the last days, God’s people who are to be saved are singing New Songs before God (Rev 14:1-3). So, it can be concluded that New Songs are very dear to God’s people.
During the New Song Festival, the churches were split into choir teams based on their respective areas: Bay Choir, Valley Choir, Sequoia Choir, Fresno Choir, Sacramento Choir, and Bakersfield Choir. Each team prepared 1-2 New Songs to perform to church members, invitees, and officials who attended with the goal to heal all listeners. Touching New Songs that spoke about God’s love and sacrifice, such as “In Our Father’s Heart,” “God Who Loves Sinners,” “Where Father Is, ‘Tis Heaven There,” and so much more, moved the hearts of the listeners to think about our Heavenly Parents and the kingdom of Heaven. At the end of the event, listeners were able to vote on their favorite performance, in which the Bay Choir received the most votes and was able to perform a beautiful encore for “Heavenly Wedding Banquet” and “Where Father Is, ‘Tis Heaven There.”
In addition, orchestra performed beautiful pieces, such as “Oh my Dear Heavenly Home” and Libertango.” There were also touching performances from the quartets and octets, who delivered powerful renditions of “You Raise Me Up” and “I Hear Thy Welcome Voice.”
During the talent show program, various performances took place, such as a solo vocalist, instrumentalists playing the flute and piano, an opera duet, a Korean-inspired fan dance, a dance team displaying a playful skit about preaching the gospel and saving souls, and a concert performed by Church of God member and musician Jana Herzen.
Amazingly, though the performers were from different churches and different backgrounds, Heavenly Father and Mother allowed such a gracious event to be composed together, showing how talented Heavenly children are. Through this event, members felt the hope for the kingdom of Heaven, where there will be endless joy.
