On Sunday, June 9, 2024, over 200 members from the World Mission Society Church of God branches in Northern California gathered together in Fresno for a joint education.
Northern California Zions, which consists of churches in Sacramento, San Francisco, Bakersfield, and Fresno, united together to receive education and spend quality time with one another. Members from Visalia and Modesto also came to participate in the event and receive the gracious words of God.
The purpose of this event was for all participants to come closer to God Elohim by realizing Their love for each and every one of us. Considering this, the theme of the event was simple: God’s love.
Education centered on God’s Love
The event began with singing New Songs and a special opening service given by Pastor Kevin from San Francisco. After that, there were three other education segments by the church leaders in Sacramento, Bakersfield, and Fresno with the common theme of God’s love.
The first session included a sermon explaining about God coming in the flesh, which moved Vanesa Garcia from Bakersfield:
“We’re really seeing the fulfillment of prophecy…Through this education, I realized the solution to the problem: God came in the flesh…I’ll always remember that.”
Also, the members studied the mindset of a gospel worker and the proper vision and attitude we should have while participating in the gospel work. Jaina Sanders from San Francisco shared a realization about those words and a resolution going forward:
“Through this education, we learned that the mindset of a gospel worker is someone who focuses on the kingdom of Heaven. When we focus on the kingdom of Heaven, then actually everything will go well. I always want to try and please Father and Mother, and through that, we’ll never run out of spiritual energy.”
Fellowship with delicious food
After that, members took a break for lunch and shared delicious food, refreshments, and desserts with each other while sharing what they had learned thus far.
The third session was titled “Undefiled Saints” and explained how members should change their hearts in order to shine the glory of God even outside of the church.
Lamarion Collier from the Sacramento church was moved by that education and reported: “All the words of God were perfect and just what I needed for my faith. Through the subject of “Undefiled Saints,” you see many teachings about God’s love. But many use God’s love in an improper way. As we love God, we should also love God’s commands. We too should love being holy.”
Overcome hardships and trials
The final education was regarding slander. The members learned about how the situation now is the same as that of 2,000 years ago. During the time of Jesus, many people who rejected the truth spread baseless rumors and slandered the early apostles. Many of our members have experienced similar situations when preaching the truth about the Sabbath day, Passover, Heavenly Mother, etc. Through this session, members could be enlightened to have firm faith to carry out the work of the gospel all the way until the end, despite going through many hardships and trials. Although others may spread rumors or slander, members learned to focus on the precious truth.
By the end of it all, members shared countless realizations with each other with the mission to do the gospel until the end. Alexander Wiley from San Francisco made a goal to follow God’s example by remembering the sacrifice of Christ: “By always reflecting on our own faith, but to also remember Father and Mother’s sacrifice that They gave for us…When we always reflect on that, that’s when we really are able to follow their example.”
Resolution and Conclusion
At the conclusion of the event, members said goodbye to one another as they embarked back to their hometowns. This event was the first of its kind in Sector 1, the Northern California Region. The hope is to have events such as these regularly in order to cultivate the hearts of the gospel workers, unite together, and help spread the truth of the gospel throughout the entire Central and Northern California regions.
