Pastor Cho, have you decided who to vote for?

Does it even really matter?

They’re all exactly the same. Does anyone really stand out?

Isn’t it really about which church has the most clout?

(Laughs)

Meh, these elections always turn out like this.

Only recently,

Pastor Li and Pastor Yin got into a mudslinging match.

One said the other was having an affair.

The other one cried “embezzlement!”

(Laughs)

All these elections. Such a big mess.

(Laugh)

The rich tend to get arrogant

whenever the elections come around.

In the end, the winner is whoever is most connected.

Pastor Cho,

you can’t just concern yourself with missionary work.

You have to complete the extension of your church building

to increase your clout.

And you need to be more involved with the General Assembly.

Brothers and sisters, let us consider King David together.

What was the one thing that he wanted more than anything in life?

Do you know? Everyone, come on, speak up.

To build the temple!

You are correct. What he wanted was to build God’s temple.

We must all, each of us,

follow the powerful and impressive example of King David

and his heart which sought to honor Jehovah.

Amen!

And in the future, we will reign with God,

to rule over all peoples of all nations! Hallelujah!

Amen!

Now let’s go to the Lord in prayer.

Then make our pledges for the new church fund.

Oh, God the Father,

we wish to dedicate all of our heart and all of our soul

to the construction of Your new temple...

We pray in Jesus’ name. O Lord, hear our prayer.

Amen!

Beloved brothers and sisters,

in the Age of Law, all of the people

were cleansed of their sins with the blood of animals.

That all changed with Jesus who died on the cross.

He redeemed us from all of our sins

when He sacrificed His own life.

Amen!

And by our Lord Jesus’ own sacrifice,

our sins are once and for all purged from us.

All of us are redeemed, all new and cleansed by His blood.

Amen!

Let us give thanks to God and let us all praise Him!

Amen!

Have a seat.

It’s a shame. Not many believers attended today’s service.

Some deacons and even elders

could not fulfill their pledges to the church.

I think they have become weak. It’s so sad.

I know. But this is important.

There isn’t really any other way.

This is for the revival of our church.

Pastor Cho,

is building the extension the only way to honor the Lord?

Do we really need a bigger building to revive the ailing church?

Sometimes I wonder, are we really doing God’s will?

(Sigh)

When I look at the state of our church,

I’m just so awfully sorry.

I feel so full of my own sin,

vain, and aggressive, and greedy, and jealous.

And I often worry that the Lord is, may be,

very much displeased with me, both in deed and thought.

We have served the Lord together for many years.

Don’t you think I understand you?

I know you follow your conscience in everything you do.

(Sigh)

All these years, I’ve tried to live by our Lord’s example,

praying and fasting too, often,

and reading the Scripture every day and night,

doing my best to love the Lord and everyone else as well.

This I know.

Yet I’m still deeply caught up in a cycle of sin.

I can’t even practice what I preach, no matter how hard I try,

caught in a cycle of sinning each day and confessing each night.

Your problem is that you are too honest.

Other people just don’t talk about it.

Really! Nobody is an exception.

Who can be free from this problem?

Just ask for the Lord’s mercy.

(Inhale)

Of course you’re right. You know,

I have sought for a solution to this problem for a long time.

I have asked other pastors for advice about this very thing.

But I haven’t found an answer.

(Sigh)

And is your wife’s health any better?

(Sigh)

(Groan)

Hey you! Did you get home late again?

There’s a patient right here.

Don’t you even care about your own wife!

Cat got your tongue?

Always have time for others but no words for me?

Listen.

As a pastor, it’s my job to teach the congregation

and handle all kinds of church matters.

What is it that you want?

I should stay home with you all day?

That’s great! So you don’t want to spend time with me? Huh?

Listen. I have a lot on my plate with the church.

Give me a break.

If you don’t understand me, then who else will?

(Sigh)

(Exhale)

Ah, Deaconess Song. Going for a visit, huh?

Got it. I’ll meet you downstairs in a minute.

Where are you going?

Visiting Brother Min.

No, you won't.

Didn’t you just hear what I said? (It’s getting late.)

I said I’d go. (Stay here with me.)

I’ll be back soon. Don’t make a scene!

Don’t go!

Pastor Cho.

Has your wife fully recovered?

Well, not really.

We’ve been praying for her for awhile.

Maybe you should take her on a holiday.

I can ask for the church’s approval.

We should go.

We haven’t really seen you at church lately.

Um, I’ve actually been pretty busy.

Remember that no matter how busy you are,

you should make time for church.

Of course, yes, you are right.

Pastor Cho, what do you make of this?

So, what is this?

Yeah, I picked this up on the subway.

My heart feels these words worthwhile.

The Church of Almighty God?

The Church of Almighty God?

This is the church that testifies Jesus’ second coming, isn’t it?

I have heard that they say the Lord Jesus has come back.

And they say that He has done a stage of new work.

This is totally not according to the Bible. How could you?

They dare claim that Jesus came back?

When did He come? Where were we? Why didn’t we see?

Is there any biblical basis?

Pastor Cho. Elder Ahn.

I’ve read those words of Almighty God a lot.

They are profound. They are honest and they’re fresh.

Brother Min, the second coming of Jesus is really a great event.

It concerns our outcome directly.

We must treat it with caution and take it seriously.

So now, many good sheep in our church

are stolen by the “Eastern Lightning.”

You see! It is really beyond my understanding.

They testify that God has done a new and wondrous work.

Brother Min, you need to be mindful of this.

Jesus has finished His redemptive work.

How come He still needs to work after His second coming?

Good point. I was wondering the same thing.

The Lord has already forgiven our sins, hasn’t He?

That’s right. We have already been saved.

Whether God truly has brought about a new work

or whether I am really saved, I just don’t know.

I’m sorry, Pastor Cho. I have the same doubt.

If these words are true, then I’d have to say,

it’s an extraordinary event.

I’m afraid that you have agreed with their saying.

Promise me that you will not contact them again, okay?

(Sighs)

Only recently,

Pastor Li and Pastor Yin got into a mudslinging match.

One said the other was having an affair.

The other one cried “embezzlement!”

Stay here with me.

I’ll be back soon. Don’t make a scene!

Don’t go!

Oh Lord, I really feel miserable and perplexed in my heart

because of the iniquities in church.

I don’t know which direction to go.

Oh Lord, I am bound by sin.

I have no tolerance or even love for my wife.

My spirit, my spirit thirsts.

I am empty, I have nothing, nothing at all for my flock.

Where are You? Oh Lord!

My God, why have You forsaken me? Why am I so utterly alone?

So have you really thought this through?

To be honest, I’m seeking God’s will.

Hmmm...

(Sigh)

Initially, I didn’t want to take this step.

However, with all the sin in our denomination,

I simply do not want to be part of it.

Hmm.

Your denomination just seems so fervent about evangelism.

And in your church there is great revival.

God should be very pleased with it.

You know our denomination simply

doesn’t emphasize on evangelism at all.

Not at all. It’s all divisions and disputes.

Well, has there ever been a denomination that’s free of those?

I don’t get involved in their politics.

I am a thorn in their side. And they wish to be rid of me.

Really?

I envy you very much.

Pastor Han.

Hmm?

Um, do you think I could join your denomination?

Do you know what you’re asking?

You’ve put so much work into growing your church.

And things are just starting to take shape.

Isn’t your church active in missionary work?

Honestly, this isn’t about missionary work.

What it’s really about is

whether we can live upright before God.

Hmm...

I feel that you’re well meaning and that you trust in God.

Trust Him and you will find what you seek.

In the meantime,

you should try not to make any hasty decisions.

Come to our evangelism training program. I think you’d like it.

You have one?

Yes. In fact, we have invited a famous theologian

from the University of Chongshin.

It’s quite a good program.

Tell me.

Here we are. This is our information.

Oh, this looks good. I will give it a shot.

I hear that Pastor Cho has joined some kind of cult.

It may not be bad.

Pastor Oh,

I think that this may be ... this is God’s will, raising you up.

I am not sure.

Pastor Cho has been doing the Lord’s work for 20 years.

The believers hold him in high esteem.

I think they will listen to what he has to say.

So tell me, is it true you’re joining another denomination?

How quickly news spreads. Where did you hear this?

Pastor, I raised two hundred million so I could start this church.

Use this for your missionary work.

It’s for nothing else.

I only wish to receive your help in succeeding you.

Pastor Oh, don’t even worry. We will see what we can do.

Yes...

Pastor Oh, we will help you however we can.

Don’t you worry, Pastor Oh.

Pastor Oh, it will be all right.

I’m sure we can come up with something. Okay, listen. Yeah.

Pastor Park,

The church is God’s. Understand? It’s not a den of thieves.