2010 Good News Mission Top 10 News Stories

1. IYF World Camps Held in 30 Countries
We believe that if our young adult students—our future leaders—change, our society will become a better one. Following the 11 camps that took place in 2009, IYF World Camps for international young adults were held in 30 countries in 2010.

The governments of those 30 nations fully supported the camps, and private corporations also volunteered to assist them in every way. Recognition of IYF World Camps is increasing yearly, and they are being substantially acknowledged as international youth-changing events. This year in 2010, approximately 60,000 young adults attended the camps, and by listening to the Word of God they reached the turning point in their lives.


2. Pastor Park Ock-Soo Meets Presidents of Paraguay and Malawi

Pastor Park and
Paraguay President

Pastor Park Ock-soo visited Malawi from March 9 to March 11 and met its president Bingu wa Mutharika and other government officials. This visit was made possible by the intercession of the Ministry of Health and Malawi’s Minister of Youth Development, who attended the Tanzanian World Camp held in August 2009. President Bingu wa Mutharika stated his concerns about issues relating to young adults and AIDS, saying, “Due to the short life span caused by AIDS, about 60 % of Malawi’s current population consists of young adults. People live day to day without hope.” In response to the president’s concerns, Pastor Park Ock-soo stated his desire to work for young adults in order to plant dreams and hope in their hearts. He also said that he would support the Malawian medical system to help the AIDS victims and to win the battle against AIDS within the next 10 years. On November 17, 2009, the Malawian government donated to the Good News Mission 8 acres of land in the center of its capital for the future of the Malawian medical system and youth education.

Pastor Park meet with
Malawi President

On February 18, 2010, during the Paraguay World Camp, Pastor Park Ock-soo met with President Fernando Lugo at the president’s palace. President Lugo, who received salvation during last year’s world camp, welcomed Pastor Park, crying “Oh, my shepherd!” and they shared a serious fellowship with each other. President Lugo expressed joy about the fellowship, saying “God was talking to me through Pastor Park.”


3. Mahanaim Cyber Theology School Opens in April
(Courses taught in five languages to about four thousand students)



Students from Africa

 Unlike the most Korean churches, which have focused on their external growth, Pastor Park Ock-soo has witnessed the true Gospel and trained born-again ministers. To overcome the logistical difficulties of witnessing the Gospel to the world, the Cyber Theology School was launched on the Internet. This makes it possible for prospective students around the world to hear the Gospel. Mahanaim Theology School offers its courses in English, Chinese, Spanish, French, and Korean, and can reach about 70% of the world’s population to raise ministers world-wide. Currently its first- and second-term students are taking online courses in five languages. Mahanaim Theology School has the world’s highest enrollment as a single cyber theology school.


4. GBS Kenya Receives Seoul Prize

Receiving prize on KBS

At the 18th Seoul Prize Awards presented by KBS, GBS received the Special Award in the field of Feature TV Documentary. GBS Kenya, launched as that nation’s first foreign-run digital broadcasting station, obtained its privilege to start analog broadcasts to assist the African mission work only five months after its beginning. This means that more than 70 % of the Kenyan population can watch and listen to the Gospel through GBS. GBS’s viewer ratings are growing fast, and commercial advertising contracts that are essential to GBS’s financial independence are also increasing. In November, the Korean corporation LG Group signed an advertisement agreement with GBS.

On November 3, at the 18th World Korean Language Broadcasting Competition held at KBS headquarters, Kenyan GBS-produced “Twende! Kenya” received the Special Award in the field of Foreign Korean-Language, Feature Documentary. GBS Kenya, Producer Kim Woo-jin’s film on the Agricultural Technology Development Center in Kenya shows how Korean agricultural technology is being implemented in Kenya.

Broadcast sermons to Kenya have begun, and will soon start in neighboring countries such as Tanzania, Malawi, and Uganda.


5. Original musical Huh Joon Performed in Ten Cities

A sence from Musical Huh Joon

By invitation of the committee of the 2010 Jaechon Internaional Oriental Medicine Bio Expo, the original musical Huh Joon was performed for one month by the IYF Drama Society.

Huh Joon is the story of the legendary Joseon dynasty court physician, who became a skilled “Doctor of the Heart” through his teacher and spiritual mentor, Yoo Euh-tae. The musical provided the audience an entertaining and educational experience by delivering people who live in modern world only to seek their desire and gaining a refreshing message. The month-long performance was greeted so enthusiastically that the IYF Drama Society revised its schedule to perform in another 12 cities including Seoul, Taejon, Taegu, and Pusan, where it received equally warm responses.


6. Righteous Stars Awarded Grand Prize in Two Prestigious Dance Competitions



Righteous Stars with Grand Prize

 The Righteous Stars received the Grand Prize from the nation’s most distinguished dance competitions during the Andong International Mask Dance Festival and the Cheon-an Heung Ta Ryung Festival. A total of 80 teams competed in the World Mask Dance Competition at the 2010 Andong International Mask Dance Festival, and 52 teams among them were judged on their presentation of messages as adult groups. The Righteous Stars won the Grand Prize and received 10 million won.

At the Cheon-an Heung Ta Ryung Festival, 7,000 dancers from 261 national dance teams competed. The Grand Prize and 10 million won were presented to the Righteous Stars by the Minister of Culture, Sports, and Tourism.

The Righteous Stars formed the competition team with the addition of 10 more IYF university students. Even though they have different academic majors and live in different cities, they achieved such success by uniting their hearts in the IYF spirit, “challenge and cohesion.”


7. Article by Pastor Park Ock-soo Published in Teachings for Cadets

Korean Military Academy
Published Book

The Korea Military Academy published a book to teach its cadets with wise sayings from 215 influential Koreans. The book is designed to be used as nature education and discipline guidelines. Former Prime Minister Ko Gun, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, and other notable figures offered their wisdom about life in the book, and Pastor Park Ock-soo wrote his contribution in the section of Society and Religion.

For years, Pastor Park has strived to help instill in young adults and soldiers values to guide them in living wholesome lives. Thus, soldiers can serve in peace as they learn to understand and live in harmony with others. The publication of Pastor Park’s article indicates recognition of his contribution.


8. Ministers in America Start Their First Penniless Mission Trips

A minister while witnessing

“Penniless” mission trips to Memphis, San Diego, and other 10 cities became the chance for ministers in America to leap onto a new stage. Ten missionary couples traveled to ten cities with no money and returned home with many testimonies about how God was living with them. Motivated by their first visits, missionaries returned to the cities and witnessed the Gospel at Bible conferences. As the result of these trips, eight new missionaries were dispatched to the United States, and ten new churches were established.

“Penniless” mission trips also started in Europe, and the churches there were strengthened by them.


9. Unhwa, the World’s First to Succeed to Cultivate Plant Stem Cells Research Article Published in Nature Biotechnology

Press Conference

Ddo Byul which was researched by Unhwa Biotech was published in the respected science and technology magazine Nature Biotechnology.

The Chairman of Unhwa Biotech, Elder Do Ki-kwon, stated that it took four years and six months for Ddo Byul to be recognized as true plant stem cells after it was discovered. Elder Do faced many challenges, and even considered abandoning his research due to the seeming lack of progress. Whenever he was in despair, Pastor Park’s sermons gave him strength. He said gratefully that God made all this possible so that it could be used for the work of the Gospel.

In recognition of this outstanding research accomplishment, Ddo Byul was selected as the cover story of the November issue. This news was also announced on November 25 on SBS, MBC, KBS, and YTN evening news broadcasts and other media outlets. The announcement of Ddo Byul carried great impact not only on the national and international media, but with scientists, bio-tech companies, and Korean government officials who are seeking to maintain the nation’s economic growth. Currently, Unhwa is being approached by various officials for possible joint research and manufacturing ventures.


10. Gracias Choir Wins Prizes at 2010 Pusan International Chorus Competition

Gracias Choir

The 2010 Pusan International Chorus Competition is an international event where entrants compete on a large scale and at a high level. It consists of three parts: classics, traditional music, and pop music. In rigorous competition with 42 teams from 16 nations on 4 continents, the Gracias Choir was awarded three medals—the Grand Prize for General Chorus, the Silver Medal in Women’s Chorus, and the Excellence in Conducting Prize at the competition.

Formed at God’s calling, the Gracias Choir has presented His praise to audiences wherever the Gospel is witnessed. Miraculously, they have been allowed the opportunity to collaborate with top musicians, Russian professors from the St. Petersburg Conservatory and have been taught to grow as international choir. The choir’s incomparable discipline and dedication has earned them a reputation for taking on any artistic challenge in practice or performance.