Lately, after early morning services, Pastor Yan has been gradually sharing testimonies from the 316 gathering at Wolmyeongdong. One part deeply moved my heart. Pastor Yan shared:
“When SSN looked back at this history, he truly felt that it was because we were being chased that things progressed more rapidly. Some people didn’t even have time to put on shoes—they walked a thousand miles barefoot.”
If we had not been chased, we would’ve just slept instead of traveling a thousand miles.
In the past, the Israelites reorganized and were trained during their 40 years in the wilderness before entering Canaan. In the Roman era, Christians were persecuted for 400 years before Christianity became the state religion. God unfolded His will through tribulation. While SSN was delivering God's Word, he was constantly slandered. 80% of Providence's history has been storms and hardships, but it was precisely during such trials that Wolmyeongdong was completely built.
It was always snowing or raining at that time, yet SSN and the members built Wolmyeongdong together in the midst of wind, rain, and snow. Because SSN saw how everyone was constantly getting wet, he became even more determined to build the House of the Lord’s Love. That’s how such a grand structure came to be. Therefore, looking at all that has been achieved in the past, let us move forward with hope!¹
The phrase, “We walked a thousand miles because we were being chased,” lingers in my heart.
In over thirty years in Providence, when life is peaceful, I tend to remain in my comfort zone, busily caught up in daily life, rarely reflecting deeply on the meaning of faith. But when the storms come and reality presses hard—so hard that there's no time to put on shoes—I still must see clearly where God is heading and find a way to follow, even if barefoot.
Because in such moments, God always leads Providence to leap forward with unimaginable speed. After following, when I look back, I realize I’ve already walked a thousand miles, reaching heights I could never have imagined before.
You ask, what evidence do I have?
Just look at Wolmyeongdong!
God made Wolmyeongdong a microcosm of Providence’s history. If you had seen it thirty years ago and compared it to what it is now, you could not deny that God has been with this history. Just as Jesus said, “If they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.”² Shaped through trials and storms, Wolmyeongdong has become the pride of Providence and stands as a testimony to the world of the history God is unfolding in this era.
Speaking of Wolmyeongdong built amidst the storm, I can’t help but think of Fen’s testimony.
During this year’s 316, Fen also visited Wolmyeongdong. Experiencing all four seasons in a single day there became her undeniable proof of this history. With her permission, I’ve included her testimony below:
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Fen’s Testimony:
A week before heading to Wolmyeongdong for the 316 event, I heard some negative news that affected my mood. So I went with the mindset of wanting to reconfirm this history.
However, the weather on 316 turned out to be terrible. An extremely cold air mass brought fierce wind and rain. On site, we shared chocolates and hot water to stay warm, but the sleet melted on our down jackets, and the cold soaked through, leaving us constantly shivering. There was an announcement that those who felt unwell could seek shelter indoors, but none of us thought of leaving.
During the sermon, when the Word mentioned sunlight, the sun suddenly appeared. As I stood there, soaked and listening in the sleet, I felt as if lightning struck my brain—time froze for a few seconds. In that moment, I clearly felt God’s presence in Wolmyeongdong.
God helped me realize that it wasn’t that He cleared the skies just because we prayed. Wanting sunshine on 316 is a human hope. Many think that if they believe in God, life should go smoothly. But in reality, life comes with suffering.
And even though 316 brought wind, rain, and sleet, we did not retreat. We persevered to the end—and then, we welcomed the warm sunlight, and together, we glorified God.
We were able to do this because God taught us through SSN. I reconfirmed that God appears through the words SSN delivers. That’s why we gathered here and became witnesses like clouds.³
God also showed me that one must offer conditions and pay a price to receive blessings. Even though the sub-zero temperatures made us shiver, we still gave glory and thanks to God—and He responded to us through the weather.
Thank You, God, for protecting us as the apple of Your eye.⁴
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Fen’s story may feel familiar to many of us. We’ve all experienced shaken moments, but God turns those moments into opportunities—leading us to reflect more deeply on our faith and draw closer to Him in a truer way.
In the face of pressure from reality, God becomes our strength and help, leading us to grow through firsthand experience and rise to greater heights. That was true in the past—and it remains true now and into the future.
In this era, even with the wicked chasing from behind, we follow God’s will. Even barefoot, we’ve walked a thousand miles—haven’t we? These hardships come from the evil of the wicked. The righteous suffer, yet God’s will still unfolds, for God never changes and continuously advances His righteousness.
Times of hardship are not only times when the righteous suffer, but also when they establish achievements, and when they pray for the wicked to repent. This is what God has taught us. Today, we also strive to live according to that teaching.¹
Finally, SSN reminded us:
During times of tribulation, some see the one God has sent for this era facing hardship and begin to wonder whether they have followed the wrong person or chosen the wrong path. With such doubts, they drift away—some even abandoning their faith. In Providence, we have seen this happen. Let us help guide them back.¹
That’s why I’ve recorded all of this here.
If you are in a moment when your faith feels shaken, I hope these words find you.
May God bless you, beloved of the Lord, that even through wind and rain, even barefoot, you will walk on, steadfast, along the path of life.
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¹ Excerpt from Pastor Yan’s message
² Luke 19:40
³ Hebrews 12:1
⁴ Psalm 17:8
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