Manmin Central Church had the Christmas Lighting Ceremony at 9:50 P.M. on December 15, 2017 to celebrate the birth of Jesus who came to the earth to save us. This event was broadcast live on GCN.

Senior Pastor Dr. Jaerock Lee said in his short message, "God is blessing us with being able to enjoy the temperature above zero although previously it was freezing cold at ten degrees below zero all through the week. The weather is best for this lighting ceremony. As we have always experienced such works of God, I urge you to have faith and hope for heaven which is real, without setting your mind on this earthly life which is an illusion. Through this I hope you will love God all the more."

On December 24, Dr. Lee delivered the message under the title of "The Lord's Birth" based on Matthew 1:21-23 during Sunday Morning Service and Evening Service. He preached about Jesus' birth and ministry, and His resurrection and second coming. After Sunday Evening Service, the Christmas Celebration Performance entitled "The Lord's Birth" followed. Members and guests in attendance gave glory and offered thanks to God for His love.

On December 25, the Christmas Service was held at 11 A.M. Dr. Lee proclaimed the message "Blessing" taken from Romans 13:10. In the service, greater happiness, hope, and thanks overflowed than ever before because many believers had been changed through God's love, forgiveness, and waiting; and through them, the holiness gospel had been spread all over the world and many of them had participated in the providence of God as fruit of spirit and whole spirit.

The reason this Christmas was more special to them is because the lives of so many members had become filled with blessings through Dr. Lee's intercession and life-giving sacrifice for the last seven years (relevant stories on pages 3 and 4).

It is through such experiences that the members realized the love of God and the Lord even more. They came to live by the Word and received the blessing of their souls' prosperity. As they tried to repay the grace given to them, many of them received blessings in their workplaces and businesses. Many of them were awarded the Presidential Citation, the Prime Minister's citation as well as other administrative awards, citations and industrial service medals.

Elder candidate Insik Park, President of Firefighting Equipment Company from Muan Manmin Church, said, "I was addicted to alcohol and gambling, and I used to be violent. I wanted to give up on my life in which I suffered such great pain. But after I was guided to Manmin I was renewed by the word of life and the shepherd's prayer. Now blessings are overflowing in my business. I feel the love of God, the Lord, and the shepherd more deeply this Christmas."

Pastor James Sim of New York International Manmin Church in USA was put at a critical moment when his coronary artery had become narrowed and almost blocked. The doctor said that he would die without surgery. However, after he received Dr. Lee's prayer, he recovered quickly and became healthy enough to exercise. The members of his congregation witnessed what he went through and together they prayed for him. After he was healed, the members came to have greater faith and prepared for Christmas with more joy.

With this meaningful Christmas ahead, the members of Nepal Manmin Church pastored by Grace Lee prepared themselves by offering vowed prayer and fasting to achieve the pure and good heart of the Lord. In April 2015, they experienced God's protection through Dr. Jaerock Lee's prayer during the April 2015 Nepal Earthquake, which at a magnitude of 7.8 claimed thousands of lives. Not only they themselves but also all their family and the church's 200 branch and associate churches were all protected perfectly. This experience set the church on the rock and served as a chance for the members to receive blessings both in spirit and body.

This Christmas was special to Elder Sebastien Impeto Pengo of Kinshasa Manmin Church, DR Congo. In 2014, when he worked as a governor of Equateur, the Ebola outbreak was rampant. When he asked for Dr. Lee's prayer there were no new occurrences of infection and the increasing death toll stopped. He experienced the great power that terminated Ebola. In 2017, he was blessed to be ordained as an elder of the kingdom of God.

As reported and recorded, all church members, including 11,000 branch and associate churches, have experienced the shepherd's power that has increased and become more amazing every year. Let's give thanks to the Lord for His love and become the Lord's witnesses to the end of the earth.