Those members who obey the Word of God and pray are enjoying peace and joy in heart and healthy lives even in advanced age, and they also work faithfully for the kingdom of God and lead happy Christian lives with hope for Heaven. (From right, clockwise, Elder Jaesik Lee, Senior Deaconess Jungsoon Lee, Deacon Woowon Ju (middle with glasses), and Sister Miyako Simodaira)

With advances in medical technology, life expectancy is heading for 100. People are increasingly interested in how to lead more active and happier lives in their old age. The ways to lead a happy life in advanced age are often presented in mass media. In Manmin Central Church there are many elderly members who have been leading healthy and Spirit-filled Christian lives with hope for Heaven.

Though he is 86 years old, Elder Jaesik Lee (Picture 2) has been serving faithfully as Principal of Students' Sunday School and Financial Director of Immanuel Choir in Gwangju Manmin Church. He greets others first and serves others well. He is gaining favor and respect from many of the church members. He is always promptly in the place where he has to be. He unceasingly prays and is very punctual to every meeting. He sets a great example for other believers.

Elder Lee said, "Once one starts to believe God, he should not change. I witnessed many powerful works manifested through Dr. Jaerock Lee and came to believe. With the belief, I have just obeyed. Although I just believed and obeyed, God has blessed me to lead a healthy life and to be able to work faithfully with hope for Heaven. I am happy and grateful."

In Japan, Sister Miyako Simodaira, age 77, had many health problems (Picture 1). But she was healed of high blood pressure, anemia, and reflux gastritis. She had suffered from the after-effect of frostbite of her ten toes for 16 years. During the winter her toes bled so she couldn't even walk. But she was healed of it too. She also recovered good eyesight from 0.6 to 1.5 when she put Muan Sweet Water in her eyes instead of using eye drops.

She stated, "In obedience to the Word of God, I threw away the idols' altars, Kamidana, a miniature household altar, and golden dragon-shaped decorations. Then I received a lot of blessings. In fact, to have such idols is very common in Japan, but after I heard that it is idolatry God hates, I flatly threw all of them away."

Since she has given the tithe, God has blessed her with great harvest in her farming. Sister Simodaira said she feels thankful most for gaining assurance of salvation and hope for Heaven.

Senior Deaconess Jungsoon Lee (Picture 3), age 82, is also living a youthful life. For her 50 years of faith, her first love for the Lord has never cooled down.

When she was young, she offered up a golden ring to God and asked Him to give her faith like pure gold. For the last 33 years since the church opening, she has been devoted to praying for God's kingdom as the oldest member of Prayer Devotees' Group. Her love for souls is also great so she diligently spreads the gospel.

As her life has been filled with grace and joy in the Lord since she met the Lord, she has never taken medicine or gone to hospital.

What is her key to keeping her youth? She said it was prayer and Muan Sweet Water. She said, "I drink a cup of Muan Sweet Water every day and ask God in prayer to make all my organs and body parts including joints and cells healthy and strong, to keep me from losing my hair, and to let me have strong teeth until I stand before the Lord."

Deacon Woowon Ju (Picture 4), age 85, longs for God's grace. Though he lives in Incheon, he comes to the central church in Seoul to attend Sunday Services. He watches Dr. Lee's messages on GCN and receives his prayer three or four times a day. He said it is his key to having a healthy life. Every morning he prays for the construction of the sanctuary and himself for an hour. He said a great change that came to him after he started a Christian life is joy and peace in his heart.

It is said that many elderly people in the world live lonely lives with financial difficulties or they have diseases without family members' care. However, the God of love says in Proverbs 16:31, "A gray head is a crown of glory; it is found in the way of righteousness." In the Lord, elderly people can lead healthy and peaceful lives with no worry and share love with brothers and sisters in Christ with hope for Heaven.

"Yet those who wait for the LORD will gain new strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary" (Isaiah 40:31).