The Church of God in Korea: Difference between revisions

The [[Okcheon Go&Come Training Institute]] in Okcheon, the [[Elohim Training Institute]] in Yeongdong, the [[Dongbaek Training Institute]] in Yongin, [[Jeonyisan Training Institute]] in Sejong, and the [[WMC Institute|WMC Training Institute]] in Jeju contribute to the education and gatherings of both Korean and overseas members, and also promote good communication and harmony with local communities. The Church of God puts love into practice by carrying out various volunteer services such as helping underprivileged groups, hosting blood drives, providing disaster relief and recovery efforts, leading environmental protection, and helping farmers in their communities. When national disasters took place such as the Daegu subway tragedy, the sinking of the Sewol ferry, and the earthquake in Pohang, the members visited the scenes and organized [[Church of God Free Meal Service|free meal camps]] to deliver warm meals and comfort to the victims.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://news.watv.org/internal/content.asp?articleid=i20030221812 |title=Daegu Disaster Triggers 24-hour Volunteer System |website=WATV News |publisher= |date=February 21, 2003 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://news.watv.org/internal/content.asp?articleid=i20140421273 |title=Mother’s Love in a Warm Meal Becomes Hope and Comforts |website=WATV News |publisher= |date=September 19, 2014 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://news.watv.org/internal/content.asp?articleid=i20171219214|title=Volunteer for Free Meals and Donation for the Victims of Pohang Earthquake |website=WATV News |publisher= |date=December 19, 2017 }}</ref>  

The Church of God supported Korean society in various ways to help residents suffering from the pandemic, complying with COVID-19 prevention guidelines. It delivered 30,000 face masks (KF94) to Daegu, which was announced as a special disaster area for infectious diseases, and donated 230 million KRW to the [https://hopebridge.or.kr/eng/ Hope Bridge National Disaster Relief Association] to help neighbors in the welfare dead zone with daily necessities and medical expenses.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.joongang.co.kr/article/23909933#home |title=Church of God Donated 30 Million KRW as 2nd Donation to Hope Bridge to Overcome COVID-19 |website=JoongAng Sunday |publisher= |date=November 2, 2020 }}</ref> [[ASEZ, the University Student Volunteer Group]], and [[ASEZ WAO (Church of God Young Adult Worker Volunteer Group)|ASEZ WAO, the Young Adult Worker Volunteer Group]], supported healthcare workers who were at the forefront of the pandemic through the [[Cheer Up Campaign|Cheer Up]] Project and [[The Heart-to-Heart Project|Heart-to-Heart]] Project. Ever since the young adults expressed their gratitude and support through handwritten letters and snack gifts, they continuously received touching stories from the medical teams and officials of the hospitals, public health centers, and COVID-19 screening clinics.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |url=https://woman.donga.com/3/all/12/2409706/1 |title=Warm Support to Overcome COVID-19, Making Brighter Future in Global Community |website=Woman DongA |publisher= |date=February 1, 2021 }}</ref> Members of the Church of God in Korea also took the lead in relief efforts whenever there were national disasters, including volunteer service for the collapse of the Sampoong Department Store in 1995. Members from all over the country participate in the recovery efforts from natural disasters that occur every year such as torrential rains, typhoons,<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.shinailbo.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=1309713 |title=Church of God Participates in Flood Damage Recovery in Special Disaster Areas: Namwon, Gokseong, Cheolwon |website=The Shina Ilbo |publisher= |date=August 14, 2020 }}</ref> and heavy snowfalls,<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |url=http://monthly.chosun.com/client/mdaily/daily_view.asp?idx=11449&Newsnumb=20210111449 |title=Church of God, Volunteers Removing Snow as Nationwide Heavy Snowfall Response |website=NewsRoom Exclusive, Monthly Chosun |publisher= |date=January 2021 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.okinews.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=18279 |title=Considering the Good Things for the Community |website=Okcheon News |publisher= |date=March 20, 2004 }}</ref> and relief activities for disaster victims. They also comforted the victims with a heart full of love and helped them get back to their normal lives. During the 2003 Daegu subway tragedy, the members worked together to run a [[Church of God Free Meal Service|free meal camp]] for 55 days (24 hours a day) and provided meals for an average of 3,000 people a day to bereaved families, condolers, and officials.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.donga.com/news/Culture/article/all/20160713/79165977/1 |title=[World Mission Society Church of God] They were there where pain was |website=The DongA Ilbo |publisher= |date=July 14, 2016 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url= https://watvmedia.org/ko/media/another-family-free-meal-service-at-daegu|title= Another Family|website=WATV MEDIA CAST |publisher=|date=April 30, 2014 |year= |author= |series= |isbn= }}</ref> In 2007, when there was an [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2007_South_Korea_oil_spill oil spill] off the coast of Taean, Chungnam Province, they ran to the site and took the lead in cleaning up and supporting fishermen, enduring the odor that pricked their noses.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.knnews.co.kr/news/articleView.php?idxno=1151661 |title=From Taean to Pangmok Port, Pain Was Filled up with Love |website=Gyeongnam News |publisher= |date=July 24, 2015 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://news.watv.org/photo/content.asp?articleid=p20071220926 |title=May Hope Dwell Where Dark Disaster Is Cleared Out |website=WATV News |publisher= |date=December 20, 2007 }}</ref> When the sinking of the Sewol ferry occurred in 2016, members of the Jeonnam Province provided free meal service for 44 days, serving the people there day and night. A hearty meal was provided with freshly cooked rice, delicious side dishes, and nourishing porridges so that the bereaved families could cheer up even a little. The members comforted them by providing meals for 15,000 people, including rescuers, transport workers, and related public officials.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.ajunews.com/view/20171220182006690#PL2 |title=Church of God’s Warmth Embraces Neighbor’s Pain |website=Aju News |publisher= |date=December 20, 2017 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url= https://watvmedia.org/ko/media/the-love-of-mother-spreads-paengmok-harbor|title= Mother’s Love Delivered in Jindo Pangmok Port|website=WATV MEDIA CAST |publisher= |date=July 25, 2014 |year= |author= |series= |isbn= }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url= https://watvmedia.org/ko/media/church-of-god-provides-free-meals-with-the-heart-of-mother|title= Together with Family’s Heart |website=WATV MEDIA CAST |publisher= |date=November 14, 2014 |year= |author= |series= |isbn= }}</ref> They also took the time to listen to the bereaved families’ stories so that they could have the space to grieve. A bereaved family member said, “I was happy to receive sincere love. It wasn’t just a meal. The volunteers, with love like that of a mother, gave us hope.”<ref name=":0" /> In 2017, when about 1,800 displaced people had to live in shelters due to a [[사이트 첨부 요망|5.4-magnitude earthquake]] in Pohang, Gyeongbuk Province, about 1,400 members from Pohang, Gyeongju, Yeongcheon, and Gyeongsan provided free meal service for more than 60 days. The church also donated 100 million KRW to Pohang municipality for the health and recovery of the victims.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.dkilbo.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=135967 |title=Church of God Concludes Free Meal Service for Pohang Earthquake Victims |website=Daekyung Ilbo |publisher= |date=February 1, 2018 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url= https://watvmedia.org/en/media/free-meal-service-in-earthquake-damaged-sites-in-pohang|title= Free Meal Service for Pohang Earthquake Victims 'Be Strong with Mother’s Love'|website=WATV MEDIA CAST |publisher= |date=May 31, 2019 |year= |author= |series= |isbn= }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url= https://www.kgnews.co.kr/news/article.html?no=501866 |title='We hope you can all get back to your normal routine.' Church of God Donates 100 Million Korean Won for Pohang Earthquake Victims|website=Kyeonggi News |publisher= |date=December 20, 2017 |year= |author= |series= |isbn= }}</ref> A nearby resident who visited the free meal camp said, “Because they kept the meal camp open until late at night, even my husband, who had to come to the shelter late after work, was able to have dinner every day.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://english.watv.org/news/content.asp?idx=49149&page=5&back=all |title=The Church of God Receives Citation from the Korean Minister of Interior and Security, |website=English WATV |publisher= |date=February 7, 2018 }}</ref> They really made it easier for us to stay in the shelter.” In 2019, when there was a massive wildfire in Gangwon Province, they donated 50 million KRW to the Community Chest of Gangwon, Korea, to help the victims recover and stay warm during the winter.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://monthly.chosun.com/client/mdaily/daily_view.asp?idx=8645&Newsnumb=2020018645 |title=Church of God Comforts the Victims of Gangwon Province Fire Before the New Year |website=Newsroom, Monthly Chosun |publisher= |date=January 2020 }}</ref> At the beginning of January 2021, when heavy snowfall struck the whole country and caused a lot of damage, the church carried out urgent snow removal in more than 230 regions to help the residents commute safely.<ref name=":2" />