The Church of God Donates to the United Nations
The Church of God, which has continued its humanitarian activities in the international community, donated $100,000 to the United Nations to help Haiti, an island country that was severely damaged by an earthquake in 2010. The Church's Messiah Orchestra held charity concerts in Korea to raise donations, and General Pastor Kim Joo-cheol visited the UN Headquarters in New York City to deliver the donations. An official from the UN Office for Partnerships suggested that the Church of God should continue to partner with them.
Haiti's Earthquake Damage
Haiti is a country located in the west of the island of Hispaniola in the Caribbean Sea in Central America and borders the Dominican Republic. On January 12, 2010, a major 7.0 magnitude earthquake occurred near Port-au-Prince, the capital of Haiti, causing severe damage to the island. Major buildings, including the Presidential Palace, the National Assembly building, airports, hospitals, and prisons, were destroyed or damaged. About 4,000 prisoners escaped from the collapsed prisons in Port-au-Prince and crimes increased sharply.[1] It is estimated that three million people, one-third of Haiti’s population, were injured by the earthquake and more than 220,000 people died.[2]
Visit to the UN to Deliver Donation to Help Haiti
On the morning of June 29, 2010, General Pastor Kim Joo-cheol of the Church of God, visited the United Nations Headquarters in New York City. He delivered a donation of $100,000 to the United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund [CERF] for Haiti. The donation was collected through charity concerts held by the Church of God's Messiah Orchestra. On February 21, 2010, about 7,000 people from all walks of life, including the heads of local governments, municipalities, and universities, attended the concert which was held twice at the KBS Hall in Busan, Korea, hoping to support restoration efforts from the earthquake.[3]
Pastor Kim Joo-cheol, who delivered the donation to CERF, said, “It is only the love of a mother who makes unconditional sacrifices that can heal this dry and desolate world.” He added, “As we believe in God the Mother, we want to help our global neighbors in need with the love of a mother, the greatest love.” CERF expressed their gratitude and shared how they were inspired by Koreans on the other side of the earth who remembered the victims of Haiti and put their hearts together into helping them. Monica Belalcazar, Humanitarian Affairs Officer at UN OCHA, said, “Through the video (of the Church of God volunteer activities), I was very moved by the goodwill of all the members of the Church working together and for making this world a better place.”[4]
UN Partnership Proposal
The United Nations highly appreciated the altruistic heart that the Church of God showed to the international community. On June 30, the day after the donation, Amir Dossal, then Executive Director of the United Nations Office for Partnerships [UNOP], invited Pastor Kim Joo-cheol to the UN Headquarters and asked the Church of God to continue partnering with their office. He said, “From the United Nations’ perspective, you can actually make a difference. I look forward to the Church of God and the United Nations working together for many people around the world who are suffering from poverty, hunger, and disasters.”[5]
On that day, the UN uploaded the news of the meeting between Pastor Kim Joo-cheol and the Executive Director Amir Dossal on the UN's website and introduced the Church of God as the fastest-growing church in the world, which has more than 1,000 churches in 150 countries.
See also
- "General Pastor Visits the UN Headquarters and Delivers a Donation to Aid Haiti". English.watv.org.
- "2010 Haiti earthquake". Britannica.
References
- ↑ "Aftershock rattles Haiti, but aid flow ramps up". Reuters. January 21, 2010.
- ↑ "UN marks anniversary of devastating 2010 Haiti earthquake". United Nations. January 12, 2022.
- ↑ "Charity Concert Successfully Held in Busan to Help Haiti Earthquake Refugees". The Munhwa Ilbo. February 23, 2010.
- ↑ "46 Years since Its Establishment, 1.35 Million Registered Members' Volunteer Work Moved Un's Heart", Monthly JoongAng, October 1, 2010
- ↑ "Church of God Adds Love for the Global Family". Monthly Chosun. January 2019.