Volunteer Service Review
Love and happiness increase as much as we share. Shall we listen to vivid stories about volunteer services?
Change of Thoughts
Every week, I cleaned the street nearby my college with the ASEZ club members. But at some point, I found myself cleaning the same place because it went back to its previous state within a few days after we cleaned up. I even thought, ‘Does someone dump garbage intentionally?’ Seeing the street filled with garbage, I felt sad because the faces of my club members, who cleaned it up with the beads of sweat, lingered in my mind. Sometimes, I felt like our volunteer service was in vain. All of a sudden, I remembered the phrase, “change of thoughts,” on the Church of God website. If we think that we have done something for others, we tend to want something…
Busan, South Korea, Lee Seok-jun
Let’s Reduce Plastics!
The environmental pollution caused by the use of plastics is coming to the fore as a global issue. The Indian Government is making every effort to reduce plastics, proclaiming the policy of prohibiting plastics. To support that, the members from the Church of God in Pune, India, and the ASEZ members from Korea conducted the Reduce Plastics Campaign together. “Save India! Save the earth! With Mother’s love!” Powerfully chanting the slogan, we stepped off forward. It was not easy to hold placards and walk for a few hours in India, where the streets were not well maintained. Moreover, it rained all throughout our parade that we got soaking wet. But the rain couldn’t stop us. Then the citizens began to…
Hyeon Yeong-gyeong from Incheon, Korea
Clean Lima, Shining Peru
On August 19, 2018, ASEZ the World Mission Society Church of God University Student Volunteer Group and about five hundred Peruvian members cleaned up around the Carpayo Beach, located in Callao, a chief seaport of Peru, where there was a lot of trash. There were not only plastics, bottles, rubber, and boards, but also trash between the stones. There were untold amount of trash that we picked by going here and there at the beach without a break. After about two hours, the beach which had been suffering from garbage became clean and fresh like a baby whose face just got washed. “Clean Lima, Shining Peru!” Just as the slogan goes, there must be people who take action in order…
Busan, South Korea, Gwon Ok-jin
A Noble Spirit of Volunteerism
The Church of God Young Adult Worker Volunteer Group (ASEZ WAO) members carried out a beach cleanup at Cancabato Bay in Tacloban, Philippines. The wet sand was soggy like a mudflat, and we had no tools—no gloves, no tongs. I was taken aback at the thought of cleaning with bare hands. “Will my shoes be okay? I might even ruin my pants,” I thought. Resigned to the situation, I stepped onto the beach. The moment I picked up some trash, I felt the damp, slimy texture and was hit by a foul smell, making me grimace. But when I looked around, the expressions on the other members’ faces were bright and cheerful. With smiles on their faces, they waded fearlessly…
Go Na-yeong from Gongju, Korea
The Impact of Good Deeds
In celebration of Earth Day (April 22), we carried out a cleanup activity on Randle Avenue in the Bronx. Along with about 50 members of ASEZ, the university student volunteer group of the Church of God, local residents and representatives from the New York State Assembly also participated. In two and a half hours, we collected enough litter to fill 40 garbage bags. The street we cleaned had actually been the site of a major cleanup effort once before. At the time, our group was the first to take initiative in that area, which had long been neglected and unmanaged, resulting in a large accumulation of waste. Most of the residents who saw us working expressed gratitude and offered words…
Kim Geun-u from Bronx, NY, U.S.
An Act for Myself
I participated in a volunteer activity in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia. It was part of the “Mother’s Street” cleanup campaign, held with the heart of a mother to care for the global environment. Local ASEZ members, along with male adults, female adults, and students of various ages, gathered at Teluk Likas Beach at 8 a.m. Among Kota Kinabalu’s many scenic spots, Teluk Likas Beach is especially popular with locals. From afar, the beach looked beautiful, but up close, it was covered in trash. Plastic bottles carried by the waves, scraps of cloth wedged between rocks, and even a discarded tire buried in the sand—seeing the beach suffering under so much waste was heartbreaking. We immediately put on gloves and began picking…
Han Sun-ju from Daegu, Korea
Cleaning Even the Hidden Corners
During the school break, the Church of God University Student Volunteer Group (ASEZ) carried out a street cleanup in Christchurch, New Zealand. The event was especially meaningful as it brought together not only ASEZ members from Korea, but also a local environmental group leader and ASEZ members from the University of Canterbury and Ara Institute of Canterbury. The volunteer activity took place along the Avon River and its surrounding trails. According to local officials, the area—popular among residents for walking and exercising—often becomes littered with household waste. We began the cleanup with the goal of improving both the environment and public awareness. Despite the chilly weather and strong winds, every volunteer worked hard at their assigned locations. The riverside and…
Gahng Ryun-gi from Seoul, Korea
Joyful Even in the Rain
On a cloudy and chilly Sunday, the weather forecast predicted a 90% chance of rain right at the time we were scheduled to carry out a street cleanup. We were concerned about whether the activity could go ahead as planned. Not long after we began, heavy rain started pouring, just as predicted. We ran to a nearby small shelter to take cover. Huddled together under the narrow roof, we waited for the rain to stop, chatting and singing songs to lift our spirits. The rain lasted for about an hour, leaving the streets muddy, but our determination remained unshaken. Some of us rolled up our sleeves and used shovels to gather the mud-covered trash. Others sang cheerfully to keep everyone’s…
Tapiwa Toruvanda from Harare, Zimbabwe
Creating a Future Free of Crime
ASEZ, the university student volunteer group of the Church of God, identifies global issues and puts creative solutions into practice. On this occasion, we visited elementary, middle, and high schools near our campuses and conducted “Reduce Crime Together (RCT) School,” a character education program for crime prevention through collaboration. Today’s youth, the leaders of tomorrow, are increasingly exposed to various crimes. As university students who have recently passed through that stage of life, we wanted to help our younger peers develop sound thinking and grow up in a safe environment. With that goal in mind, members from Dong-A University and Busan Health University joined forces to deliver the RCT School program to nearby high school students. It was our first…
ASEZ from Dong-A University and Busan Health University, Korea
Planting Gratitude and Joy in the Rain
In early July 2024, around 80 members of the Syari Church in Gangtok, Sikkim, India, participated in a tree-planting activity to combat climate change and prevent desertification. The Forest Department provided 210 saplings to support the effort. Although the planting site was in a remote area that required passing through a police checkpoint, the activity proceeded smoothly with the department’s assistance. On the day of the event, heavy rain began falling in the morning, yet the members’ faces remained bright. The rain, which continued throughout the day, was regarded as a “blessed rain” granted by God. Newly planted saplings must be watered generously to take root and grow well, and thanks to the rain, there was no need to bring…
Syari Church, Gangtok, SK, India
Opening Hearts With a Heartfelt Snack
I have been working at a freight transportation company with about 70 employees for five years. While I don’t face major difficulties in my work, I’ve always pondered how I could reveal the glory of God in the workplace. Then, I had the opportunity to carry out a snack-sharing activity with the members of ASEZ WAO visiting from Korea. It felt as though God was providing a way to share His love at work. At the time, more than half of our department was working remotely, so there weren’t many people to give snacks to. I delivered one to the company president. After reviewing the ASEZ WAO brochure, he responded positively to the group’s activities. The next day, I introduced…
Kim Hyeon-hwa from Hamburg, Germany
Words Are Mightier Than the Sword
When I was in high school, I often saw university student members of the Church of God University Student Volunteer Group (ASEZ) actively engaging in diverse volunteer activities. Watching them inspired me, and I promised myself that I would definitely become a member once I reached that age. As soon as I entered university, I joined ASEZ. However, it was also when COVID-19 began to spread. Most activities became restricted, and I had little opportunity to volunteer. I was very disappointed, as I had strongly hoped to participate in various services like delivering coal briquettes, cleaning streets, and distributing heartfelt lunch boxes. Then, I heard that ASEZ was launching a “Ban on Verbal Abuse” campaign. I immediately visited the ASEZ…
Choi Eun-bi from Incheon, Korea
For a Better Life
I often volunteer as a teaching assistant for computer classes at an organization that supports the well-being of foreigners. These classes, designed for adult learners, proceed slowly, focusing on basic knowledge and practical exercises tailored to the students’ skill levels. Even so, since the keyboard layout is unfamiliar, many students who are not fluent in Korean type slowly. Sometimes they fall behind and struggle to keep up. That is when the teaching assistant steps in, guiding them to the correct key positions and helping them stay on track. It doesn’t require exceptional computer skills or involve anything particularly difficult, so being called a “teacher” sometimes feels undeserved. But to these foreign students, I am just as much a teacher as…
Jeong So-yeong from Hwaseong, Korea
A Grown Tree
The Church of God Young Adult Worker Volunteer Group (ASEZ WAO) carried out a tree-planting activity. Members from the Chungnam region gathered in Cheongso-myeon, Boryeong City, each holding a hoe in one hand and a bag of saplings in the other as they made their way up Mount Oseosan. Since we had to leave the hiking trail to reach the planting site, the path became increasingly steep and difficult. The higher we climbed, the more tiring it became, and eventually, my legs could barely support me. Finally we reached our destination and checked the area where the trees would be planted. It was desolate; stripped branches from logging and faded soil were all that remained. We diligently planted the saplings…
Ha Jun-seok from Cheonan, Korea
Spreading Hope Across the Globe by Erasing Plastic Footprints
More than 330 members of the Gangbuk Central Church Association carried out the “Erasing Plastic Footprints” campaign around the Jungnangcheon and Uicheon Streams in Seoul. This volunteer activity was part of the “Global Hope Challenge,” held in celebration of the 60th anniversary of the Church of God’s establishment, with the aim of spreading hope across the global village. At the riverside park along Jungnangcheon Stream, participants gathered and read the “Intergenerational Joint Declaration,” pledging to help build a sustainable global environment and future. Although the sunlight felt even stronger than during last year’s cleanup around the same time, the members gathered in yellow vests wore bright smiles on their faces. With a pair of tongs in one hand and two…
Kim Ju-yeong from Seoul, Korea
A Truly Valuable Education
For students in the Church of God, the most anticipated time during school breaks is likely the student camp. Among the many programs offered, such as Bible studies, character education, volunteer work, and hands-on learning, my favorite activity is environmental cleanup. That’s because it provides meaningful lessons both physically and spiritually. During a recent break, we carried out a street cleanup in the Bisandong 4-ga area of Daegu. When someone litters, someone else has to pick it up. It’s exactly as the saying goes: “Some throw it away, others pick it up.” Those who clean up the trash work hard and sweat, even though they didn’t create the mess. Perhaps the reason people still volunteer despite the effort is because…
Bae Sani-a from Daegu, Korea
Joy Upon Joy
I actively participate in the church’s regular volunteer services. Recently, I joined a drainage maintenance activity. I had come across news reports stating that blocked drains could cause flooding during the monsoon season, so this was a perfectly timed effort before the heavy rains arrived. On the day of the service, about 40 volunteers gathered, wearing boots and equipped with shovels, hoes, rakes, and sacks. As we lifted the drain covers and began scraping the inside with rakes, I quickly realized it wouldn’t be a simple task. Sediment from the mountains had piled up to nearly 30 centimeters, mixed with various insects and all kinds of debris. It was clear that rakes wouldn’t be enough, so we used shovels to…
Kim Sun-jeong from Gumi, Korea
Supporters Open People’s Minds Joyfully and Excitedly
We, the young adults of the Cape Town Church, participated in the Cape Peninsula Marathon as supporters. Our duty was to hand out bottles of water from the drinking fountains at the start line and the finish line. African people all have outstanding talents in dancing and singing. The young adults of the Cape Town Church are no exceptions. As they are full of joy and energy, they always say a passionate chant and perform a dance routine before an event or a meeting starts. Their enthusiastic personalities shone brightly during this event where they served as supporters. They gathered at 3 a.m., but they didn’t look tired at all, and even those who had to stay at church to…
The Cape Town Church in South Africa
Mother’s Love to Lansdowne
We made a plan to do a street cleanup in Lansdowne. First, we visited the Waste Management Department at the city council to get permission for it. After a brief greeting, we showed the councilman what kind of organization we are through the church introduction video. The councilman couldn’t hide his admiration. “Your church does a lot of good works. I am glad I’ve met you.” At first, he was going to give us a small street, thinking that we were a small group. After watching the introduction video, however, the councilman welcomed our cleanup and provided us with all the cleaning supplies that we needed. Most residents are poor in Lansdowne, where most houses are shacks and most streets…
The Cape Town Church in South Africa
Street Cleanup in Uganda Has Started with Unity
The members of the Kampala Church in Uganda had only heard about volunteer activities through the Elohist magazine. So we were very excited to hear that we were going to do a cleanup in our region. We did the cleanup on Kisaasi Road. We divided the road into a few parts and each team cleaned each part. We were all happy, cleaning the road in an orderly way. The residents were very surprised to see the road cleaned. They were also impressed by us, who were all happy and harmonious throughout the cleanup. They complimented us, saying that we seemed to have fear and love for God. We were so grateful to God for their compliment. The newspaper company and…
The Kampala Church in Uganda