ⓒ 2015 WATV

ⓒ 2015 WATV

On May 29, the World Mission Society Church of God received the Presidential Citation, the best organization award, for the 20th Marine Day. Through this, the Church of God was recognized by the Korean government for its devotional volunteer services such as marine environment protection and marine disaster relief carried out all across Korea.

Kim Young-suk, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, delivered the award certificate and the banner of the Presidential Citation to the Church of God at the awards ceremony held at the Sejong Central Government Complex on June 8. The Church of God was the only organization that received the group award that day. Vice Minister Kim said, “The Church of God has become a spiritual anchor in the field of pain. You’ve shown a message of love to all people with your devotional efforts, and it is right to award you the Presidential Citation. We appreciate your hard work.” Vice Minister Kim, who had watched the Church of God doing volunteer services such as providing free meals at the Sewol Ferry tragedy scene, said, “Not to speak of the free meals you provided to many people without any complaint despite a long period of time, your smile and concerns toward the victims must’ve become a great consolation. We hope that you will lead Korea well with such a mindset. We will remember your love and devotion forever.”

Receiving the award, Kim Joo-cheol the General Pastor of the Church of God said, “So far, our church members all across the country have helped our neighbors and society with one mind despite their busy daily lives. All this could be possible because at the center of all our activities, there were the teachings of God who has shown us the examples of giving love and serving others. We will continue to give our helping hand to the best of our ability with the mind of a mother who takes care of her family with love.”

The Presidential Citation has greater value as it is awarded through a closer examination and confirmation from candidate selection and achievement review to determination of the award scale, amid enhanced policy. Among the government awards, the most honorable award for an individual is the Order of Merit, and that for a group or and organization is the Presidential Citation. Usually, this award is given to a group or an organization that provided good services in a certain field for over five years, and it is very unusual for a religious group to receive the award. The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries mentioned that for many years the Church of God has contributed to marine environment protection and negligent accident prevention through its restoration work for typhoon and oil-spill affected areas and cleanups around beaches.

The Church of God took the lead in relief and recovery efforts in various disaster areas: cleaning up the oil spill around Taean, which was a large-scale national disaster, and free meal service at the oil spill affected area in Yeosu, and typhoon relief efforts in Goseong, Gyeongnam Province, and Wando and Jindo in Jeonnam Province. Recently, for the victims of the Sewol Ferry tragedy, which anguished the whole nation, the members from the Churches of God in Jeonnam Province carried out free meal services for 44 days, taking over 700 man-days to share their sorrow. The Church of God also continues to clean harbors and the sea that are ailing because of climate change and contamination.

“We’ve been feeling joy, delivering happiness to our neighbors by practicing love as Mother has taught us, and this itself has already been a great reward to us. Moreover, the government acknowledges our church’s volunteer services and encourages us with the greatest award. We’re thrilled,” said the members of the Church of God when they heard the news of winning the award. Giving all the glory to God, they made up their minds to devote themselves more to volunteer services and good deeds.

ⓒ 2015 WATV