ⓒ 2005 WATV

On November 3, an exciting party was held in Okcheon Go&Come Training Institute. The Church of God has held parties for the aged in various places in Korea every year. This time, a party for the aged in Okcheon was prepared, commemorating the opening of Okcheon Go&Come Training Institute.

300 volunteers from the Church of God nearby Okcheon delivered God's love by serving wholeheartedly the aged who were missing their children in an empty village. The volunteers' faces were full of smiles and they were praised by the aged a lot as they served them as if they had been their own parents.

They helped the disabled elders enter the event place safely. They thanked the volunteers so much, holding their hands. Some laughed broadly, saying, "I feel as if I had become a president." Some even wept in the thought of their sons and daughters who lived apart from them.

Before the party began, the Chief Pastor Kim Joo Cheol said, "This institute is a holy place of love, where we learn and teach God's love," and showed his will to continue the voluntary service, saying, "We will share the love of God with the residents of Okcheon, so that we can be your neighbors closer than a distant relatives." He wished for the development both of the institute and Okcheon. Many guests attended this eventNa Gyeong-ok the Chief of the Okcheon Police Station, Kim Jeong-su the Battalion Commander, Lee Mun-su the Chief of the aged. They congratulated the Church of God on opening the Okcheon Go&Come Training Institute and praised the Church members who served the elders with their whole hearts.

ⓒ 2005 WATV

Some single elders and poor elders who were recommended by the army were given donations. Hoping that they can spent warm winter, the members provided 20 elders with rice, food tokens and donations. Jang Jun-im (64, Okcheon) and Park Seong-gyun (64, Samcheong) said, "Your true hearts comfort us more than the donations do. You pleased us with delicious food and various performances and even gave us donations. Thank you very much."

The event began with the words of the Master of the Ceremony: "We will serve you like a president today." First, a video was played whose content was about the hope for the development of the Institute as a neighbor of residents in Okcheon. Various performances were staged for the elders such as reciting a poem to thank them, touching songs of singers and men members, Pansori (a traditional Korean narrative song) that elders like and a fan dance in Korean traditional costumes. They gave a clap whenever each performance ended, saying, "Wonderful!"

The performances, which the members prepared for a long time, continued for about 2 hours. After the performances, the elders had a look around the new Institute and gave a favorable comment on the scenery, saying, "It's much bigger and more beautiful than before." About 20 kinds of food were served in the cafeteriarice cake, grilled fish, roast meat, steamed short ribs, and cold vegetable dish. They were all cooked by the members. The elders were moved by the taste and the members' wholeheartedness.

ⓒ 2005 WATV

The volunteers carried the food for the aged and talked to them while they were eating. Whenever they needed something, the volunteers quickly helped them. Son Dong-sun (83) said that the volunteer who served her from the beginning to the end was like her daughter and said, "I thank the volunteer so much," and smiled saying, "I'm blessed so much. I think God blessed me to meet these beautiful people." The members packed lots of rice cake and grilled fish for the elders who said, "Having this food, I felt sorry for my grandson who are left home alone." And they also gave them souvenirs celebrating the opening of the Institute.

It was a short time. The elders kept holding the members' hands while saying goodbye. When the elders got on the rent bus and the members said, "Visit us again!" The members who put into practice the love for neighbors said, "While we helped them walk and talked to them while eating, we were very happy as if we served our own parents," "I have realized again that to give love is greater and more beautiful than to receive."

"It is more blessed to give love than to receive." Today, all the volunteers experienced these words of God. The Church of God will be the true neighbors around the world by putting the love of God into practice.