The Church of God in Asia: Difference between revisions

The [[World Mission Society Church of God|Church of God]] has been established in most countries in '''Asia'''. The goal to establish churches in Asia began in 1997 and was accomplished 20 years later. More than 120 churches have been established in India alone, a predominantly Hindu country. There are also many members in Islamic and Buddhist countries as well.

==Overview of the Church of God in Asia==

Asia was one of the first continents where the Church of God began its overseas mission in its early stages. Churches were established in Pakistan in 1997, Nepal in 1998, and gradually spread across the continent.

===Volunteer Services===

With a heart full of love, they enjoy extending a helping hand to their neighbors in need. In 2015, a 7.8-magnitude earthquake hit Nepal which took 8,900 lives and affected 5.4 million people. As the Nepali government went into a panic, about 15,000 local members carried out recovery and relief efforts and delivered goods that were worth 100 million KRW [approx. 79,000 USD].<ref>{{Cite web |url= https://shindonga.donga.com/3/all/13/1752128/1|title= General Pastor Joo-Cheol Kim of the World Mission Society Church of God|website=Monthly Shindonga |publisher=  |date= June 7, 2019|year= |author= |page= |series= |isbn= |quote= }}</ref> They provided food to remote villages in the Himalayas 14 times by helicopter and rebuilt two schools damaged by the earthquake through the “Mother’s School” project to bring hope to them.<ref>{{Cite web |url= https://news.watv.org/over/content.asp?articleid=o20160302867|title=Completion Ceremony of Nepal Shree Primary School Building |website= |publisher=WATV News  |date=March 2, 2016 |year= |author= |page= |series= |isbn= |quote= }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url= https://asez.org/mothers-school-2/|title= Completion Ceremony for Shree Bhawani Primary School Building in Nepal|website= ASEZ.org|publisher=  |date= |year= |author= |page= |series= |isbn= |quote= }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url= https://watvmedia.org/ko/media/mothers-school-in-nepal-2015|title= Mother's School in Nepal|website=MEDIA CAST |publisher=  |date= |year= |author= |page= |series= |isbn= |quote= }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url= https://watvmedia.org/en/media/mothers-school-2-completion-nepal|title= Mother’s School 2 Completion – Nepal|website=MEDIA CAST |publisher=  |date=May 31, 2019 |year= |author= |page= |series= |isbn= |quote= }}</ref> Hisila Yami, former Minister of Tourism and Civil Aviation, requested for the Church of God to continue volunteer services in Nepal. She said, “I’m very grateful to the Church of God. I heard that they do volunteer work in many places, helping the people of Nepal who are in great distress.”<br>

<small>{{참고|Church of God Nepal Earthquake Damage Restoration Work|l1=Church of God Nepal Earthquake Damage Restoration Work|설명=}}</small>

===Young Adult Activities===

ASEZ and [[ASEZ WAO (World Mission Society Church of God Young Adult Worker Volunteer Group)|ASEZ WAO]] members in Asia make efforts to inform each country of international issues affecting mankind through environmental cleanups,<ref>{{Cite web |url= https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/08/11/19/climate-change-among-reasons-behind-dengue-outbreak-expert|title= Climate change among reasons behind dengue outbreak|website=ABS-CBN |publisher=  |date= August 11, 2019|year= |author= |page= |series= |isbn= |quote= }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url= https://watvmedia.org/en/media/mother-street-nepal|title= Mother's Street in Nepal, Media Cast|website= MEDIA CAST|publisher=  |date=June 17, 2021 |year= |author= |page= |series= |isbn= |quote= }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://watvmedia.org/en/media/church-of-god-worker-youth-volunteer-group |title= Clean the Earth, Make the World Beautiful|website=MEDIA CAST |publisher=  |date=May 31, 2019 |year= |author= |page= |series= |isbn= |quote= }}</ref> forums,<ref>{{Cite web |url= http://asiatoday.com/pressrelease/asez-holds-global-forum-2017|title=ASEZ Holds Global Forum 2017 |website=ASIA TODAY |publisher=  |date= December 19, 2017|year= |author= |page= |series= |isbn= |quote= }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url= https://asez.org/2017-asez-forum-un-sdgs/|title=2017 ASEZ Global Forum for the Implementation of the UN SDGs |website=ASEZ.org |publisher=  |date=January 30, 2018 |year= |author= |page= |series= |isbn= |quote= }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=  https://watvmedia.org/en/media/philippines-forum|title= World Mission Society Church of God ASEZ Crime Prevention Conference in the Philippines|website=MEDIA CAST |publisher=  |date=July 13, 2019 |year= |author= |page= |series= |isbn= |quote= }}</ref> seminars,<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |url= https://watv.org/asez-summer-international-volunteer-service/|title= 2019 ASEZ and ASEZ WAO Summer International Volunteer Service and Cultural|website=WATV.org |publisher= |date=July 31, 2019 |year= |author= |page= |series= |isbn= |quote= }}</ref> and campaigns<ref>{{Cite web |url= https://theshillongtimes.com/2019/08/15/cleanliness-campaign/|title= Cleanliness campaign|website=The Shillong Times |publisher=  |date= August 15, 2019|year= |author= |page= |series= |isbn= |quote= }}</ref> to take action to resolve them.<ref>{{Cite web |url= https://watvmedia.org/en/media/asezwao-awareness-raising|title= Part 2. Awareness Raising [ASEZ WAO Introduction Video]|website=MEDIA CAST |publisher=  |date=March 9, 2021 |year= |author= |page= |series= |isbn= |quote= }}</ref> The young adults continue their efforts to help solve the problems of the global village together, saying, “We hope that our small actions will change the hearts of citizens one by one.”<ref>{{Cite web |url=  https://asezwao.org/no-more-gpgp-resounds-all/|title= “No More GPGP” Resounds All Over the Philippines|website=ASEZWAO.org |publisher=  |date=January 20, 2020 |year= |author= |page= |series= |isbn= |quote= }}</ref> The Vice President of the Philippines, Leni Robredo, said, “It’s very touching to see them unite to end poverty and help bring prosperity and wellness to mankind.”<ref>{{Cite web |url= https://watvmedia.org/ko/media/youth-to-the-world|title= Twenty, Soaring Over the World|website=MEDIA CAST |publisher=  |date=May 27, 2021 |year= |author= |page= |series= |isbn= |quote= }}</ref> <br>Recently, the young adults conducted the [[Heart to Heart Project|“Heart to Heart” Campaign]] and the “Cheer Up” Campaign for the medical staff and officials who were working hard to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. They expressed their gratitude and support by delivering handwritten letters and snack kits to various places such as the Philippine General Hospital in Metro Manila, the San Pablo Police Station, the Penang General Hospital in Malaysia, Chulalongkorn University Hospital in Bangkok, Thailand, and the COVID-19 Countermeasure Headquarters in Kyoto City Hall in Japan.

===Responses to COVID-19===

After the COVID-19 outbreak, the Church of God in Asia actively supported coronavirus prevention and living expenses, taking into account the circumstances of each country. It provided urgent personal protective equipment [PPE] such as face masks and hand sanitizers to city halls, public health centers, police stations, and schools. They also delivered groceries and daily necessities to people suffering from the hardships of the pandemic. Chhit Sokhon, Minister of Cults and Religions in Cambodia, presented a Certificate of Appreciation to the Church of God and said, “The education system has also been greatly affected by COVID-19, and I’m deeply grateful for the support of coronavirus prevention equipment during this time. These activities are really necessary.”<ref>{{Cite web |url= https://watvaward.org/world/search_result.asp?over/2/2119/0/10|title= Certificate of Appreciation, Minister of Cambodia's Cults and Religious Affairs|website=WATV Award |publisher=  |date=November 12, 2013 |year= |author= |page= |series= |isbn= |quote= }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url= https://woman.donga.com/3/all/12/2409706/1|title= Overcoming COVID19 and Warm Support Making Global Village’s Future Bright|website=Monthly Woman DongA |publisher=  |date= February 1, 2021|year= |author= |page= |series= |isbn= |quote= }}</ref> D. Nyamkhuu, Director of the National Center for Communicable Diseases of the Ministry of Health in Mongolia, expressed his deep gratitude for the church’s cooperation to end COVID-19. He said, “The members of the Church of God, who are taking the lead in volunteer services during these difficult times around the world, have provided facial masks that are most needed.”