The Harvest Moon festival is Koreans' biggest holiday. During the Festival most Koreans visit their hometown. However, quite a few people did not enjoy the holiday but suffered from poverty.

The members of the Church of God felt sorry for their neighbors who were spending hard times and held events to share God's love and their compassion with their neighbors.


The 2nd Bukgu Church in Daegu Held a 'Bazaar for their unprivileged neighbors'

On September 12, a bazaar for the unprivileged neighbors was held at the 2nd Bukgu Church in Daegu. Inside the Church building, over 1500 goods were sold. All the goods were donated by about 200 members of the Church and her neighbors.

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The prices of the goods ranged from one hundred to several thousand wons. The paid money were used to help their neighbors. The most expensive goods were about a ten thousand wons. These prices were put high by the customers who wanted their money to be used for their neighbors.

Before the members contributed the goods such as clothes, household items and home appliances, they cleaned and fixed them to be like new ones. A citizen who came to the bazaar said, "Many neighbors are suffering from poverty. I've come here to be a help to them. I hope that they will be encouraged by our concern and love."

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They sold food as wellDdeockbokki, boiled fish paste, panfried food, boiled eggs and so on. The visitors could look around the bazaar and talk with their neighbors, having delicious food.

The Overseer Choi Jung-man, who prepared this event for half a month, said, "God said 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' Even though we don't have much, if we can share with our neighbor, we are rich. We've prepared this bazaar, wishing our neighbors to have a happy holiday."

On September 15, the money gathered in the bazaar was given to their neighbors through the village office. The neighbors who received the money could feel the love of God and said, "We will live with a hope, doing good to others. That is to repay their help."


Gijang Church in Busan volunteered to give haircut

On September 14, the members from Gijang Church visited a hall for the aged in Kyori Jugong Apartment and gave haircut to the aged, wishing to spread the love of Christ by putting into practice the teaching of God to serve the elders like our parents and to be a help to revive Koreans' virtue of respecting elders.

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The Overseer Jeong Kwang-seop started the volunteer work, saying, "Let's give a pleasure to the elders through our work," and encouraged the volunteers, saying, "Our good deeds, though small, can be a great light and reveal the glory of God in the world. Let's do our best."

The volunteersfour professional hairdressers and helperstrimmed the elders' hair who visited the hall and did their best to please the elders, massaging their shoulders. "We hope we can trim all their worries in their hearts as well." They were very delighted in the thought that they could give pleasure to the elders through their skill. After trimming the hair of all the seniors who gathered at the hall, they visited those who could not walk to the hall and trimmed their hair, too.

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Before returning home, they cleaned all the cut hair and trash on the floor, though the elders held them back from cleaning, saying, "You've worked hard. Leave them to us." Leaving the hall, the volunteers thanked God for allowing them a chance to reveal His glory. The Gijang Church decided to continue her voluntary service for the elders in their village.


The members in Seongnam delivered comforts to their neighbors in need

On September 15, the members in Seongnam delivered the love of God to their neighbors in need. Hearing that there were their neighbors who could not enjoy the holiday due to their difficult economy, they delivered comforts to them through village office, wishing their happy holiday.

ⓒ 2005 WATV

The comforts were delivered to Yatap 3rd Village Office and Siheung Village Office. Hong Ki-ho the Headman of Yatap 3rd Village Office said, "As economy is getting worse, the number of jobless people is growing. I have been worried a lot because the hands of help have decreased. Thank you very much. Your help will be great help for our neighbors." Shin Byun-seop the Headman of Siheung Village Office also asked for a continual concern.

Some members delivered gifts to the needy neighbors directly as well, saying, "We hope that you will have a happy holiday." Their neighbors expressed their gratitude to them, saying, "Your warmheartedness will remain in our hearts. We will live a good and honest life to repay you."

What burns a mountain is not a big kindling fire but a small one. We hope that the good deeds of the members will be a small light which melts the cold world.