Noah Brown

Across different cities in South Korea, one pattern quietly repeated itself throughout 2025.

Volunteers showed up - not for one-time events, but again and again - responding to real needs in everyday places rooted in consistent service, rather than visibility.

Throughout 2025, branches of the Shincheonji Volunteer Group in the Seoul–Gyeonggi and Incheon regions carried out a series of community-focused activities, ranging from large-scale kimchi sharing for veterans’ families to small-business support, senior care, and environmental campaigns.

Rather than a single event, the efforts formed a connected “relay of care”, responding to different needs across communities during the coldest time of the year.

Seoul–Southern Gyeonggi: Expanding Support for Vulnerable Communities

The Seoul–Southern Gyeonggi Regional Association supported 10,810 people in 2025, nearly doubling the previous year’s reach with a reported 98% increase.

A total of 5176 volunteers participated across 251 days, reflecting steady growth in both participation and activity frequency. Services were carried out in many local communities and included:

✦Daily living and emotional support for seniors living alone and people with disabilities

✦Side-dish and kimchi sharing, home repairs, and visiting beauty services

✦Support activities for national veterans

✦Environmental cleanups, plogging, and mural painting

✦Disaster and recovery assistance when needed

Organisers explained that the growth was possible because activities were planned based on local needs and continued on a regular basis, allowing volunteers to provide consistent and meaningful help.

Incheon: One System, Seven Branches, Citywide Impact

In Incheon, the regional association coordinated seven local branches under a unified system, allowing volunteers to work together efficiently across the city.

Throughout 2025:

✦1375 volunteers participated

✦Activities were carried out over 148 days

✦Services reached 3229 residents at 66 locations

Environmental projects included river and park cleanups, plogging, drainage maintenance, and wildfire prevention campaigns timed to seasonal needs. Local residents noted that regular cleanups noticeably improved neighbourhood conditions.

Veterans, Housing, and Care Services

Incheon volunteers also carried out 19 veteran-support activities, including year-end kimchi sharing and public awareness campaigns related to memorial culture.

Housing-related services included 12 mural-painting projects, improving aging residential areas and encouraging resident participation. In addition, 12 elderly grooming services were provided, offering haircuts and personal care while also giving volunteers time to check in and talk with seniors. Some participants shared that these services became something they looked forward to regularly.

Structured Volunteer Models and Future Plans

The Incheon Regional Association organised its work into eight service categories, covering environment, veterans, housing, and care services. Several local organizations expressed appreciation by presenting certificates of gratitude, recognizing the group’s consistent presence and cooperation.

Both regional associations stated that they plan to continue focusing on:

✦Emotional care services

✦Housing and environmental improvement

✦Practical support tailored to local community needs

By emphasising continuity, coordination, and on-site action, the Shincheonji Volunteer Group aims to remain a steady partner to local communities in 2026 and beyond.

A Shared Principle: Consistent Help Where It’s Needed

Across Seoul, Southern Gyeonggi, and Incheon, the 2025 activities shared a common approach - regular, need-based service carried out over time. Rather than short-term events, the focus remained on sustained involvement and cooperation with local residents.

These year-long efforts show how organised volunteer systems can translate participation into measurable impact, strengthening trust and improving everyday life at the community level.

Source: https://vo.la/EkntCCe

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Shincheonji Volunteer Group Masan Branch volunteers pose for a commemorative photo after completing their kimchi-sharing service

Across different cities in South Korea, one pattern quietly repeated itself throughout 2025.

Volunteers showed up—not for one-time events, but again and again—responding to real needs in everyday places rooted in consistent service, rather than visibility.

Throughout December 2025, branches of the Shincheonji Volunteer Group in the Busan–Gyeongnam region carried out a series of community-focused activities, ranging from large-scale kimchi sharing for veterans’ families to small-business support, senior care, and environmental campaigns.

Rather than a single event, the efforts formed a connected “relay of care”, responding to different needs across communities during the coldest time of the year.

Sharing Kimchi with Veterans’ Families

One of the central activities this winter was a large-scale kimjang (kimchi-making) service for veterans and bereaved families.

In early December, volunteers from the Busan–Gyeongnam regional coalition and affiliated branches prepared and delivered 2.2 tons of kimchi (400 boxes) to 16 veterans’ organiwations across Busan and Masan. The recipients included disabled veterans’ associations and widows’ groups of fallen soldiers.

Later in the month, volunteers in Masan continued the effort, preparing an additional 1.2 tons of kimchi, which was delivered to veterans’ groups and seniors living alone. In recognition of this sustained support, the local veterans’ association presented the Masan branch with a certificate of appreciation.

Veterans’ representatives shared that the service was meaningful not only for the food itself, but for the respect and remembrance it conveyed.

Supporting Local Markets and Small Businesses

With local economies facing continued pressure, volunteers also focused on revitalizing neighbourhood commerce.

In Geoje, around 70 volunteers visited the Okpo traditional market as part of a shopping-support campaign. Volunteers purchased goods directly from merchants and distributed over 100 hand warmers, offering encouragement through both action and conversation.

In Busan’s Saha District, another group of volunteers took a more playful approach. Dressed as “secret Santas,” they visited 42 local shops, delivering small gifts such as towels and offering words of appreciation for business owners who had endured a difficult year.

Merchants shared that the visits provided emotional encouragement at a time when foot traffic and sales were declining.

Caring for Seniors and Promoting Environmental Awareness

In Yangsan, volunteer activities focused on senior care and environmental responsibility.

At a local community centre, volunteers hosted a year-end gathering for seniors as part of the “Baekse Manse” programme. The event included music, games, and small gifts, creating a festive atmosphere ahead of the holidays.

Earlier in the month, the same branch held a carbon-neutral awareness campaign in recognition of International Mountain Day. Volunteers encouraged residents to adopt small, practical actions to reduce environmental impact, emphasising that sustainability begins with daily choices.

Service Shaped by Local Needs

What connected these varied activities was not scale alone, but attention to context. Each branch focused on needs specific to its community—veterans, seniors, shop owners, or environmental awareness—rather than applying a single, uniform programme.

Volunteers emphasised that their goal was not short-term visibility, but continuity: returning to the same neighbourhoods, listening to local voices, and responding with care that fits the situation.

A Different Kind of Year-End Warmth

As the year came to a close, the Busan–Gyeongnam volunteer efforts showed how community trust is built through repetition, presence, and sincerity.

In cold weather and uncertain economic conditions, the warmth that reached these communities did not come from grand gestures, but from practical help delivered at the right time—one box of kimchi, one market visit, one conversation at a time.

Source: vo.la/xM8tv88

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Shincheonji Church of Jesus, the Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimony (hereinafter referred to as Shincheonji Church of Jesus) declared its commitment to fulfilling its mission as a Bible-centred believer living in this era by testifying to the biblical truth.

On the 31st December, while leading the New Year's Eve service at Shincheonji's Yeongdeungpo Church, Chairman ManHee Lee announced the slogan for 2026 as "The Year of Fulfilling Our Duty." He also urged the congregation to testify the word of Revelation to believers according to the Bible and make this year a year of fulfilling that duty.

The Chairman explained, “The biblical way of saying goodbye to the old year is not simply to see off one year and welcome a new one, as is the world’s standard,” and “From a religious perspective, saying goodbye to one (religious) era and welcoming a new (religious) era is the way to see off one era and welcome a new one, and from God’s perspective, this is even greater.”

He said, “In Revelation chapter 6, an era ends with the falling of the sun, moon, and stars, and in Revelation chapter 7, a new era begins with the sealing of the 12 tribes and the creation of the 12 tribes.” Chairman Lee added, “The 12 tribes sealed in Revelation chapter 7 have appeared in the world, so the good times of Songgu Youngshin (a common idiom meaning 'letting go of the old year and welcoming the new year') have come.”

He also said that the Book of Revelation records God's promise to bring eternal life through the Tree of Life during the time of Songgu Youngshin.

Chairman Lee said, “God said that He is with the 12 tribes in Chapter 7 of Revelation, so if we belong to the 12 tribes, we can also attain eternal life,” and criticised Protestant and Catholic pastors who slander Shincheonji Church of Jesus, saying, “Because they don’t know this properly, they say that when they die, they will go to heaven.”

He continued, “These 12 tribes are also the tree of life that bears 12 kinds of fruit each month, as recorded in Revelation 22,” and testified, “God made a promise to use this tree of life as medicine to heal the world and achieve the hope of eternal life.”

Chairman Lee emphasised, “Shincheonji, which has mastered the Book of Revelation, is the very embodiment of the Twelve Tribes and the Tree of Life.” He added, “Only the Tree of Life can save those who cannot enter heaven by adding or subtracting from the Book of Revelation. Therefore, we must fulfil the duty of this Tree of Life.”

Finally, he repeatedly emphasised, “Let us spread this light (word) to the whole world,” and “Let others see, hear, and understand this light so that they can come under the light and become part of God’s family.”

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Across different cities in South Korea, one pattern quietly repeated itself throughout 2025.

Volunteers showed up—not for one-time events, but again and again—responding to real needs in everyday places.

From senior centres to veterans’ halls and neighbourhood streets, Shincheonji Volunteer Group branches carried out community-based, practical service rooted in consistency rather than visibility.

Caring for Seniors Through Regular Visits in Yongsan

In Yongsan District, the Namsan Branch focused on senior care through 15 regular volunteer activities involving more than 200 volunteers.

Rather than large-scale events, their approach centred on repeat visits and prior coordination with senior centres. Activities included:

✦ Dementia-prevention programmes

✦ Shared meals and conversation

✦ Hand massages and companionship

✦ Donations of rice and food supplies

At local senior centres, volunteers prepared activities carefully so older residents could participate comfortably. Over time, simple gestures - sharing meals, talking, listening - built trust.

The branch also worked alongside veterans’ facilities, donating supplies and offering commemorative photo sessions. Several institutions later expressed appreciation for the volunteers’ steady presence, not just the support itself.

On 24th October, the Namsan Branch of the Shincheonji Volunteer Group had lunch and a time of communication at a seniors club in Yongsan district, Seoul

A Year of Consistent Service Across Gangwon Province

The Gangwon Regional Union carried out one of the broadest volunteer efforts in 2025.

From January through December:

✦ 4777 volunteers participated

✦ 306 service days were completed

✦ 16,788 residents received support

Activities spanned nine service areas, including:

✦ Food sharing, home repairs, briquette delivery, and kimchi preparation

✦ Disaster response such as flood recovery, heatwave preparedness, and wildfire prevention

✦ Environmental cleanups, senior care, disability support, and veterans’ remembrance

Several branches held activities honouring veterans, such as educational campaigns, intergenerational choir events, and memorial participation. These efforts earned 17 official commendations, recognising long-term commitment rather than short-term campaigns.

Everyday Support for Vulnerable Neighbours in Seongnam

In Seongnam, over 600 volunteers supported 2847 residents through what the branch described as “life-close” service.

Their work addressed multiple needs:

✦ Kimchi and bread sharing for seniors living alone

✦ Mobile haircut services and recreational visits to care facilities

✦ Environmental cleanups and heatwave prevention campaigns

✦ Assistance at disability vocational centres

Volunteers also delivered 1285 kg of kimchi to 148 households and began monthly baking programmes after receiving training from experienced bakers. Environmental efforts included weekly cleanups, collecting 765 litres of waste, and promoting carbon-reduction awareness through planting and walking campaigns.

The branch emphasised seasonal and situational support - adjusting activities based on weather, public health risks, and local requests.

The Seongnam branch of the Shincheonji Volunteer Group has been carrying out community-based volunteer work throughout the region throughout the year.

From a Local Stream to Community Awareness in Eunpyeong

In Eunpyeong District, about 200 volunteers carried out 15 activities focused on environmental care, safety awareness, and veterans’ support.

Their work centred around Bulgwangcheon Stream, where volunteers:

✦ Conducted multiple cleanups along walking paths

✦ Collected general and recyclable waste to create visible improvements

✦ Engaged passersby through conversation rather than signage

They also hosted wildfire prevention campaigns, heatwave relief for veterans, and hands-on EM mud ball activities that allowed families and residents to learn about water quality through participation.

Organisers noted that turning campaigns into shared experiences helped residents see environmental care as part of daily life—not just an occasional project.

A Shared Approach Across Different Regions

While each branch responded to its own local context, the four stories shared clear similarities:

✦ Consistency over one-time events

✦ Advance communication with community partners

✦ Service designed around daily life, not formality

✦ Long-term relationships with seniors, veterans, and local institutions

The work often went unnoticed until others - senior centres, veterans’ groups, civic organisations - chose to speak up.

Service That Blends Into Daily Life

The common thread across these regions was not scale alone, but steadiness.

By returning regularly, listening first, and responding to what was actually needed, volunteers helped reduce everyday burdens - whether through meals, clean streets, shared conversation, or preparedness for seasonal risks.

In 2025, these efforts showed that meaningful community service does not always arrive loudly.

Often, it arrives quietly - on time, and again the next time it’s needed.

Sources:

https://vo.la/oitXUZl

https://vo.la/TgZuubZ

https://vo.la/7ss9jHN

https://vo.la/eJtOH1F

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On 13th December, the "Shincheonji John Tribe Open House" was held at the Shincheonji Seongnam Church in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province

Shincheonji churches across South Korea hosted a number of events for local residents, from Christmas cultural events to open-house dialogues, to mark the conclusion of 2025.

As the year draws to a close, many communities look for moments of connection, reflection, and warmth. In mid-December 2025, several Shincheonji churches across many regions of Korea hosted open, community-focused events that brought together local residents, families, and visitors through culture, conversation, and shared experiences.

According to local news reports, these events were not limited to worship services. Instead, they were designed as open invitations - spaces where neighbours could freely walk in, participate, and engage without pressure.

✦ Culture as a Bridge: Year-End Community Events in Gunsan and Iksan

In Gunsan, a local Shincheonji church organised a Christmas-themed cultural event that welcomed residents into a festive indoor space filled with music, interactive programs, and seasonal decorations. Visitors were greeted by costumed performers, enjoyed carol performances, and took part in quizzes, photo zones, and small gift exchanges.

Reports noted that families and individuals who had previously only passed by the church building chose to step inside for the first time, drawn by the open atmosphere and holiday setting. Short talks and storytelling sessions were included, focusing on reflection and personal value rather than formal religious instruction.

A similar approach was seen in Iksan, where another Shincheonji church hosted a year-end invitation event for local residents, including multicultural neighbors who often spend the holidays away from extended family. The programme combined orchestral and carol performances with interactive booths that encouraged participants to look back on the year and share light-hearted moments.

Local coverage described the events as opportunities for residents to spend time together in a relaxed environment, emphasising human connection over formality. Organisers explained that the intention was to close the year with neighbours in a warm and welcoming way.

Christmas carol performance prepared by the Shincheonji Iksan Church on the 13th December.

✦ Open Dialogue and Transparency: John Tribe’s Open House in Seongnam

While the Gunsan and Iksan events centred on culture and celebration, a different form of community engagement took place in Seongnam. There, the Shincheonji John Tribe hosted an open house, opening church facilities to the public and inviting citizens to explore the space freely.

According to reports, approximately 250 people attended, including members of other Christian denominations. Visitors were able to tour the building, attend explanatory sessions, and ask questions directly through consultation booths set up throughout the venue.

Church leaders used the opportunity to explain the church’s beliefs and educational focus, particularly its emphasis on biblical study. Attendees interviewed by local media said the event provided a chance to better understand the church beyond common assumptions, with some noting that the open format encouraged curiosity rather than confrontation.

Organisers clarified that the purpose of the open house was not targeted outreach, but transparency - allowing visitors to see, ask, and decide for themselves.

On 13th December, the "Shincheonji John's Tribe Open House" was held at the Shincheonji Seongnam Church in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province.

✦ Community Access, Experience, and Conversation

Although the formats differed - festive events in Gunsan and Iksan, and an open house in Seongnam - the underlying direction was consistent. Each event focused on lowering barriers, creating accessible spaces, and engaging the local community through shared experiences.

Rather than limiting activities to internal members, the churches positioned themselves as places for conversation, cultural exchange, and reflection at the end of the year. Performances, interactive programmes, guided tours, and open discussions all served as entry points for dialogue.

Taken together, these events illustrate how some Shincheonji churches are experimenting with open, community-based engagement - moving beyond closed gatherings and towards formats that invite understanding, participation, and communication.

As communities look ahead to a new year, these year-end initiatives highlight one approach to connecting with neighbours: opening doors, creating shared moments, and allowing conversation to begin naturally.

Sources:

https://vo.la/EB5QeiA

https://vo.la/sTXdYxw

https://vo.la/ITbz8sZ

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On 29th November, the Class 116 graduates of the Zion Christian Mission Centre are making kimchi at Domisol Food in Paju, South Korea

In a winter marked by cold weather and rising living costs, a warm story of service quietly spread across communities in South Korea, as more than 5200 graduates who recently completed a Bible education course chose to begin their next chapter not with celebration - but with service.

From November 25th to December 14th, a large-scale volunteer initiative titled “Graduation Special Service – First Step” was carried out by graduates of the Zion Christian Mission Centre’s 116 Class, along with church members. A total of 12,200 congregants participated in Korea and overseas.

In Paju, Korea, nearly 200 domestic and overseas graduates belonging to the Simon Tribe of Shincheonji Church of Jesus participated in a kimchi-making event and made 1 tonne (200 boxes) of kimchi at Domisol Food on the 29th of last month.

The outdoor kimchi-making site of the Simon Tribe was filled with laughter, teamwork, and the spicy aroma of kimchi. Graduates of Class 116 worked side by side, filling cabbage leaves with care and packing each box with hope that it would bring comfort to someone's home. The finished kimchi was delivered to the Korean War Veterans' Association, disability organisations, and families in the region.

On the afternoon of November 29th, the overseas graduates of the Zion Christian Mission Centre took a commemorative photo during the special volunteer event "Graduation Special Service – First Step" held at Domisol Foods in Paju, South Korea

Alban, a graduate from Gabon, shares his thoughts on volunteering at the "Graduation Special Service – First Step" event held at Domisol Foods in Paju, South Korea, on November 29th.

About ten graduates from overseas participated in this event. One graduate from Gabon said, “I participated out of gratitude to the Korean War veterans. It was a unique experience to be able to share the joy I gained from learning the Word through service.”

Expressing his hope that this volunteer experience would go beyond a simple experience and become a time to unite the community, he added:

“I hope these small communities from all over the world can come together and become the 'small community of all nations' described in Revelation 21 and 22. Although we come from different countries, we serve with the same heart, so we truly feel like one family.”

The kimchi-sharing was not just a seasonal event. It was a meaningful first step for Class 116 graduates who wanted to live out the teachings they had learned. Their actions expressed care for those who once protected the nation and for neighbours who may feel the weight of winter more than others.

As winter continues, the kimchi will nourish many homes, but the love shown through these days of service will shine even longer.

Source: vo.la/2lJ2Yd5

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Graduates and members of Class 116 of Shincheonji Church of Jesus are collecting litter on Miraflores Beach in Lima, Peru, as part of a special service programme to commemorate their graduation

In a winter marked by cold weather and rising living costs, a warm story of service quietly spread across communities in South Korea and around the world.

More than 5200 graduates who recently completed a Bible education course chose to begin their next chapter not with celebration - but with service.

In total, about 12,200 participants took part in volunteer activities both in Korea and overseas.

The Class 116 of Shincheonji Church of Jesus, Busan James Tribe, Bengaluru Church, India, is providing breakfast at a local orphanage as part of a special service programme to commemorate their graduation

A graduate of the Shincheonji John Tribe Washington DC Church donates blood during a special service commemorating graduation
While the main focus of the volunteer work in Korea was a large-scale kimjang (kimchi-making) service for recipients of national merit, including war veterans and their families, the service overseas, which included more than 170 volunteer activities, tailored to local needs, including food support for low-income families, free meal services, disaster relief and recovery work, blood donation campaigns, visits to senior care facilities and orphanages, and environmental clean-up activities.

In places such as Washington, D.C., the Philippines, and Kenya, partnerships were formed with local governments and institutions to support ongoing volunteer efforts, not just one-time events.

According to Shincheonji Church of Jesus, graduation is not seen as the end of learning, but as the starting point of practising faith - especially the teaching of Jesus to love one’s neighbour through action.
Source: vo.la/ZVIhXhY

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At the 31st National Defense and Security Action Rally, the Shincheonji Volunteer Group's Chungju branch provides lunch to approximately 1000 veterans

In present-day South Korea, where the contribution of Korean War veterans who dedicated their lives for the peace of the country is often overlooked, one organisation is working hard to widely publicise and record their noble deeds through memorial ceremonies, campaigns, and events - the Shincheonji Volunteer Group.

In particular, the Chungju Branch of the Shincheonji Volunteer Group ("Chungju branch") has proven its community trust by receiving a series of plaques of appreciation for spreading the "value of consistency" among war veterans.

In response to a request made by the Chungju Branch of the Korea Vietnam Veterans' Association, the Chungju branch provided meal support and on-site assistance for the operation of the "31st National Defense and Security Action Rally" held at Tangeum Park in Chungju on 20th October, providing food and beverages to approximately 1000 veterans.

This large-scale veterans' event, hosted by the Chungju Branch of the Korea Vietnam Veterans' Association, was attended by Vietnam War veterans, their families, and related organisations from 11 cities and counties in the province.

On that day, the Chungju branch received a plaque of appreciation in recognition of its consistent service to veterans' welfare.

One volunteer from the Chungju branch said, “The veterans have taught us respect and gratitude.”

A Chungju branch official stated, “Today's peace is possible thanks to the sacrifices of veterans.”

The freedom and peace that South Korea enjoys today was gained through the sacrifices of their forefathers.

Meanwhile, since 2014, the Shincheonji Volunteer Group has held the 'Love Your Country, Share Peace' campaign in June (Patriot and Veterans Month), in order to raise civic awareness of the noble sacrifice of war veterans who died for the peace of Korea and to promote a world of peace without conflict.

Source: https://vo.la/k5nyFHZ

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