The phrases on the banners prepared by the Gunsan and Iksan branches, “Noble sacrifice, we will not forget” and “We will repay your dedication with peace,” also comforted the hearts of the meritorious service recipients.

Meanwhile, this coordinated initiative by the Gunsan and Iksan branches demonstrates how civic volunteer groups can create active public engagement during significant national holidays and cultivate a modern culture of gratitude and remembrance tailored to the unique demographic needs of each region.

In response to the growing climate crisis, Shincheonji Volunteer Group’s Pocheon Branch has completed its month-long carbon neutrality campaign, “Net Zero,” drawing attention for its strong local impact and commitment to everyday environmental action.

Despite the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement, where 195 countries pledged to limit global temperature rise to 1.5°C, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) reported in March that the Earth’s temperature has already increased by 1.55°C. Natural disasters like wildfires, floods, and droughts have become more frequent, affecting over 800,000 people globally last year.

In Korea, a massive wildfire in Uiseong, North Gyeongsang Province, was widely attributed to climate change—emphasising the urgent need for carbon neutrality efforts.

The Pocheon Branch launched the “Net Zero” campaign, encouraging over 100 members to adopt eco-friendly habits such as:

These simple, everyday actions reflect the spirit of carbon neutrality: reducing carbon emissions and increasing carbon absorption to bring total net emissions down to zero.

The branch estimates these efforts will reduce about 50 tonnes of carbon emissions per year if continued consistently.

As over 350 global companies like Google, Apple, and GM participate in campaigns like RE100 (which uses 100% renewable energy), experts agree that individual effort is just as important as national policies. The continued efforts of Pocheon Branch are expected to inspire others and position the district as a leader in responding to the climate crisis.

Source: vo.la/0SpPzZw

The unchecked consumption of single-use plastics and disposable items poses a long-term threat to regional ecosystems due to their extensive decomposition periods. To address this issue and foster a culture of carbon neutrality, the Shincheonji Volunteer Group Yangsan Branch hosted a public awareness campaign in Nambu-dong, Yangsan, South Gyeongsang Province, on June 5th, in observance of World Environment Day. Operating under the flagship environmental project "Nature, Be Green!" (Jayeon-ah Pureuja) , the initiative aimed to inform residents about the environmental impacts of daily waste and encourage voluntary plastic reduction.

The street campaign took place for two hours, starting at 3pm, near the promenade opposite the Daiso station in Nambu-dong.

The interactive nature of the street campaign elicited diverse reactions from the local community:

Meanwhile, the Shincheonji Volunteer Group continues to hold numerous initiatives to foster empathy for the meaning of veterans' affairs and raise historical awareness through hands-on programmes.

We now live in an era where single-person households have become the dominant family structure. According to the National Data Agency's Population Census, the ratio of single-person households in South Korea has more than doubled over the past 24 years, skyrocketing from 15.5% in 2000 to 36.1%. While this shift offers independence, it has also brought severe social challenges: emotional isolation and solitary deaths (godoksa).

A study by the Seoul Institute revealed that 62.1% of single-person households experience profound loneliness, with many suffering from social isolation and depression. To tackle this, the Shincheonji Church of Jesus is pioneering a heartwarming alternative: building “social families” that connect different generations through genuine communication.

In the bustling Bujeon Market in Busan, you might spot Hong-ja Lee (71) and college student Min-sung Lee (26) picking out fresh vegetables for dinner together. While they look like a biological grandmother and grandson, they are actually a "social family" matched just a month ago through Shincheonji Busan Church.

The "Family Matching" programme pairs living-alone seniors with single youths to act as each other's emotional and practical guardians. Rather than offering superficial volunteer service, they actively share their lives through deeply integrated activities:

“I thought I was completely used to living alone after my children moved away,” said participant Jin-suk Park. “But having a family to share my daily life with again has brought vibrant energy back into my life.”

The need for these emotional bonds is further highlighted by national data showing that 39.4% of individuals aged 60 and older face severe structural isolation, and 43.4% experience intense loneliness.

Recognising that material support alone cannot fill this emotional void, the Bartholomew Tribe has been hosting dedicated "Hyo (Filial Piety) Events" since 2023. Following direct feedback from senior congregation members stating that "companionship is needed far more than goods," the tribe actively involved its children's and student departments to maximise lively, intergenerational conversation and emotional connection.

As the ageing demographic in South Korea continues to expand, the residential safety of elderly individuals living alone has emerged as a significant social challenge. Many vulnerable seniors face daily inconveniences due to malfunctioning household fixtures but leave them unresolved due to financial burdens or limited accessibility. Statistics highlight that a substantial portion of the elderly population resides in older, deteriorating houses in traditional urban districts. According to official data from the National Assembly Research Service and Statistics Korea, older homes aged 30 years or more accounted for approximately 29% (164,329 units) of the total housing supply in Gwangju as of the end of last year, heavily concentrated in areas with a high density of elderly residents.

To address these practical living hazards, civic organisations have continuous initiatives to improve local living conditions. Among these is the "Gocheo-dream" (Home Repair) Project managed by the Shincheonji Volunteer Group Gwangju Branch.

Launched in August of last year, the "Gocheo-dream" initiative delivers localised, minor home repair services directly to senior citizens living alone, vulnerable households, and the families of national veterans. From its inception through May 2026, the branch mobilised a total of 185 volunteers to conduct 65 specific repair operations, distributing 130 pieces of essential support materials.

The technical interventions carried out over the nine-month period include:

These targeted home repairs are directly connected to preventing domestic physical injuries among senior citizens. Data from the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) indicates that falls account for the highest percentage (72.5%) of injury-related hospitalisations among seniors aged 75 and older, with 51.6% of those incidents occurring directly inside the home.

Jin-ong Kim, the team leader overseeing the operations, explained that the programme was initiated after noticing elderly parents delaying minor household repairs. Kim noted that on-site interactions often involve confirming whether the service is entirely free of charge, followed by deep expressions of gratitude from the recipients once the repairs are finalised.

The "Gocheo-dream" initiative is sustained through the participation of both certified technical professionals and ordinary office workers. The participating volunteers learn essential technical skills such as electrical wiring and wallpapering, utilising their evenings after work or their weekends to conduct the repairs.

Jin-ong Kim emphasised that residential safety for the elderly extends beyond simple convenience, as it is fundamentally linked to health, protection, and systematic care. The Gwangju Branch plans to continuously execute these targeted maintenance operations, focusing on households that require immediate, practical assistance.

To mitigate the harmful consequences of habitual cigarette dumping in the Godeok Industrial Complex—the world's largest semiconductor manufacturing facility which serves as a global hub for Samsung Electronics—the Shincheonji Volunteer Group Pyeongtaek Branch executed an environmental cleanup and awareness improvement campaign on 28th April. This follows on from a large-scale intensive cigarette butt collection activity conducted in the industrial complex area earlier that month, on the 7th.

Godeok Industrial Complex is known to suffer from indiscriminate dumping. Although household waste has decreased, habitual cigarette dumping has increased. Judging that simple waste collection alone has its limitations and that raising awareness to fundamentally eradicate illegal dumping is urgent, they launched on-site actions twice in April alone, amassing a staggering 600 litres of cigarette butts and debris in the Godeok Industrial Complex area.

These activities demonstrate how private volunteer organisations can act as a vital bridge where public services face logistical limits. By integrating Awareness, Action, and Prevention, the Shincheonji Volunteer Group is not just cleaning streets—they are weaving a stronger social fabric and building urban and environmental resilience against the dangers of cigarette butt dumping.

As a supporter observing these initiatives, it is evident that such consistent, fact-based volunteerism is essential for fostering a culture of vigilance and communal responsibility in our modern cities.

As the rainy season approaches, localised heavy rains pose a significant threat to residential areas with aging infrastructure. The commercial district in Beomil-dong has a history of vulnerability, having suffered substantial property damage in recent years when rising stream levels caused water to back up into homes and offices. To prevent a recurrence of such disasters, the Shincheonji Volunteer Group Eastern Busan Branch executed a pre-emptive safety and environmental improvement operation on 30th April.

The operation focused on high-risk sectors where blocked conduits often lead to severe localised flooding.

As maritime tourism expands, national fishing ports across South Korea increasingly face ecological challenges, including illegally dumped garbage and marine debris caused by car camping and influxes of tourists. While individual community efforts often fall short of managing these large-scale environmental issues, institutional collaborations offer a viable path forward. On 30th May, the Shincheonji Volunteer Group Busan-Gyeongnam Western Branch established a formal framework for coastal preservation by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Cheonseong Fishing Village on Gadeok Island, Busan. The partnership aims to institutionalise marine purification and revitalise the local fishing community.

Cheonseong Port on Gadeok Island is a state-designated national fishing port currently being developed as a multi-functional complex integrating fisheries, disaster prevention, and tourism. Under the newly signed agreement, the two organisations will launch coordinated, systematic initiatives to protect this vital coastal infrastructure:

A key highlight of the partnership is a joint mural project designed to visually upgrade the fishing village. By painting the unique history, local heritage, and community stories of Cheonseong Port onto the village walls, the project aims to create an aesthetically pleasing environment befitted a national fishing port. The initiative is expected to establish Cheonseong Port as a highly approachable, sustainable tourism destination steeped in local storytelling.

Jong-seong Gu, the head of the Cheonseong Fishing Village, expressed gratitude during the ceremony, noting that managing environmental issues solely through the local fishing community had reached its limits. “Having the Shincheonji Volunteer Group systematically cooperate on both environmental cleanup and the village mural project provides tremendous reassurance,” Gu shared.

On the day of the MOU signing, the Busan-Gyeongnam Western Branch carried out an Ocean's Day campaign as part of the "Nature, Be Green!" project, targetting tourists and residents visiting Cheonseong Port. To raise awareness about the importance of marine protection, the event featured live busking performances and a traditional Korean Tuho (arrow-throwing) play experience booth.

Regarding the initiative, Yo-han Kim, the Vice Branch Head of the Busan-Gyeongnam Western Branch, stated, “This will be an important first step in protecting the beautiful nature of Cheonseong Port and easing the worries of local fishermen.” He added that the branch aims to take the lead in transforming Cheonseong Port into a clean, story-driven national fishing port by combining regular purification activities, mural projects, and cultural campaigns.

True faith is often measured not by words spoken inside a church, but by the actions and love one demonstrates in the world. On 27th May, the Malawi Branch of the Bartholomew Tribe of Shincheonji recently celebrated the one-year anniversary of its dedicated environmental cleanup initiative through the completion of its 17th "Day of Light and Salt" street purification campaign in the Mbayani area of Blantyre.

In June 2025, the public waste management system in Blantyre had reached a breaking point. For years, the Central Business District struggled with neglected waste, posing a threat to both public health and the city’s image. While many saw a problem, the Shincheonji Church of Jesus Malawi Branch saw an opportunity to practise the core Christian values of being "Light and Salt", and took collective action. Over the past year, they have consistently gathered twice a month to restore the cleanliness of Blantyre’s streets, turning their faith into a reliable pillar of civic support.

For this milestone 17th cleanup, approximately 70 congregation members rolled up their sleeves to clear waste from major roadsides and narrow alleyways. Their efforts resulted in the collection of 56 litter bags, each with a 25-litre capacity, significantly improving the sanitation of the neighbourhood.

The long-term consistency of the programme has done something even more profound: it has shifted the mindset of the local citizens. Daniel Jim (27), a resident of Mbayani who participated in the volunteer work, shared his journey:

An official from the Shincheonji Malawi branch highlighted that the ultimate goal goes beyond just picking up litter: “Moving forward, we want to continue these activities not only to solve immediate environmental problems but also to foster a shared sense of community ownership and responsible civic culture among the public.”

The church has no plans of slowing down. To scale up its positive impact, Shincheonji Malawi plans to expand the cleanup workforce to over 100 volunteers for larger-scale operations. Furthermore, looking ahead to next year, the branch is preparing to launch a major blood donation campaign in collaboration with the national hospital, cementing its role as a vital contributor to Malawi's public welfare.

In the '2024 Social Indicators of Korea' report published by Statistics Korea, a significant 51.8% of respondents answered that interreligious conflict is at a grave situation. This figure marks a substantial increase of 9.5 points from 42.3% in 2023.

As a solution to this conflict, the Shincheonji Thomas Tribe has been conducting a 'handwritten letter exchange' directed at the domestic religious community since 2019. To date, roughly 400,000 letters containing transcriptions and meditations on biblical texts have resulted in 5317 substantive conversations with church leaders and pastors based on the Word.

The response from pastors has been overwhelming, resulting in direct visits and regular exchanges. Presbyterian Pastor Jeong, who has been ministering for 15 years in the Jeonju region, recalled the letter he received and said, “If it had been a printed document, I might have passed it by, but seeing the handwritten Bible verses and meditations, I read it to the end.” He added, “The process of seriously sharing thoughts over a single Bible verse was impressive in itself.”

To date, there have been a total of 66 instances of joint activities centred in the Jeonbuk region, including joint Bible study meetings, seminars, pulpit exchanges and a Pastors' Peace Forum.

This method of interreligious harmony, purposed not to “proselytise" but to understand one another and share communion within the Bible, is a novel approach that is expected to transcend interreligious and interdenominational boundaries.

For individuals with severe physical disabilities, everyday tasks such as visiting a hairdressers can pose significant mobility challenges. This lack of access often extends beyond personal grooming, inadvertently contributing to social isolation and a sense of disconnection from the local community. To address this gap and offer practical assistance, the Shincheonji Volunteer Group Eastern Seoul Branch conducted its regular "Pinky Promise" (Saekki-sonkarak) Hair-Grooming Service—a specialised talent-donation initiative designed to provide physical convenience and vital emotional support.

On 22nd May, the emergency welfare operation took place in the open lot in front of the Gongneung Branch of the Seoul Association of the Physically Challenged in Nowon district, Seoul.

The true value of the "Pinky Promise" initiative lay in the mutual dialogue and emotional connection shared between the volunteers and the recipients. Rather than treating the service as a mechanical task, volunteers spent time conversing, checking on the seniors' well-being, and listening to their stories.

The immediate impact was reflected in the bright smiles and high satisfaction of the participants.

One association member expressed immense joy, joking, “They are so skilled! When I look around later, I’ll probably hear that I’m the most beautiful person here. Have a wonderful day!”

Another participant shared with a smile, “Thank you for never forgetting us and coming back. My hair looks so beautiful, I feel like I could enter the Miss Korea pageant.”

A representative from the Gongneung Branch officially conveyed their gratitude, stating, “Seeing our members gather, chat, and get their hair trimmed brings immense life to our center. We are deeply grateful to the volunteers who consistently take the time to visit.”

The Eastern Seoul Branch has established this grooming service as a reliable, long-term talent-donation platform. By focusing on integrated care that encompasses both physical grooming and psychological comfort, the volunteer group successfully fosters social inclusion. A representative from the branch noted, "This grooming service is fundamentally about connecting human hearts rather than simply trimming hair. We remain committed to developing diverse talent-sharing programs where disabled neighbours and local residents can naturally mingle and thrive together."

In an age dominated by standardised toys and digital screens, a heartwarming scene unfolded at Chomakgol Ecological Park in Gyeonggi Province. On 23rd May, the Gwacheon Church of the John Tribe of Shincheonji successfully hosted "Daddy, Let’s Play!"—a special family picnic designed to strengthen the bonds between fathers and their children through raw, screen-free interaction.

The event welcomed approximately 30 families, including pre-schoolers and primary school students, who stepped away from their busy routines to embrace nature. The programme was carefully curated to encourage physical touch and teamwork:

Seven-year-old Na-yoon Kim expressed her joy: “Daddy always said he was too tired, but playing and running with him today was so much fun. He felt like Superman to me.”

For many participating fathers, the picnic served as a profound turning point to reflect on their parental roles, especially in a society where heavy workloads often leave mothers to handle childcare alone.

Se-jung Oh (38), whose frequent business trips previously kept him at a distance, opened up about his experience: “I think I used to be a strict father who only watched from afar. Today, by locking eyes and physically interacting with my child, I feel like the walls we had built are finally crumbling down.”

Another participant, Wang-sun Park (40), highlighted the practical relief the event provided: “Taking young children out on your own is incredibly challenging. Having a structured programme and dedicated space provided for us was a massive help in actively participating in childcare. It allowed us to heal as a family and connect with other parents facing similar realities.”

The philosophy behind the event reflects Shincheonji Gwacheon Church’s commitment to healthy, stable families as the foundation of a thriving society.

An official from the church emphasised the lasting impact of raw connection: “Knowledge may fade over time, but the warmth and laughter shared with a father during childhood remain forever. We designed this event hoping children would learn love and stability through vivid interaction with their fathers, rather than through rigid toys or smartphones.”

The representative added, “The busier we get, the more consciously we must protect quality family time. We hope this event allows fathers to rediscover their essential calling and realign the emotional centre of their homes.”

Environmental preservation is most effective when it directly addresses the specific vulnerabilities of a local area. Rather than conducting generic cleanups, the Shincheonji Volunteer Group focuses on practical, site-specific issues—whether resolving urban infrastructure blockages or restoring local aquatic ecosystems. In late May, the Uijeongbu Branch executed targeted environmental purification initiatives designed to improve public safety and foster ecological awareness among residents.

On 23rd May, the Uijeongbu Branch conducted a targeted infrastructure cleanup in residential areas near Baekseokcheon Stream in Ganeung neighbourhood, Uijeongbu, focusing entirely on chronic water-pooling sectors to prevent potential urban flooding ahead of the upcoming rainy season.