Class 116 Graduates of Shincheonji's Bartholomew Tribe Share Warmth Through Volunteerism
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| On 29th November 2025, a graduate of the Shincheonji Yeongdeungpo Church buries beef in pickled cabbage during a kimchi-making service held under the theme "Graduation Special Service - First Step" |
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 completed a Bible education course in late 2025 chose to begin their next chapter not with celebration - but with service.
From November 25th to December 14th 2025, 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. In South Korea and overseas, a total of 12,200 congregants took part.
In particular, on 29th November 2025, graduates belonging to the Bartholomew Tribe of Shincheonji Church of Jesus gathered at the Shincheonji Yeongdeungpo Church and participated in a kimchi-making event, making 150 boxes (0.8 tonnes) of cabbage of kimchi.
The kimchi-making site 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. The finished kimchi was then delivered to numerous veterans' organisations and to descendants of independence activists, in recognition of those who fought to safeguard the peace of the country during the Korean War.
Graduate Gyu-bin Kim shared his thoughts on the service: “I was able to express my gratitude to those who served, thinking of my grandfather, a Korean War veteran who is buried at the Imsil National Cemetery.”
A veteran of national merit who received the kimchi said, “People in the world should be considerate of each other and live harmoniously,” and added, “If volunteer work like today continues, I think it will be of great help to the country.”
Meanwhile, 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.
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