There is a church which has received awards more than 3300 times including the Queen’s Awards for Voluntary Service and the U.S. President’s Volunteer Service Award God Award (highest honor for a group, 48 times) through devotional voluntary activities for neighbours and society. It is the World Mission Society Church of God (General Pastor Kim Joo-cheol, thereafter Church of God)
At 10am on the 13th March, about 80 bright and cheerful members of the Church of God and their acquaintances gathered. Since Pennyville Park is used as a resting place for various kinds of people from young to old, there was a lot of litter. The volunteers collected all the litter including hidden litter by thinking of the health of the residence. Various litters including cigarette butts, disposable masks, snack packs and plastic bottles were collected in plastics bags. About 400 plastic bags (80L) were collected through this activity.
They also delivered a panel presentation to help the community understand the effects of littering and to also raise awareness of environmental protection.
Joburg city welcomed their enthusiastic voluntary service and supplied plastic bags. Councilor Msimelelo Lobi said “We are honoured by the mayor and thank you to the church for bringing us together. ASEZ WAO.
MMC of Infrastructure and Environment Michael Sun added “You are working from A to Z but I believe that you are at P today, Pennyville”
“We always say that we cannot do this alone, we need the active participation of organizations like yourself. We are happy as the city to see good citizens like yourself are happy to sacrifice your Sunday to help clean our neighbourhoods and parks”
Executive Mayor Cllr Mpho Phalatse encouraged the volunteers and said “What I love about your organization is that you are also educative because many people don’t understand what is happening to the earth now and don’t understand that global warming is real. And they don’t know that there is something they can do to stop it, and education’s like this are very helpful” “Thank You for sharing the message of the Passover, I hope that after the Passover, we can continue with the great work”.
Thando Matutu(35), member who participated in this voluntary service said with a bright smile “The community is watching and getting involved, we are saving the earth one community at a time” and Keketso Moteetee(26) said “The world can change when we change first so its exciting to see the community and the city come out in support of this campaign”
The Church of God has carried out many kinds of voluntary activities. Until now, more than 22,500 voluntary activities have been conducted, such as emergency relief, blood donation, and environmental protection, helping neighbors, education support, sharing culture and etc.
