World Mission Society Church of God receives award rarely given to Religious Institutions

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“The Church of God has become a spiritual anchor in the field of pain. You’ve shown a message of love to all people with your devotional efforts, and it is right to award you the Presidential Citation. We appreciate your hard work.”

Vice Minister Kim had watched the Church of God doing volunteer services such as providing free meals during the aftermath of the Sewol Ferry tragedy.

“Not to speak of the free meals you provided to many people without any complaint despite a long period of time, your smile and concerns toward the victims must’ve become a great consolation. We hope that you will lead Korea well with such a mindset. We will remember your love and devotion forever.”

Receiving the award, Joo-Cheol Kim the General Pastor of the World Mission Society Church of God said:

“So far, our Church members all across the country have helped our neighbors and society with one mind despite their busy daily lives. All this could be possible because at the center of all our activities, there were the teachings of God who has shown us the examples of giving love and serving others. We will continue to give our helping hand to the best of our ability with the mind of a mother who takes care of her family with love.”

The World Mission Society Church of God took the lead in relief and recovery efforts in various disaster areas: cleaning up the oil spill around Taean, which was a large-scale national disaster, and free meal service at the Oil spill affected area in Yeousu, and typhoon relief efforts in Goseong, Gyongna Province, and Wando and Jundo in Jeonnam Province. For the victims of the Sewol Ferry tragedy, which anguished the entire nation, the members from the Churches of God in Jeonnam Province carried out free meal services for 44 days, taking over 700 man-days to share in their sorrow. The World Mission Society Church of God continues to clean harbors and seashores that are ailing because of climate change and contamination.

There are several reasons why winning this award is significant, not only for the merits that led to the award being granted, but also to show how the World Mission Society Church of God is not out there getting awards for doing nothing.

The winning of this award totally discredits the critics who bring unfounded accusations against the World Mission Society Church of God. First, the fact that the Church is receiving this award from the Korean government shows that the Church is recognized as a beneficial organization to society. In Korea where the Church is rooted, it has had more time to show the advantages the World Mission Society Church of God provides to the communities they are a part of. I have heard critics say that the Church is seen from a negative viewpoint in Korea, but the truth of the matter is that this is not the case, and the awarding of the Presidential Citation proves it.

Second, the World Mission Society Church of God receives awards from several different types of organization and government officials. Yet, biased critics say that the Church is somehow fabricating these awards or receiving them fraudulently.

How difficult is it for organizations to receive this award?

The Presidential Citation has greater value than other merits, as recipients are determined after a closer examination and confirmation process, involving a stringent candidate selection and a lengthy achievement review. Each candidate must undergo a review process with several steps before they are granted the award, and this process is especially difficult for a religious organization to complete successfully.

1st. The first step that the Church had to pass in order to be selected as a group award recipient of the Presidential Group Citation was the open verification from people, which took place for a month. The award givers introduced the volunteer activities that the Church has done for the past 8 years on the Internet, giving whoever doesn’t agree with the Presidential Group Citation being awarded to the Church a chance to make an objection. However for the whole month not one single person objected to giving the award to the Church or gave a reason why the WMSCOG shouldn’t be awarded.

2nd. The second step that the Church had to pass was a background check. They carried out a background investigation to see if the Church evoked criticism in society or committed a crime. But this only proved that the Church is a clean organization with no criminal background.

3rd. The third step was the screening from the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries at the Public Committee meeting. Civilians as well as public officials are present at this meeting. Although more than half of the committee was composed of individuals who are of different religions, including some who disagree with the beliefs of our Church, none of the committee members were able to make an objection to the volunteer efforts of the Church

4th. When the screening of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries was over, the Ministry of Government Administration and Home Affairs did a screening to decide whether the Church deserves the award or not. Ultimately, the Ministry of Government Administration and Home Affairs came to the conclusion that the World Mission Society Church of God deserves the Presidential Citation for the dedication they have made for the nation and the people.

5th. But that was not it. The last screening was done at the Cabinet meeting. However, even the high government officials agreed that the works of the World Mission Society Church of God are worthy of the Presidential Citation. No one objected, and the Church passed that step as well.

6th. In this way, the President of South Korea received approval to give the Presidential Group Citation to the World Mission Society Church of God, and this is how the Church was granted the award.

Among all Korean government awards, the most honorable award for an individual is the Order of Merit, and the equivalent to that for a group or an organization is the Presidential Citation. Usually, this award is given to a group or an organization that provided good services in a certain field for over five years, and it is unheard-of for a religious group to receive the award. The fact that the World Mission Society Church of God received this award shows how the teachings of the Church allow members to become exemplary citizens and contributors to the betterment of society.

The Church in the United States carries out the same work.

As we can see through the video above the same work of aiding communities during times of need is carried out by the Churches in the United States. The great work of the Church has allowed them to receive numerous awards in the United States, not to mention the President’s Volunteer Service award in 2011, 2014, and 2015.

The critics of the World Mission Society Church of God say that the volunteer efforts of the Church of God are only a PR Stunt. These accusations come from people who are religiously intolerant and who have no idea what it takes to perform community services.

When disasters take place, do these critics do anything to help or comfort those in distress?

This brings me to an idea I have been developing, and this type of claim is the perfect evidence. I have been doing some research on how the motives of the self-proclaimed “cult experts” are no different from the motives of the individuals who led the witch-hunts in Europe during the Middle Ages. In other words, the actions these people have taken against the World Mission Society Church of God and its members is a modern day witch-hunt — there I said it! Now, this idea is something, which I hope to develop in due time, but just to prove a point let me give you an example.

At the time when the witch-hunts were taking place in Europe, it was a lucrative business that allowed Roman Catholic priests to take over the estate of the women who were accused as witches. When a woman was accused of being a witch, regardless of what she did, it was very hard for her to prove her innocence. At times, even though the accused had a good reputation or was considered to be a good citizen, she was said to portray herself that way as a cover up, for witches had the power to do this.

Something similar to this was done to Jesus 2,000 years ago. When Jesus drove out demons, the Pharisees said the only reason He was able to drive out demons was by the prince of demons.

Luke 11:14-15 – Jesus was driving out a demon that was mute. When the demon left, the man who had been mute spoke, and the crowd was amazed. But some of them said, “By Beelzebub, the prince of demons, he is driving out demons.”

As we can see through the two cases above, people will always have something to say.

The World Mission Society Church of God will continue its good works.

Following the teachings of God the Mother, the World Mission Society Church of God helps communities throughout the whole world. In every community and in every country the World Mission Society Church of God is located, the officials and the neighbors praise the work of the Church. As you can see through the video above, the people who praise the Church are government officials and agencies, while the people who criticize and speak negatively only do it behind anonymous names on phony forums and blogs. You decide — whose testimony is more valid? 

Contrary to what people would want you to believe, the World Mission Society Church of God is a great Church helping families and communities all over the world. People will have a difference in beliefs, but that does not mean an organization is “evil” or “wrong.” A church should be judged according to its adherence to the teachings of the Bible and how it contributes to the community. When we look at the World Mission Society Church of God we can see it follows the teachings of the Bible and it helps the communities around them.

If you would like to know more about the good deeds of the World Mission Society Church of God visit your closest Church of God and ask how you can participate in our next community service.