350 Bethany Church Members Pledge Cornea and Organ Donations
2014-03-04 17:33
As Easter approaches, Bethany Church members are participating in an organ donation campaign.
On March 2, during the Sunday worship service of Bethany Church on Dorimno in Gurogu, Seoul, some 350 members including Rev. Kwak Ju-hwan made pledges of cornea and organ donations after their death. In addition, the church decided to raise funds up until Easter day for corneal transplant operations and childhood cancer treatment.
The campaign was organized by People Sharing Lives (board chair: Rev. Im Seok-gu), an official organ donation registry organization of the Ministry of Health and Welfare. Approximately 700 believers participated in the pledging ceremony. Rev. Kwak said, “Ever since the planting of our church 50 years ago, we have been thankful for the grace of God, who has always led us. This is a meaningful occasion, as we express our resolve to love our neighbors, following the love of Jesus who shared everything.”
Rev. Cho Jeong-jin of People Sharing Lives (standing board director) gave a sermon titled “Neighbors of the one who met with robbers” (Luke 10:30∼37), in which he said, “A pledge to donate an organ is not just the practice of love for our neighbors who have fallen into the hands of robbers; it is a decision based on the certainty of salvation.”
Bethany Church was established in January 1964 as Guro Jungang (Central) Church. It will celebrate its 50th anniversary on April 27.
Reporter Kim Kyungtaek (ptyx@kmib.co.kr), with Yeara Ahn-Park (yap@kmib.co.kr)
Click here for the original article in Korean
