After the performances, the audience was served lunch, and as they left for home they received gift packages of high-quality bathroom tissue. An elderly woman said, “Namgunsan Church is better than my own children... On every occasion, they have this kind of party, feeding us and handing out gifts.” Rev. Lee Jong-gi said, “We did our best, preparing enough food and gifts to load an 11-ton truck, but today we ran out of things. I’m worried that some persons may not have had lunch or received gifts.”
Namgunsan Church is famous in the neighborhood for its role in looking after underprivileged local residents in Samhak-dong. When someone is not eligible for community services, public officials even refer those persons to the church. Rev. Lee said, “Ten years ago, when our church membership was only about 300, we prayed for church revival and pledged to take responsibility for our neighbors in hardship. God responded to our prayers and now we have nearly 1,000 members.”
For the elderly neighbors, the church is like their children. Since 15 years ago, the church gives out 50,000 won monthly to each of 20 elderly persons living by themselves. From 10 years ago, the church has been preparing and delivering side dishes to 35 elderly persons, including those same 20. During the most recent New Year’s holidays, the church gave out 1.2 kg of beef to each of 70 households of elderly persons. Church members older than age 65 go on a two-day, one-night trip organized by the church twice a year.
The church also provides support for disadvantaged children in the area. Since 2000, Namgunsan provides 50,000 won a month to each of 13 households lacking parents (either grandparents-grandchildren households or teens-only households). From 2004, the church members eat out twice a year with 180 children residing in orphanages in Gunsan region. This year the church began giving scholarships to 19 middle school students (800,000 won each) and 12 high school students (1,000,000 won each).
Rev. Lee says the church is very much encouraged by the gratitude these neighbors express. “Recently our church members and I felt greatly rewarded when 30 some of our members, working together, fully renovated the house of a family with a disabled child. The mother told us that she had harbored some extreme thoughts in the past because her life was so harsh, but now she feels very happy thanks to the help she has received from the church.”
Various ministries of Namgunsan Church are done in close cooperation with the Samhak-dong community service center. Samhak-dong residents’ leader Seo Gwang-sun said, “From time to time there are loopholes caused by legal restrictions that prevent Gunsan city from providing adequate services. But I always feel relieved knowing that Namgusan Church is taking care of the situation.”
Article and photo by reporter Pyeong Seon Jeon (junbs@kmib.co.kr), from Gunsan, with Yeara Ahn-Park (yap@kmib.co.kr)
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