20th June 2020
Greetings! Korea was one of the first countries to be affected on a large scale by the COVID-19 outbreak back in early February. But Korea's transparent and democratic COVID-19 response model is recognized for its excellence by the WHO and other countries around the world. This is because Korea has effectively responded to COVID-19 whilst being transparent about disclosing the number of patients and ensuring human rights without forcing a blockade.
Despite the large-scale infections, the current efforts of the quarantine authorities and the population’s cooperation, the spread of the infection has been minimized. This week, read about how the churches under CTC Korea accepted and responded to the COVID-19 outbreak.
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Worship Service of a CTC Korea Church in the midst of COVID-19 situation (Seongbok Central Presbyterian Church)
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How did the Korean Church accept and work during the pandemic?
In the midst of the difficulties caused by COVID-19, CTC Korea member churches, like other Korean churches, exhibited generosity and dedication. Most churches are actively engaged in fellowship whilst adhering to hygiene practices and offering online worship services. Large churches took the lead by providing their facilities as nursing centers for the self-quarantine potential patients. Many churches have delivered donations to the quarantine and medical staff and served coffee and bread. Here are a few stories of the ministry of CTC Korea Council member churches.
Since early March this year, when confirmed cases were highest in the Daegu area, The Sarang Church (Pastor Inho Lee) delivered drinks and sandwiches bought from local shops to the members of the city’s disaster-safety and COVID-19 center and local government officers who have been working day and night. 550 pieces of filter-replaceable cotton masks and 5,500 filters produced by a local Hanbok-making shop were distributed to vulnerable groups such as the elderly living alone, and with that support, 2 million Won worth of side dishes were also distributed. Paying attention to quarantine in the form of a drive-through, The Sarang Church received a donation of masks and donated them to elderly people living alone, and supported the local street quarantine activity and the monthly rent of the dependent churches in areas where group infection occurred.
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Dedicated members of Onnuri Church (CTC Korea member church)
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Dongsan Presbyterian Church, where CTC Korea council member and Pastor Jungwoo Kim serves, also participated in sharing and serving ministry. For the locals suffering from mask shortages, about 30 church members made 1,000 reusable masks and prepared gift bags with refreshments and delivered them to the locals in need.
Seongbok Central Presbyterian Church, where CTC Korea council member and pastor Sungwoon Gil serves, has offered breakfast to 100 local youth since 2013. At the end of February this year, when COVID-19 surged, this ministry, which had been running for eight years, was forced to stop. However, thinking about how to provide meals to young people, it was possible to devise a 'non-face-to-face meal' and provide 'Morning Manna' again within a month.
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Dedicated members of Donsan Church (CTC Korea member church)
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CTC Korea’s United Easter Event
On Easter, CTC Korea held an online united event to commemorate the resurrection of Jesus as a replacement for the annual Easter celebration of assembled worship service. CTC Korea organized this united event to convey the message of recovery that comforted those who were discouraged and gave courage to those who were afraid.
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At the event, 20 newly planted churches that were identified as having financial difficulties due to COVID-19 were given a total of $20,000. The event was broadcast in real time through the CTC Korea’s YouTube channel, and a week later, it was also broadcast nationwide through CGNTV.
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“The event was held under three themes of Resurrection, Recovery and Relief, and the purpose of the event was to provide opportunities to encourage one another and be united in times of crisis.”
-Pastor Gapshin Jeong
Chairman & President, CTC Korea and Pastor, JSHN Presbyterian Church
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CTC Korea's Event of the Year: Reading Tim Keller
On February 17, 2020, CTC Korea held a book talk event ‘Reading Tim Keller’ in association with Duranno Publishing. This event was arranged for authors and readers to meet, and was held for 2 hours from 7pm at the Seoul office of CTC Korea in Sinchon, Seoul. The book talk event consisted of lectures by the co-authors of ‘Reading Tim Keller’ and Q&A time with the audience.
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CTC Korea’s seminar lecturers, pastor Jaehoon Jeon (Baran Yehyang Church), pastor Sangseop Goh (Geusarang Church), and pastor Doojin Park (Jesus Dasom Church) published ‘Reading Tim Keller’ which is an introductory book on the seven core values of Tim Keller.
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Despite bad weather and concerns about COVID-19, over 50 readers from all over the country attended to confirm the popularity of Tim Keller’s teachings in the Korean church.
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Local meetings and small group lectures at the Graduate School of Theology
CTC Korea's regional group meetings, which began in 2015, have steadily increased, and a total of 10 regional groups have been created and the meetings are actively going on. CTC Korea serves as a hub to announce local meetings on the website. The CTC Korea member pastors, led by the local pastor leader, regularly gather around for study, sharing the study contents, studying the Bible, and reading and discussing in preparation for preaching.
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Church Planting Ministry
The ultimate goal of CTC Korea's ministry is to achieve the evangelization of the city through a healthy church planting movement. Since 2015, the ministry has continued and 21 new churches have been planted around the council member churches. Two new churches will be planted this autumn. Furthermore, through “Church Planting School Seminar,” well-prepared pastors for church planting will be selected and supported for church planting next year.
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We hope you're as excited as we are about today's live virtual roundtable discussion on Faith & Work in the Pandemic!
We begin at 2PM SGT and hope to see you there! Click the image below to be directed to the live discussion.
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Got a story to share?
Hebrews 10:24 calls us to "consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds."
We would love to hear your stories. Stories where church planters are on the offensive (whether through evangelism, justice and mercy, projects to get supplies to healthcare workers, or any work that is being driven by your love for others in these times of COVID -19) and not just the defensive, to highlight what we are doing and can do creatively to spread the gospel and the love of Jesus in these times.
Do you have a story to share with the extended CTCAP family? Get in touch with Benjie at ben.thomas@citytocityasiapacific.com
We want to pray with you and stand by you through this. So we invite you to also share stories of any struggles you’re facing in dealing with the situation surrounding your family or your church in these times.
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