"We Deliver the Lord's Love through Charity and Good Deeds!"_ The Practice of Love for the Poor and Neglected
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May 13, 2018 |
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Manmin Central Church has helped around 220 elderly members get dental implants by supporting them financially. Senior Pastor Dr. Jaerock Lee felt sorry for those who did not receive proper dental treatment and has prepared to help them for several years. The church's Charity Association, World Christian Doctors Network, pastors, District, Sub-district, and Cell leaders all worked together for this work in unity.
Sister Soonhwa Kim, age 61 said with a thankful heart, "My teeth are rotten, so I can't chew food well. I try to chew food but just swallow it. It has often caused indigestion problems for me. But, the day I will be able to chew and eat well is coming!"
Charitable work for 1,000 households, North Korean refugees, public offices, and Welfare Centers
Proverbs 19:17 reads, "One who is gracious to a poor man lends to the LORD, and He will repay him for his good deed." Many parts of the Bible say how pleased God is with charitable work. In the Early Church, people did not claim that anything belonging to them was their own, but all things were common property to them.
'Charitable work' is an everyday prayer title of Manmin Central Church. Before he met the Lord, Senior Pastor Dr. Jaerock Lee had suffered from many kinds of diseases and from poverty for seven years. But, after he met God he was set free from all the problems. Since that time and continuing after the opening of the church, he has practiced the love of the Lord in prayers for the sick and helping the poor and neglected.
The church's charitable work was expanded by organizing the church's Charity Association. It has provided support to approximately 1,000 households in need including the child heads of families and the elderly living alone with living expenses and supplementary side dishes. Deaconess Youngnam Cho, age 46, received the living expense support and rice every month for five years. She said, "My parents heard that I had received help from the church. They said to me that the Senior Pastor is better than they are since they had not helped me though I had many difficulties raising my children alone. They started to attend church." She received so many blessings after she lived by the Word of God that she is now helping others in need.
The Charity Association also supports the Lord's Love Mission which is supportive of a group of North Korean refugees by providing living expenses, rice, and supplementary side dishes. Deaconess Sungok Hong, President of the mission, age 67, said, "I survived the life-or-death crisis to come to South Korea, but I felt ostracized and my life was unstable. But the church has consistently helped me every month. I am so thankful and my faith has been increasing."
The church also sends 70 gunnysacks of rice to six public offices including Shindaebang-2-dong Community Service Center and two welfare centers, and helps 15 people in Nam-myeon Jangseong-gun, Jeonnam Province with monthly living expense. Ms. Insoon Cho, age 77, said, "Who would do this for me? My children cannot even do it for me. Thank you for helping me."
Support for students and churches in overseas countries
Dr. Lee has given scholarships to students in need through the Charity Association. Additionally, he has supported students with finance for music lessons, transportation fees, allowances, and other urgent matters. Through his support they have been able to devote themselves more to study and faith and try harder to achieve their dreams. Brother Jaeha Lee, a sixth grader, used to get poor grades on math tests in school, but after he went to a private academy with the scholarship given by the church, his grades improved dramatically. Sister Jiwoo Lee, a 12th grader, has been receiving scholarships and a monthly allowance since she was a 9th grader. She now lives a diligent Christian life and was even healed of her problem with chronic ear infections.
Dr. Lee has also financially supported the ministry of Israeli churches that were under social oppression. Pastor Shlomy Abramov, a Jewish pastor, said, "The churches of Messianic Jews have experienced revival. It has been possible because of Dr. Jaerock Lee's unsparing support and love for Israel."
Since its opening in July 1982, Manmin Central Church has practiced the love of the Lord in various ways such as a program for sharing Korean charcoal briquets for heating and cooking, sharing kimchi, the Condolence Committee's support for funeral arrangements, Rehabilitation Mission's support for inmates, Hair Designers' service, and other such support programs.
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