Foundation Opens Mothers and Children Center in Korea

Image by North Asia-Pacific Division News

July 21, 2017 | Chungju, Korea | North Asia-Pacific Division News

The Hiranuma & Hayashi Foundation, a nonprofit organization, opened the “Cheon Ae Garden” new welfare center in Chungju, Korea, with a special dedication service on June 3. Up to seven mothers can stay at a residence in the center, which is equipped with a kitchen, a living room, a bathroom, and a playroom. Mothers and children who need help can be safely protected within the premises.

About 200 guests attended the dedication service, led by Kil Soo Um, president of the Korean Publishing House Sijosa. Visitors included local community leaders such as Seop Oh Jin, deputy mayor of Chungju; Adventist church leaders such as Yang Hee Shin, secretary of Korean Union Conference (KUC), and Suk Hee Han, communication director of the Northern Asia-Pacific Division (NSD). Many church members also came to celebrate the project completion.

Founder of the Hiranuma & Hayashi Foundation Kyu Yoon Seung established a branch office in Korea in April 2015, and the foundation headquarters in Japan a month earlier. She also donated her entire property to the foundation. The foundation’s goal is to heal people and help them to search for the true value of life, leaders said.

“Foundation projects are planned following what Jesus said in Matthew 10:8—‘Freely you have received, freely give,’ said Chun Lee Bong, a representative of the Hiranuma & Hayashi Foundation. “We will do our best to help the underprivileged and poor neighbors, such as orphans, single mothers, and elderly people living alone, to improve their lives so that Christ’s love and His gospel can be delivered to them.”

President of the Middle West Korean Conference Chang Soo Huh preached the dedication sermon at the service. “Jesus came to earth to save people who were destined to die,” Huh said. “This garden is a place to reflect on the love of Jesus. I hope that the wounded soul will be healed and that the sound of laughter and joy will always fill the garden.”

In his celebration remarks, KUC president Yang Hee Shin congratulated the foundation leaders for their donations for evangelism initiatives in Africa. Through their donations, hundreds of thousands of copies of books by Adventist Church co-founder Ellen G. White were sent to Rwanda, Tanzania, and Kenya.

“The Hiranuma & Hayashi Foundation has supported various missionary organizations, such as the 1000 Missionary Movement,” said Shin. “I was very glad to hear that they established Cheon Ae Garden, and will begin welfare work for single moms and their children.”

Church leaders are glad that the center will meet a great need in the area.

“Through Cheon Ae Garden, those who are hungry will be fed, those who are displaced will have a place to dwell, and those who are wounded will be soothed,” they said.