ⓒ 2003 WATV

The year 2003 was literally eventful for Daegu citizens: the 218 Daegu Subway Arson Attack, the Daegu Summer Universiade and typhoon Maemi which struck the whole city. At every site, members of the Church of God were with the citizens, sharing happiness and sorrows together.

On December 16, the 2003 Daegu Volunteers' Festival was held at the Korea Fashion Center in order to extend thanks and appreciation to the volunteers who actively did volunteer activities in various disaster-hit spots and events that happened in Daegu this year.

The Daegu city government and the Daegu Munwha Broad-Casting station jointly hosted the event and presented awards for good citizenship and distinguished volunteer service to volunteer groups and individual volunteers. And special congratulatory performances and luncheon meeting followed after the ceremony.

On that day, Daegu Gyeongbuk Joint Parish Council of the Church of God received the Distinguished Volunteer Service Award from the Ministry of Government Administration and Home Affairs. Only two organization-the Church of God and the Republic of Korea National Red Cross- received the award. Moreover, Pastor Lee Won-soon and Pastor Kim Jung-rak won the distinguished volunteer awards from the mayor of Daegu city.

Pastor Park Byeong-ho who received the Ministry Award on behalf of the Daegu Council recalled the volunteer work at the Daegu Subway Tragedy as the beautiful work of members. At that time, members of the Church installed a 24-hour free meal-supply center providing 1000~3000 meals per day to the bereaved families and visitors. The members persuaded the victims' families to have a meal who were in deep despair, not being able to put a food in their mouth. The members' condolences were as warm as the soup they ate.

Pastor Park said they only followed God's teaching, "Love your neighbors as yourself," and added, "We will do our best to help neighbors facing difficulties."

ⓒ 2003 WATV

ⓒ 2003 WATV

At the ceremony, Daegu City Mayor Cho Hae-nyung said, "Volunteers were the generating power to make the Universiade a success though it was held in the difficult time of the horrible Subway Tragedy." He praised the work of volunteers and emphasized that the world had been overwhelmed by the supporters' passionate love. Mayor Cho said he couldn't forget the energetic cheers and the twinkling eyes of the supporters he met at the stadiums. IOC President Jacques Rogge, who visited the FISU's games in Daegu, praised the Daegu Universiade, saying, "I thank the Daegu city for bringing up the level of the Universiade. Every facility was excellent and what impressed me most was the passionate love of supporters that we hadn't seen in any other countries."

20,000 supporters of the Church of God, the Aurah Supporters shook each country's flags at every stadium for all the 174 teams!
From the airport and athletes' village to dinner party and city tour they were with the world youths, delivering the message WEU.' After the Universiade games, they ran to the typhoon-damaged areas including Daegu Dalsung Industry Complex, and blew a new hope into the hearts of industry people. The members are praiseworthy for serving their neighbors with God's love.