The Cheongso Open Church in Korea gave away handmade hand sanitizers and handmade masks to their neighbors for free to help them prevent coronavirus. “When the virus began to spread fast in Korea, it was not easy for people living in a rural area like us to get hand sanitizers and masks. I thought our church should help overcome this hardship from COVID-19 together with our neighbors, rather than just feel frustrated,” said the church pastor Lee JinSeon.
For a few days, some of the church members gathered to produce 8.8 oz bottles of hand sanitizer. To prohibit any contamination, members were not allowed to take off their masks or talk during work hours, concentrating only on making the sanitizers. On the bottle, they put a label, which states, “Hang in there and stay healthy.” About ten church members volunteered to deliver the bottles of sanitizer to 150 households, going door to door.
Also, a couple who serve as a deacon and a deaconess at the church produced 250 handmade masks, which are available for multiple uses, and donated them for locals. People who received the gift expressed their gratitude to the church. “I know that it is a very valuable gift these days. Thank you for your thoughtful sharing.”
It is not the first time for the Cheongso Open Church to reach out to their neighbors. The church has built a good reputation among them by doing volunteer services, such as cleaning up the village and sharpening people’s kitchen knives. “It really is a hard time for all of us due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but I could also say that the crisis rekindles the spirit of unity and mission among our church members,” said Pastor Lee. In addition to helping people in need, the church is also trying to reach out to backsliders and long-absentees of the church, to keep up a good relationship with locals, and to foster a strong bond among church members.