The Hiranuma & Hayashi Foundation, a nonprofit organization, built a welfare center “CheonAe Garden” in Chungju, Korea. The dedication service was held on the Sabbath of June 3, 2017. Up to seven people 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 by the love of God. Staff members will work in the other building.
On the day of the dedication service, led by Pastor Um KilSoo, president of Sijosa, about 200 guests including local community leaders such as Oh JinSeop, deputy mayor of Chungju; Adventist church leaders such as Pastor Shin YangHee, secretary of Korean Union Conference (KUC), and Han SukHee, communication director of the Northern Asia-Pacific Division (NSD); and many church members came to celebrate the completion.
The founder of the Hiranuma & Hayashi Foundation, Mrs. Yoon SeungKyu, established a branch office in Korea in April 2015 and a foundation headquarters in Japan a month earlier, and donated her entire property to the foundation. The foundation’s business aims to heal people and seek the true value of life. Projects of the foundation are planned on the basis of the words of God in Matthew 10: 8, “Freely you have received, freely give.” Elder Lee BongChun, representative of the Hiranuma & Hayashi Foundation, said, “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.”
Pastor Huh ChangSoo, president of the Middle West Korean Conference, preached a sermon at the service. He said, “Jesus came to earth to save people who were destined to die. 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 Shin YangHee extended his regards their donation for evangelism in Africa. Through the donation, hundreds of thousands of copies of Ellen White books were sent to Rwanda, Tanzania, and Kenya. “The Hiranuma & Hayashi Foundation has supported various missionary organizations, such as the 1000 Missionary Movement. I was very glad to hear that they established CheonAe Garden and will begin welfare work for single moms and their children,” said Pastor Shin.
Through CheonAe 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. All the attendees of the service asked God for His blessings on the center.