The Korean church community in Atlanta has been spreading the meaning of Easter through its service in the community. Organizations led by or partnered with Korean churches have led various service project over the weekend, including serving those experiencing homelessness, giving gifts, planting flowers, music performances, and worship.
The organization that kicked off the series of community service events was Yesana Mission, a Korean community outreach organization in Atlanta. Those part of Yesana knew that many serve meals on Easter Sunday, so they began their project a day earlier on Saturday, during which they visited the shelter on Peachtree Street. Yesana hosted a time of music, food, and worship with those in the shelter.
Yesana Mission
Yesana Mission
As Hope Johns Creek Orchestra performed outdoors in beautiful weather, Yesana members gave the attendees brown bags containing decorated eggs, sandwiches, fruits, cookies, chips, and water. A loud applause followed the orchestra's performance.
One of the students who volunteered at the event said that it was the first time she performed for those in a homeless shelter, and shared that it was a meaningful experience for her. Yet another pair of a parent and student shared that it was their first time meeting individuals experiencing homelessness in the U.S., and another family said they were glad they postponed their travel plans to participte in the event.
Yesana Mission
On Easter Sunday, Yesana Mission also visited My Sister's House, a bed facility in Atlanta that provides overnight shelter and residential discipleship programs for homeless women and women with children, and provided dinner for those at the facility.
Stepping Stone Mission hosted its sixth annual Easter Sunday community event for the homeless, during which 600 fellow brothers and sisters experiencing homelessness gathered and participated in corporate worship at Hurt Park in Atlanta. Stepping Stone also provided gifts, barbering services, health checkups, gardening services in the park, and others.
In the gift-giving event, bags with necessities for the homeless--t-shirts, socks, underwear, razors, toothpaste, toobrush, chips, canned food, and transportation cards, were given to those who were present. The gifts were brought together by the service and offering of various churches and individuals. Korean Community Presbyterian Church of Atlanta provided food and fruits for the attendees.
Stepping Stone Mission
Stepping Stone Mission
Stepping Stone Mission
An attendee who identified himself as Jimmy Wallace expressed thanks for the Koreans who have been serving them during this season.
"I'm a Vietnam War veteran, but now I'm living in homeless shelters," Wallace said. "And I heard about this event happening at this shelter, and I'm really glad I came. I really feel that the Korean's hearts are so warm."
Many Korean American students participated in the event as volunteers, and one such volunteer said, "This is the first time I got to attend the event, but I'm really glad and proud that a service event like this is being led by Koreans. I was really happy to be able to give the homeless the essential necessities they need to live in their daily lives. I wanna be a part of this more in the future."
Lastly, Mission Agape, a Korean non-profit organization, partnered with Hosea Feed the Hungry, a non-profit helping families living in poverty, to host an Easter event in College Park. This large-scale event that took place from 9 AM to 3 PM featured music performances, dance performances, traditional Korean performances including Samul Nori and Korean drums.
"We're deeply grateful for the service that the Korean church community has been offering, and their unchanging commitment," shared Hosea Feed the Hungry, which has partnered with Mission Agape for the past seven years. "We're one family."
Mission Agape
Mission Agape
Mission Agape
Mission Agape
