A 35-member multi-generational mission team carries out a holistic ministry, including medical volunteering, Children's Bible School, and relief activities.
From the hotel manager to local residents, everyone is moved... 500 church members donate funds to bring warmth to the community.
(Chilaw, Sri Lanka) Toegyewon Seventh-day Adventist Church (Senior Pastor Lee Chang-seop), affiliated with the West Central Korean Conference, opened the tightly closed hearts of local residents and delivered deep inspiration through passionate missionary work in Chilaw, Sri Lanka, from July 27 to August 1.
The 35-member mission team, encompassing all generations from children to senior citizens, had been preparing for the evangelistic series with prayers for several months. They carried out diverse and dedicated volunteer activities at the Adventist International School Chilaw and the Ambakandawila Church.
Dedication from Morning to Night Moves the Community's Heart
The mission team’s day continued without rest from early in the morning. In the mornings, they ran a Vacation Bible School for children at the school while simultaneously holding highly-received health seminars for the parents. In the afternoons, they moved to the Ambakandawila Church to continue the Children's Bible School, while a free medical clinic led by Dr. Seo Bong-soo cared for the health of residents in desperate need of medical attention.
This dedicated effort by the mission team resonated deeply with those around them. Even the manager of the hotel where the team stayed expressed being deeply moved by their actions. Notably, local residents initially faced significant difficulties attending the meetings due to surrounding opposition and various circumstances. However, they were so touched by the sincere service and activities of the Adventist Church that a remarkable change occurred, with the number of voluntary attendees rapidly increasing. As a result, 250 to 300 local residents enthusiastically gathered for the evangelistic meetings every evening.
Thorough Preparation Yields Results: 11 Baptized
As a result of this dedication and prayer, on the concluding Sabbath, a total of 11 souls were baptized and joined the Adventist Church, sharing immense joy.
Notably, the newly baptized members included four individuals who had been steadily studying the Bible since attending a previous evangelistic series in January, and three who had participated in a small-group evangelism program supported by Toegyewon Church prior to the main event. This is evaluated as a valuable example demonstrating how crucial continuous and thorough preparation—rather than a one-time event—is for saving souls.
Warming the Community through Church Remodeling and Relief Activities
Toegyewon Church's sharing did not stop at preaching the Word. During the mission period, a large-scale grocery distribution was carried out for local residents facing financial difficulties. To support this meaningful relief effort, all 500 members of Toegyewon Church joined together in donating funds, putting Christ's love into practice.
Furthermore, with the full sponsorship of Toegyewon Church prior to the evangelistic meetings, the renovation of the deteriorated local church building was completed. Thanks to this, local congregation members and residents can now hold meaningful worship services in a clean, pleasant new sanctuary.
This Sri Lanka mission trip by Toegyewon Church will be remembered as a successful ministry that not only reaped a spiritual harvest but also planted a deep, positive, and warm perception among the locals that "the Adventist Church is a truly good church" through practical relief and medical volunteer work, despite numerous oppositions and challenges.