As new cases of COVID-19 still develop worldwide, countries are doing their best to help contain the outbreak through means like contact tracing and treatment through acquiring sufficient amounts of technology and supplies.
In order to help create a treatment to combat COVID-19, blood plasma is needed. It contains essential things like antibodies that protect body cells and it plays a role in combating disease. This is why a call for blood plasma donations has been spread, but only a few responded.
Shincheonji encouraged congregation members who successfully recovered from the virus to donate saying that “as Jesus sacrificed himself with his blood for life, we hope that the blood of people can bring positive effects on overcoming the current situation.” In turn, over 1,100 Shincheonji congregants recently donated their plasma in collaboration with the Korean Centers for Disease Prevention and Control.
But, Shincheonji didn’t stop there but wanted to continue the efforts of finding ways to end COVID-19. The Chairman of Shincheonji, Man Hee Lee, proposed a call for online prayer meetings to be held until COVID-19 ends, where religious people around the world could unite to pray together with local and international members of the church.
The intent of the prayer meeting was to “make the virus disappear in the global village and in each country, and pray to repent of the sins that individuals have committed without knowing” so that “in the situation where the whole world is suffering from COVID-19, we want to break down the walls of denominations and religions to overcome the disaster, and pray for the religious people to unite and pray…”
Faithfully on the 16th of September, the California Zion Church, an international branch church in Southern California, united to pray for the end of the pandemic as well as the recent wildfires that have befallen many families throughout California.
In an effort to aid the firefighters, volunteers from California Zion Church have been working alongside local businesses to donate coffee and pillows for the front line workers. One could only imagine the struggles that these workers face not just physically but emotionally and mentally as well. It’s draining to witness so much loss and damage from one’s neighbors, even family, on a daily basis. Lifting up prayers on behalf of front line workers as well as assisting by providing even the little things have lifted up energy and morale.
Every citizen is accountable for their actions and, although imperfect, there is opportunity to create positive change to impact others for the better as well. Whether it starts from across the world through a church congregation or here in California, the voice of kindness and compassion was heard and it can only echo to the rest of the world. This serves as encouragement to knowing that the ripple effect of selflessness has just started by something even as small as prayer, coffee, and pillows.
