Delaware Korean Church Plant Repairs Homes

Story by LaTasha Hewitt

Allegheny East Conference's Delaware Korean church plant in Newark recently hosted a Happy House Program, a house repair service provided to Korean residents in the Wilmington, Del., area. To assist with the project, 26 students and two professors came from Sahmyook University in Seoul, Korea, as well as five volunteers from the Andrews Korean church in Berrien Springs, Mich.

After advertising the program to 850 Korean households in the Wilmington area, Seungho Park, pastor of Delaware Korean, visited each of the 16 applicants. After a careful review of their financial status and the level of family support, he selected eight families.

For five days, volunteers tackled such projects as painting, plumbing, electrical repairing, basement remodeling, cleaning and gardening. When they completed the work, volunteers and Happy House Program homeowners gathered in Wilmington Junior Academy’s (Del.) gym Sabbath morning to worship together and give thanks.

As a result of the program, one homeowner is currently having Bible studies with Park. In addition, eight people registered for church-led community programs such as ESL courses and Bible classes. “I just tried to respond to the needs expressed to me by the community members, and I believe the program has created a positive image of our church in the community we serve,” says Park.

Next year the group plans to sponsor a Korean language and culture camp for community members.