In a letter to General Secretary Ivan Abrahams, Bishop Yong Jai Jun of the Korean Methodist Church showed both the human toll of the Ferry Sewol sinking that occurred on April 16. According to the Bishop, “it was reported that 11 local Korean Methodist Churches lost 23 church members which mostly are high school students and two people are still missing” and adding that “We are all traumatized and heartbroken in this bleak moment”.
But with tragedy comes a response. Since the sinking, the Korean Methodist Church has responded in numerous ways. “[The Church] has started an Emergency Team to provide effective services and tangible aids to those affected families, local churches and communities. For this, the Korean Methodist Church is making every effort to mobilize all resources such as fund-raising campaign, volunteers, counselling and relief experts,” said Bishop Yong Jai Jun. “The Korean Methodist Church has also opened four volunteer centers and a prayer house in Jindo city, which is the closest place to Ferry Sinking.”
These plans are already in place to deal with the immediate fallout from the sinking, but the Korean Methodist Church is also making plans to be there for any long-term effects of the tragedy for survivors, family and friends.
“The Korean Methodist Church Emergency Team is planning to open a counselling center at one of the local churches in the neighborhood of Danwon High school, Ansan, where most of victims were students. It is expected that psychological treatment will be helpful for those affected families and communities to recover from this tragic incident.” says Bishop Yong Jai Jun.
In the days, weeks and years ahead, the World Methodist Council asks for people to remember the people effected in this tragedy in their prayers, so that God can continue to lead us with his eternal light and love.
