ⓒ 2012 WATV

In 2012, the Passover falls on the evening of April 5 (the 14th day of the first month in the sacred calendar). The Passover is the truth of the new covenant which Jesus Christ established through His precious blood shed on the cross. True to its name, meaning “disasters pass over,” the Passover contains the promise of salvation—God’s promise to protect His people from disasters. The Passover disappeared from history since it was abolished at the Council of Nicaea convened by the Roman Emperor Constantine in AD 325. God Ahnsahnghong, the Christ who came a second time, has restored the Passover in this age.

The members of the Church of God in 150 countries around the world have been carrying out the environmental cleanup campaign simultaneously before the Passover every year to commemorate the sacrifice and grace which Christ showed at His first and second coming and to put His love into practice. They try to draw people’s attention and participation by letting them know the seriousness of global warming and environmental pollution and to protect the lives of human beings as well as the life of the earth from environmental disasters. This can be understood in the same context as the meaning of the Passover.

From late February—around a month before the Passover—to late March, the Church members throughout the world held the “Worldwide Environmental Cleanup Campaign for the Passover 2012” in their regions. In Korea, an average of more than 1,000 members participated in the cleanup each time and shared the meaning of the Passover with many other participants, including their families, neighbors, citizens in their communities and eminent people from various circles, cleaning up the streets, towns, parks, mountains, seashores, rivers and streams.

The environmental cleanup campaign was also carried out in overseas countries amid wide media attention and public support. The Mekong, the longest river in Southeast Asia, is a lifeline that provides millions of Cambodians with a foundation for agriculture and fisheries. The members from the Church of God in Kampong Cham cleaned along the Mekong River together with students from a university nearby, which helped raise public awareness of environmental protection. The members of the Church of God in Cape Town, South Africa, stimulated the downtown area by picking up trash around the station and mowing the lawn.

In Rome, Italy, the Church members carried out the cleanup campaign in the Parco degli Acquedotti, one of the most beautiful ancient parks of Rome, which has several of the ancient aqueducts that supplied water to the city of Rome. In Paris, France, the members cleaned the Bastille square, which has great historical significance.

The members of the Church of God in Charlotte, USA, went out to the street that can be best described as “three parts active landfill and one part outdoor toilet.” Several groups had tried to clean up the place, but decided their community-service efforts were better directed elsewhere. The members removed large, bulky wastes like mattresses, appliances, etc., as well as hundreds of empty bottles that had accumulated there for over 30 years. The mayor of Charlotte proclaimed the day as an “environmental cleanup day for the Passover.” The deputy mayor of Charlotte, along with some other citizens and police officers, personally took part in the cleanup. A citizen came to participate in the cleanup campaign after watching the volunteer activity of the members being broadcast live. Besides, there were also many other large-scale environmental cleanups in over 2,200 regions around the world.

After carrying out the worldwide environmental cleanup campaign, the Church of God received many letters of appreciation and commendation from all around the world. The minister of Nature, Environment and Tourism of Mongolia presented the Church members with an award certificate in recognition of their service efforts to protect the earth, loving it with the warm heart of Mother, and the president of Colombia sent a letter of appreciation.

“Clean Up the Earth With the Passover Love!”
This slogan shouted out by the members of the Church of God resounded throughout the world. The Passover is the feast of life, which has the power to protect us from disasters and to cleanse our souls. The earth, wounded from various disasters, has taken one more step towards being healed through the Passover.

ⓒ 2012 WATV

김해 해반천, 광주천, 부천 중앙공원, 형산강, 충주 무심천

ⓒ 2012 WATV

네팔 카트만두, 남아프리카공화국 케이프타운, 네덜란드 로테르담, 캄보디아 프놈펜, 미국 샬럿

ⓒ 2012 WATV

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