Beyond the Screen: Shincheonji Cheonan Church Uses Community Gardening to Treat Smartphone Overdependence in Children

In an era deeply saturated with digital devices, the simple act of touching soil and nurturing a living plant has become a rare luxury for children. Today's youth are incredibly adept at swiping screens and consuming rapid-fire short-form videos, but they are increasingly estranged from the patient, natural process of planting a seed and waiting for it to bear fruit. With recent statistics revealing that a staggering 43.0% of South Korean youth are classified as at risk for smartphone overdependence , the need for tangible, real-world intervention is more pressing than ever. To address this digital fatigue, the Cheonan Church of the Matthias Tribe of Shincheonji launched a unique initiative called the "Sharing Garden" within its church grounds. Designed to replace smartphone screens with gardening trowels, the program offers children a profound, dirt-on-their-hands experience that fosters emotional health, patience, and a deep appreciation for life. A Living Classroom: ...
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Emotional Care in an Aging Society: Shincheonji Seoul Dongbu Branch Hosts Ceramic Therapy for Seniors

Addressing Social Isolation in Ultra-Aged Urban Districts

As regional demographics shift rapidly, addressing the social isolation and emotional disconnection of elderly residents has become a critical focal point for community welfare. In districts like Nowon-gu, Seoul, where the population aged 65 and older has surpassed 20% according to official resident registration statistics, senior care is expanding beyond basic livelihood support toward cognitive maintenance and social reintegration. To prevent relations severance among vulnerable seniors, the Shincheonji Volunteer Group Seoul Dongbu Branch managed a specialized "100-Year-Old Hurrah Ceramic Crafting" initiative on June 12th. The therapeutic workshop was hosted at the "House of Peace" (Pyeonghwa-ui Jip) in Nowon-gu, Seoul.

Cognitive Maintenance and Emotional Connection Through Ceramic Crafting

The workshop brought together approximately 20 local senior citizens with an average age of 80 or above to participate in a 1-hour interactive "Clay Perilla Leaf Plate Making" program.

  • Cognitive and Physical Stimulation: The program was systematically designed to stimulate fine motor skills and support dementia and cognitive decline prevention through the physical manipulation of raw clay.

  • Role of Volunteers: Rather than acting as passive assistants, the branch volunteers functioned as social relation facilitators, engaging directly at eye-level with the elderly participants to encourage peer-to-peer communication and natural conversation.

  • Participant Feedback: Attendees expressed high satisfaction while shaping their plates. Resident Lee Mae-sil (88) noted that working with the clay brought back memories of dining with her parents and siblings, expressing anticipation for using the completed, fired plate for daily side dishes.

Expert Evaluation on Building Private-Led Emotional Safety Nets

Lim Choon-sik, the Director of the Korea Senior Welfare Organization Federation and a doctor of gerontological sociology who operates the House of Peace, highlighted the strategic value of the initiative. Lim evaluated that true senior welfare centers on active communication and immediate emotional warmth, praising the workshop as a highly functional space that allowed seniors to share memories and naturally dissolve feelings of structural isolation.

Park In-seok, the Vice Branch Head of the Seoul Dongbu Branch, outlined the group's long-term objectives, stating that the operation focused on addressing blind spots in local care systems where public administration struggles to reach continuously. The representative stated that the branch intends to cooperate steadily with local institutions to establish sustained, private-led emotional safety nets across generations.

Source: https://vo.la/tS38rIw


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Shincheonji Netherlands Church and Class 116 Graduates Carry Out Environmental Cleanup in Rotterdam

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On December 6, members of the Shincheonji Church of Jesus Netherlands Church gathered at Kralingse Bos , one of Rotterdam’s largest lake parks, for a meaningful volunteer activity. The event was part of the church’s “1st Graduation Commemoration Volunteer Program,” bringing together 27 participants , including newly graduated Class 116 students of the Zion Christian Mission Center . Their goal was simple but sincere: to practice the teachings of Jesus by caring for their neighbors and protecting the local environment. Cleaning Kralingse Bos: A Park Loved by the City Kralingse Bos is a large urban lake park located on the eastern side of Rotterdam. Much like Seoul’s Hangang Park, it is a popular place for walking, running, and enjoying nature. Because so many people pass through every day, litter often gathers around the lakeside paths. A representative from Shincheonji Netherlands Church , part of the Bartholomew Tribe , explained that the city also recognized the need for clean...
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Class 116 Graduates Share Warmth Through Kimchi: A Winter of Giving in the Peter and Andre Tribes

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