Rapid urbanization, especially in developing countries, is expected to result in an additional five billion people living in cities by 2030. As a result, the creation of sustainable urban environments is paramount, and the price of green spaces that bring recreation to the lives of the inhabitants. The number of other people is also increasing. That is why the World Mission Society of the Church of God (general president, Rev. Joo-cheol Kim) has been welcomed for her “Forest of Hope” campaign, which is about planting trees and clearing forests. To celebrate World Environment Day (June 5), cities across the country, as well as Quezon City, Antipolo, San Nicolas, Baguio, Iloilo, Laoag and Tacloban, actively participated in the global campaign.
On the morning of June 27, other people began gathering at the A DENR NCR La Mesa daycare center in Quezon City. There were about a hundred other people, including members of God’s Church, neighbors, and friends, who were full of power as they wore their yellow vests. After the opening ceremony, Administrative Assistant II Cornelio Tablante of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), informed the volunteers on how to care for the saplings. Shortly after, the planting of trees began. Using shovels and pickaxes, they dug holes and painstakingly planted ready saplings in the National Capital Region (NCR). In just over an hour, all 50 Narra trees were planted.
Cornelio Tablante, head of the DENR, explained to the participants how to take care of young trees, emphasizing that they are also living beings that must be cared for. He thanked the participants for taking the time to plant trees. He says that trees take time to grow, and planted saplings will gain advantages for our posterity.
Despite the complicated road, full of dust and slopes, the volunteers’ faces shone with smiles when they arrived at the tree planting site. Volunteer Rachel Baterina said: “I feel smart to be a part of this event today because we can’t participate on occasions like this. This is very special because this tree planting occasion is part of the 60th birthday of the Church of God. “Seeing the members smile despite the awkward cases made me feel their sincerity in joining the occasion. Although the road to the plantation site is dusty and slippery, the components held up and remained positive,” she added. Ally Costa, a college student who participates in the program in her spare time, said: “[when] they were planting the little trees themselves, when we were putting the little trees in the designated hole, at that moment I imagined how this little tree would soon become It would become a large, thriving tree that would soon become a habitat for many creatures, which would soon release massive amounts of oxygen into the air and absorb green carbon. And I actually think that when you look at that, the effect of what I did today is actually very gratifying.
The “Forest of Hope” crusade aims to promote urban sustainability. It will run until the 30th of this month and will involve another 250 people in various parts of the Philippines and more than 1,100 saplings will be planted. The crusade will also include a reading of the “Generations Joint Declaration to Respond to Climate Change” across existing and long-term generations and an exhibition-debate to inform citizens about immediate desertification. In addition, carbon relief activities such as “Erasing Plastic Footprints” and “365 Footprints of Hope” will be held in various countries around the world during the month of June. “For the Church’s 60th anniversary, we are launching the ‘Challenge of Hope’ to open up a hopeful future for another 8 billion people with a new crusade every month,” said a Church official, adding, “We hope that the small movements in the network of local points will become a wonderful wind that replaces the country and the world.
The World Missionary Society, Church of God, is a leader in reducing carbon emissions and maintaining marine ecosystems. This year alone, the Church has planted more than 13,700 trees, helping to decrease weed errors in the Philippines, a country vulnerable to climate change. . The Church has also been at the forefront of promoting the importance of environmental coverage through campaigns to clean up city streets, parks, beaches, and forests, as well as forums and seminars. In Central and Manila, ASEZ WAO, the youth volunteer organization The Church of God People’s Organization and ASEZ, the volunteer organization of college students, organized environmental discussion concerts and environmental forums to raise awareness of civic awareness. More than 220 people from all walks of life, as well as officials from the Ministry of the Environment. and Natural Resources of Cebu Province, Cebu City, and Lapu-Lapu City, participated in the program.
The Church of God has helped Filipino society in many ways, adding assistance to the disadvantaged, donating blood, offering help to medical personnel with COVID-19, assisting in the schooling of youth and youth, visiting hospitals, offering relief materials to evacuation centers from the eruption of Taal. and offering relief to those affected by Typhoon Haiyan. He has been revered 233 times through Vice Presidents, Congressmen, Secretaries of Health, Welfare and Development, Environment and Natural Resources, President of the International Environmental Law Commission, university rectors, governors and mayors. Globally, they plant empty trees, streets, and beaches and provide aid to others affected by disasters. For those smart actions, foreign governments, agencies, and organizations have expressed their help and encouragement through quotes and letters of thanks. The church has won more than 4,600 awards, including the Presidential Award for Volunteer Service from the 3 U. S. governments, the Presidential Award from the Tri-Governments of the Republic of Korea, and the Medal of Merit from the Brazilian Legislature.