(Photo : Christianity Daily)
On Saturday, September 13, Milal Mission hosted the "2014 Presidential Community Service Award and Congressman Ed Royce's Service Award Ceremony" at The Way Church in Los Angeles.
In the 5th Annual Presidential Community Service Award Ceremony, 76 students from the Milal Mission in Southern California received awards, 62 of whom received the Presidential Award, and 14 of whom received Congressman Ed Royce's Service Award. Milal Mission students participate in Class AGAPE, which is an education program held free of charge on Saturdays for those with developmental disabilities, as well as camps and other community service projects.
The award ceremony began with a viewing of the 2014 "Agape Camp" video, and introductory remarks by Young-Sun Lee, the president of Milal Mission in Southern California. Pastor Jung-Hee Lee then preached a message of "Shining Our Light" from Matthew 5:16. Jung-Soo Lee, the director, and John Lee, the event chairman, then presented the Presidential Awards together, and Young-Sun Lee presented the Congressman's Service Awards and the 2014 Class AGAPE Essay Award.
Dr. Jae Suh Lee, who was a seminary student at the time and is also blind, founded the organization in 1979 to evangelize and serve those with disabilities. The organization is currently active in 66 countries including South Korea and the United States. In 1997, Milal Mission in Southern California was registered by the state as a non-profit organization, and has been continuing its ministry purely from donations and financial support. The organization has been striving to be the hands and feet of those with disabilities by helping those who have been facing difficulties with schooling and education as a result of their disabilities.
Milal Mission runs free Class AGAPE programs for those 5 years old or older who have developmental, cognitive, social, and other disabilities every Saturday from 10 AM to 3 PM in various locations, including Dong-Shin Church in Fullerton, Choong Hyun Mission Church in Los Angeles, Good Stewards Church in northeast Los Angeles, Bethel Church in Irvine, and Torrance First Presbyterian Church.
Camp AGAPE, Milal Mission's annual summer camps, are held in Seattle, Vancouver, northern California, and southern California, during which young volunteers of Milal Mission are able to live with those with disabilities and share life together.
