2014 미션아가페 성탄절 사랑 나눔 잔치(AJC Special)
Georgia World Congress Center on Thursday
Dec. 25, 2014, in Atlanta. David Tulis/AJC Special
한인봉사단체 미션아가페는 크리스마스 날에도 어려운 이웃과 노숙자들을 위해 봉사했다.
호세아 피드 더 헝그리와 함께 크리스마스 봉사를 진행한 이 행사에는 약 1만 명의 어려운
이웃들이 참석해 성탄의 의미를 나눴다.
25일, 모두가 가족과 따뜻한 시간을 보내고 있었을 크리스마스에도 한인봉사단체 미션아가페의 봉사열정은 식지 않았다.
호세아 피드 더 헝그리와 함께 애틀랜타 다운타운의 조지아월드 콩그레스 센터에서 개최한 크리스마스 봉사에는 약 1만명의 어려운 이웃과 노숙자들이 참석해 사랑 나눔 잔치가 열렸다.
오전 9시부터 오후 3시까지 진행된 사랑 나눔 잔치에는 52명의 미션 아가페 한인 봉사자들이 참가했다. 행사 전날 봉사자들은 준비 모임을 갖고 크리스마스 당일 나눠줄 음식을 준비하였다.
이날 행사에는 보컬팀의 연주와 노래도 곁들여져 한인들의 다양한 문화를 알리고 진정한 성탄의 의미를 되새겼다.
음악공연 이외에도 예배, 미용 및 이발과 같은 재능 기부 행사가 이어졌고 무료진료와 카이로 프랙틱 서비스도 이뤄져 건강을 검진해 보는 시간도 가졌다.
미션아가페 관계자는 “식사, 어린이들의 선물 등으로 어려운 이웃에게 한걸음 다가가는 시간이었다”라며 “예수 성탄의 정신인 어려운 형제자매에 대한 사랑을 실천했다”고 말했다.
총 1만명에게 음식을 제공할 이번 행사에서 미션 아가페는 3,000명 분의 음식을 준비하였다. 치킨 2,200파운드, 에그롤 3,000개, 쌀 700파운드를 준비한 미션 아가페는 가수 김진 씨와 호프 메신저팀이 공연이 이어졌다.
Some of the more than 5,000 homeless people expected for the annual Hosea Feed the Homeless Christmas dinner sit down to eat a hot meal at the Georgia World Congress Center on Thursday, Dec. 25, 2014, in Atlanta. David Tulis/AJC Special
Mission Agape volunteer singer Jin Kim is framed by a large Hosea Feed the Homeless poster at the annual Christmas dinner for more than 5,000 homeless people at the Georgia World Congress Center on Thursday, Dec. 25, 2014, in Atlanta. David Tulis/AJC Special
Bride Nicole Marie Holman, center, is escorted down the aisle for her marriage to fellow homeless person Jerald Devan Lowe during the annual Hosea Feed the Homeless Christmas dinner at the Georgia World Congress Center on Thursday, Dec. 25, 2014, in Atlanta. Spokesperson Quisa Foster said that even though Holman and Lowe are homeless, they often volunteer to help out at the annual charity dinner. David Tulis/AJC Special
Groom Jerald Lowe, left, and bride Nicole Holman, right, who are both homeless, are married by the Rev. Michael McQueen during the annual Hosea Feed the Homeless Christmas dinner at the Georgia World Congress Center on Thursday, Dec. 25, 2014, in Atlanta. Spokesperson Quisa Foster said that even though Holman and Lowe are homeless, they often volunteer to help out at the annual charity dinner. David Tulis/AJC Special
Bride Nicole Holman, left, and groom Jerald Lowe, who are both homeless, are married by the Rev. Michael McQueen, right, during the annual Hosea Feed the Homeless Christmas dinner at the Georgia World Congress Center on Thursday, Dec. 25, 2014, in Atlanta. Spokesperson Quisa Foster said that even though Holman and Lowe are homeless, they often volunteer to help out at the annual charity dinner. David Tulis/AJC Special
Bride Nicole, left, and groom Jerald Lowe, who are both homeless, celebrate their marriage with a kiss during the annual Hosea Feed the Homeless Christmas dinner at the Georgia World Congress Center on Thursday, Dec. 25, 2014, in Atlanta. Spokesperson Quisa Foster said that even though Holman and Lowe are homeless, they often volunteer to help out at the annual charity dinner. David Tulis/AJC Special
Volunteer Lee Shreve smiles after witnessing the marriage of Jerald Lowe and Nicole Holman during the annual Hosea Feed the Homeless Christmas dinner after Shreve helped prepare meals for more than 5,000 homeless people at the Georgia World Congress Center on Thursday, Dec. 25, 2014, in Atlanta. David Tulis/AJC Special
Bride Nicole, left, and groom Jerald Lowe, who are both homeless, celebrate their marriage during the annual Hosea Feed the Homeless Christmas dinner at the Georgia World Congress Center on Thursday, Dec. 25, 2014, in Atlanta. Spokesperson Quisa Foster said that even though Holman and Lowe are homeless, they often volunteer to help out at the annual charity dinner. David Tulis/AJC Special
Twins Brenton Ballard, left, and his 10-year-old brother Trenton play with some of their donated presents during the annual Hosea Feed the Homeless Christmas dinner at the Georgia World Congress Center on Thursday, Dec. 25, 2014, in Atlanta. David Tulis/AJC Special
Sandra Davis, center, gets a hair styling from Shemel Bolton during the annual Hosea Feed the Homeless Christmas dinner for 5,000 homeless people at the Georgia World Congress Center on Thursday, Dec. 25, 2014, in Atlanta. In addition to a meal prepared by more than 2,000 volunteers, the homeless were treated grooming, medical check-ups, social services and even presents for youngsters. David Tulis/AJC Special
Volunteers carry bags of donations past a line of homeless people during the annual Hosea Feed the Homeless Christmas dinner at the Georgia World Congress Center on Thursday, Dec. 25, 2014, in Atlanta. Spokesperson Quisa Foster said about 2,000 volunteers help prepare meals for an expected 5,000 homeless people at the event. David Tulis/AJC Special
Some of the more than 5,000 homeless people expected to eat a hot meal at the Georgia World Congress Center line up for the annual Hosea Feed the Homeless Christmas dinner on Thursday, Dec. 25, 2014, in Atlanta. Volunteers can send donations or sign up to help distribute food, clothing and other items at the event's website http://4hosea.org. David Tulis/AJC Special
Volunteer Moon Jones, left, helps Charlene McLendon unload her donations of clothing, linens and blankets at the annual Hosea Feed the Homeless Christmas dinner at the Georgia World Congress Center on Thursday, Dec. 25, 2014, in Atlanta. David Tulis/AJC Special
Nikki Dedani, center, helps some of the more than 2,000 volunteers prepare meals for an expected 5,000 homeless people during the annual Hosea Feed the Homeless Christmas dinner at the Georgia World Congress Center on Thursday, Dec. 25, 2014, in Atlanta. Spokesperson Quisa Foster said the volunteer crew makes an additional 5,000 dinners to be delivered to shut-ins, assisted living facilities and hospitals in the metro area. David Tulis/AJC Special
Gerard St. Louis waits to eat a hot meal at the annual Hosea Feed the Homeless Christmas dinner where more than 5,000 homeless people were expected for the annual charity event at the Georgia World Congress Center on Thursday, Dec. 25, 2014, in Atlanta. St. Louis works at a downtown hotel. David Tulis/AJC Special
Chicken steams in the preparation area where about 2,000 volunteers prepare meals for an expected 5,000 homeless people during the annual Hosea Feed the Homeless Christmas dinner at the Georgia World Congress Center on Thursday, Dec. 25, 2014, in Atlanta. Mission Agape charity's James Song brought more than a dozen volunteers to help prepare chicken, rice, egg rolls and beans for the meal. David Tulis/AJC Special
Peter Chung, left, and Theresa Sin, from the Mission Agape charity, help prepare chicken for more than 5,000 homeless people expected for the annual Hosea Feed the Homeless Christmas dinner at the Georgia World Congress Center on Thursday, Dec. 25, 2014, in Atlanta. David Tulis/AJC Special
Some of the more than 2,000 volunteers for the annual Hosea Feed the Homeless Christmas dinner help prepare meals for an expected crowd of 5,000 homeless people at the Georgia World Congress Center on Thursday, Dec. 25, 2014, in Atlanta. Volunteers can send donations or sign up to help distribute food, clothing and other items at the event's website http://4hosea.org. David Tulis/AJC Special
Plates of food including chicken, rice, green beans, egg rolls, corn and desserts are prepared for an expected crowd of 5,000 homeless people during the annual Hosea Feed the Homeless Christmas dinner at the Georgia World Congress Center on Thursday, Dec. 25, 2014, in Atlanta. David Tulis/AJC Special
Nikki Dedani, center, helps some of the more than 2,000 fellow volunteers prepare meals for an expected 5,000 homeless people during the annual Hosea Feed the Homeless Christmas dinner at the Georgia World Congress Center on Thursday, Dec. 25, 2014, in Atlanta. David Tulis/AJC Special
Chelsea Washington, 6, smiles in the kitchen as she helps her mom Brenda and about 2,000 other volunteers during the annual Hosea Feed the Homeless Christmas dinner at the Georgia World Congress Center on Thursday, Dec. 25, 2014, in Atlanta. David Tulis/AJC Special
While they check out a group photo, brother and sister volunteers Lakeea Harrington, Eddie Williams and Brenda Washington, left to right, are framed by a sign in the kitchen at the Georgia World Congress Center reminding them about their mission during the annual Hosea Feed the Homeless Christmas dinner on Thursday, Dec. 25, 2014, in Atlanta. David Tulis/AJC Special
Vanity Hill, center, joins some of the more than 2,000 volunteers for the annual Hosea Feed the Homeless Christmas dinner to help serve meals for more than 5,000 homeless people at the Georgia World Congress Center on Thursday, Dec. 25, 2014, in Atlanta. Volunteers can send donations or sign up to help distribute food, clothing and other items at the event's website http://4hosea.org. David Tulis/AJC Special
A table with mementos reminds visitors about the history of civil rights icon Hosea Williams, the namesake for the annual Hosea Feed the Homeless Christmas dinner, during the annual event at the Georgia World Congress Center on Thursday, Dec. 25, 2014, in Atlanta. David Tulis/AJC Special
Some of the more than 5,000 homeless people expected for the annual Hosea Feed the Homeless Christmas dinner sit down to eat a hot meal at the Georgia World Congress Center on Thursday, Dec. 25, 2014, in Atlanta. David Tulis/AJC Special
David Parks, left, gets help from Brian Barbato, right, as they join more than 5,000 fellow homeless people during the annual Hosea Feed the Homeless Christmas dinner at the Georgia World Congress Center on Thursday, Dec. 25, 2014, in Atlanta. David Tulis/AJC Special
