An all-day event to spread awareness about and pray for North Korea and reunification in Korea is to take place in Los Angeles on August 15.
The event, called 'Adopt815,' comprises of three parts: an early morning prayer at Koreatown Galleria (on Western and Olympic) from 6:30 to 8 AM; an afternoon of workshop sessions from 2 to 5 PM; and an evening worship and prayer meeting at Oriental Mission Church from 7 to 9 PM. Locations for the workshop sessions will be determined after the number of attendees is determined, and will be posted on the event website (www.adoptaday.com).
(From left to right: Terry Kay, Min Jun, Hyepin Im, Grace Yoo, Jim-Bob Park, and Gina Kay) Organizers of the 'Adopt815' event held a press conference on Wednesday regarding the event.
"This is a unique event because first generation Koreans have often had prayer meetings regarding North Korea and unification," said Reverend Jim-Bob Park, the senior pastor of Oriental Mission Church. "This is the first major prayer movement spearheaded by the second generation Koreans who are now inviting first generation Koreans to join them."
Representatives from various organizations will be featured during the workshop sessions, including REAH International, Samaritan's Purse, the Eugene Bell Foundation, Hope for Orphans, and those who have taught at Pyongyang University of Science and Technology (PUST). Workshops and the evening prayer session will take place in English, while the morning prayer session will be bilingual in English and Korean.
Organizers say they hope to mobilize Christians to pray for Korea and for reunification in Korea, and to spread awareness of North Korea field work on August 15 particularly because of the significance of the date of the event. August 15 is significant because it marks the 70th anniversary since Korea's independence from Japan, but it also marks the beginnings of the country's division into North and South, they explained.
"Second and third generation Koreans -- we don't know the details of the politics and history regarding North Korea," said Grace Yoo, community organizer and former executive director of Korean American Coalition. "We're hoping the event could be a way to spread awareness and for Korean Americans to become more informed."
Organizers of Adopt815 have held several meetings regarding North Korea and reunification in Korea since last year, including prayer meetings last August and in January, and a workshop in June.
