Under God’s grace the members of the Church of God in Hayward, California, located in the Bay Area, have made a commitment to beautify their neighborhood to glorify God and lead many neighbors to Zion.
The Adopt-A-Block program established by the City of Hayward allows volunteer groups the opportunity to keep a chosen area of the city litter-free for a period of up to two years. However, based on the commitment of the organization it can be an ongoing activity without end. In the names of both, World Mission Society Church of God and ASEZ, the Church of God university student volunteer group, the church in Hayward has adopted two streets and made the resolution to diligently clean them up as those streets are near the local Zion. With the goal to display God’s glory in the neighborhood where God’s temple stands, they hope to lead many local community members to come to the church and study the Bible.
Continuous efforts every month
Already, groups of ten to twenty members continuously make efforts every month to clean the assigned streets. Their first clean-up was held in November 2023 and since then, as of May 2024, they have conducted 11 clean-ups. The church members say that by carrying out this work they can promote the good influence and teachings of God the Father and God the Mother and bring vitality to the community near the church.
Through this program, the members are able to work together with local government departments such as the Maintenance Services Department of the City of Hayward. By working without fail every month to beautify the streets of Hayward, opportunities will certainly arise to deliver the good news of eternal life to government officials like council members and mayors.
God the Mother, a great example
Some may wonder what motivates the Church of God members to carry out works like these and the answer is very simple: Because our Heavenly Mother did it first and set the perfect example for us as Her children. Since the early stages of the church, Heavenly Mother has been carrying out good deeds toward neighbors with a loving heart full of consideration. As our Mother puts others before Herself, we want to follow in Her footsteps and are now carrying out various volunteer services even under various volunteer groups such as ASEZ.
All Church of God locations throughout the world, not only in Hayward, participate in clean-ups like these, such as in the Pacific Islands and Africa. All the members are so joyful to conduct these events knowing it was through the example and guidance of our Mother that we carry them out.
By following Christ’s teaching to become the salt and light of the world, surely God’s people in Hayward and all throughout the world will come streaming to beautiful Mountain Zion!
