What we do
Diakonia Expo
Memory of the World registered organization
About Diakonia Expo
Background and Purpose
Through hosting the '2005 Korean Christian Social Welfare Expo,' the '2010 Korean Christian Social Welfare Expo,' and the '2016 Diakonia Korea (Expo),' we aim to assess the full scope of the Korean Church's social service and sharing, strengthen the Korean Church's capacity to solve social problems through solidarity and cooperation with domestic and international organizations, civil society, and central and local governments, and contribute to building public consensus on the positive role of the Korean Church.
Responding to Social Needs
In parts of our society, there are suffering minorities experiencing poverty, disease, ignorance, and loneliness. To achieve a welfare society, not only the government but all sectors of society must cooperate in social welfare practice. The human, financial, facility, and material resources of the church, as well as its symbolism and visibility, can all serve as important resources for social welfare. The Expo is an opportunity to discover and utilize these resources.
Responding to Biblical Calling
The Bible clearly states that God, who is rich in compassion and mercy, requires us to live a life of service. The Diakonia Expo is a campaign that proclaims, reaffirms, and deeply imprints God's will upon the church and society.
Responding to Church Needs
The Korean Church has carried out 70% of domestic social welfare work. The critical challenge is to move beyond individual church and denominational efforts toward united projects. When the Korean Church consolidates its capacity, it can exert greater power and renew its image. The Expo promotes such inter-church solidarity.
2005 Diakonia Expo
International Symposium
Leading Christian intellectuals from the United States and Japan examined God's perspective on social welfare, presented techniques, guidelines, and case studies for church social work to enable the Korean Church to practice social service professionally and systematically, and showcased the diverse practical areas of the life movement and the church's role in serving as the last social safety net.
Pastors' Conference
The Pastors' Conference presented alternatives for welfare-oriented pastoral ministry amid the missionary crisis of the Korean Church, and served as a turning point for networking and information exchange among Korean Church pastors for community program development and practice.
120-Year History Exhibition of Christian Social Welfare
The exhibition historically illuminated how Korean Christianity has actively participated in healing the pain and suffering of the marginalized from the early mission period, striving to practice love in the spirit of the Christian gospel across diverse fields of society. It contributed to moving toward the future mission and vision of Korean Christianity through sharing exemplary practices and building human and intellectual networks.
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2010 Diakonia Expo
Community Service Conference
The Community Service Conference promoted the direction of mature volunteer service in the church through case presentations of volunteer groups within the Korean Church, and served as a networking platform for developing and practicing systematic volunteer programs.
West Coast Volunteer Pavilion
The West Coast volunteer exhibition vividly showcased how the Korean Church actively participated in oil cleanup operations for the Taean Peninsula oil spill disaster of December 2007. Under the slogan "Save the West Coast," over 1.2 million volunteers breathed with the affected residents — not as temporary volunteers but as long-term partners. The exhibition also served as a space for ecological awakening to steward creation and all life within it.
Korean Church Haiti Ministry Pavilion
The Haiti Ministry Pavilion vividly presented the scene of the January 2010 magnitude 7.0 earthquake that destroyed 80% of buildings and affected approximately 3 million people. KD participated in the Haiti recovery project in partnership with NGOs. It reported the progress and ministry of the Korean Church Haiti Coalition in supporting welfare and educational facilities for Haitian children's education and spirituality.
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2016 Diakonia Expo
Main Events: International Conference, Sectoral Seminars, Regional Conventions, Cultural Events, Publication of Diakonia Korea White Paper and Documentary Production
