Queen Elizabeth II Honors Ridgewood Church For Volunteerism

RIDGEWOOD, N.J. — Queen Elizabeth II honored a village church for its commitment to volunteerism with the Queen's Award for Voluntary Service recently.

The World Mission Society Church of God is a faith-based, non-profit organization. Established in 1964, the church has more than 2,700 locations in 175 countries with 2.7 million members.

The non-profit received the award for addressing local needs by helping in disaster relief efforts, hosting blood drives, supporting charity walks, and serving senior citizens and veterans. The organization has locations in Bogota, North Brunswick, Belleville, and Spring Lake, as well.

The award is the United Kingdom's most prestigious volunteer award. By receiving the award, the church became a member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire. The designation is recognized by the 53 Commonwealth of Nations.

The honor was bestowed in part because of a piece the church ran in TIME magazine. The piece describes volunteers as "everyday superheroes" who sacrifice their time to improve communities and features a call to action for everyone, not just church members, to volunteer.

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Photos: Church of God volunteers assisting during disaster relief efforts on the East Coast.

Pastor Kim Joo-Cheoi receives the Queen's Award certificate signed by Queen Elizabeth II

Images courtesy of World Mission Society Church of God