In honor of the 60th anniversary of the World Mission Society Church of God, ASEZ students from the Northeast Region hosted the ASEZ Global Summit and Concert for Peace at Columbia University. On September 9, 2024, Lerner Hall’s Roone Arledge Auditorium brought together over 500 students, faculty, guests, and officials to focus on sustainability and the role of students in driving global change.
Panel Discussions for Sustainability
The event started with a video introducing ASEZ and a message from Pastor Daniel Lee, who spoke about our shared responsibility to protect the Earth, urging attendees to care for the planet through God the Mother’s love. Environmentalist Dr. Steven Cohen, Senior Vice Dean at Columbia, followed with a hopeful lecture on climate change, encouraging participants, saying, “the efforts we are making will not be in vain.” Drawing on his 50+ years of experience, Dr. Cohen explained how climate change, once overlooked, is now a major focus, thanks to efforts like those of ASEZ.
A panel discussion followed, featuring Dr. Lisa Dale from Columbia Climate School, and ASEZ chapter presidents Timothy White (Harvard) and Rachel Frazer (Columbia). They discussed how students, regardless of their field of study, can be global citizens, and how ASEZ empowers them to take action on sustainability. Dr. Dale noted, “These [ASEZ] students were able to show me how this group helps to break down these gigantic global problems into much more bite-sized challenges… and I thought that approach was really inspiring.”
A Concert for Peace
The evening concluded with the “Declaration of Earth Recovery” and a performance by the Messiah Orchestra. The music featured an international repertoire including pieces from Germany, Russia, and folk songs from around the world. One attendee, Isha, said, “The music made me feel energized. Listening to something optimistic and energizing really makes your day a little better.” The final performance by a male and female quartet emphasized caring for the environment and one another. Richard Wilson from Columbia University praised the music as “mind-blowing,” calling the performances “absolutely fantastic.”
As the event ended, attendees, including Columbia students, felt inspired to carry the message forward and become more involved in the community. Assemblyman Steven Raga congratulated the Church of God on 60 years, saying, “You are an amazing organization…every day is a step closer to achieving that goal.” Dr. Cohen also congratulated the church, wishing them “very, very good luck as we start this new academic year.”
