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Large Korean Methodist Church built on prayer


Thousands attend each of the five Sunday worship services offered weekly at Kumnan Methodist Church in Seoul, Korea.
UMNS photos by Kathy L. Gilbert.

By Kathy L. Gilbert*
Dec. 9, 2008 | SEOUL, Korea (UMNS)

The spiritual foundation of the largest Methodist church in the world begins in a small dark room in the basement where two church members pray continuously 24 hours a day, seven days a week.


The Rev. Charles Jackson visits with Bishop Hong-Do Kim, senior pastor of Kumnan Methodist Church.
         

Bishop Hong-Do Kim believes in the power of prayer and says the church’s success is based on the "saving blood of Jesus Christ."

Kumnan Methodist Church has a membership of 120,000 and baptizes 2,000 people every year, according to Kim. More than 90 associate pastors and 800 Sunday school teachers help Kim "harvest souls for Christ."

"I depend on the grace of God and the power of the Holy Spirit," said the 70-year-old pastor.

A 10-story church in the middle of Seoul, Kumnan has 5 a.m. prayer services every day, four worship services on Sunday morning and another each Sunday evening. Members of a volunteer prayer vigil team take turns praying for the church in two small rooms of the large prayer space. Gleaming wooden floors are lined with prayer mats, and the basement space is open at any time for people wanting to pray or to seek prayers.

Bishop Robert T. Hoshibata, clergy leader of the United Methodist Oregon-Idaho Annual (regional) Conference, was part of a team of U.S. United Methodists visiting Kumnan last summer. The team included the Rev. Tom Carter, director with the Board of Higher Education and Ministry, and the Rev. Charles Jackson, deputy command chaplain for the 8th Army Command at the Yongsan Army Garrison.

"We were graciously welcomed and received by Bishop Kim and his staff and given opportunities to tour the church buildings and view facets of the complex ministry at Kumnan Methodist Church," Hoshibata said.


Kim was assigned pastor of the church
in 1971 when the congregation
had 75 members.
         
        

Marbled halls, a vast sanctuary and rows of desks and cubicles make for an imposing structure.

"I was impressed by the sheer magnitude of this church," Hoshibata said. "Yet, what impressed me most was the fervor of the church membership and staff to participate in the spreading of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I felt overwhelmed by the devotion of those we observed and met to serving God through this church."

The prayer room is "a remarkable example of ways that some practice personal holiness in their lives," he said.

Kumnan Methodist Church had 10 members in 1957 when it was founded as a tent church by Hwal Nan Kim, then president of Ewha Women’s University. It had 75 members in 1971 when Bishop Kim was assigned as pastor. Over the years, its facilities have been reconstructed to accommodate the growing congregation, and its present structure was completed in 1999 with a budget of 55 billion won ($38 million).

Part of the growth can be traced to the presence of U.S. military forces in Korea.

Jackson said Kim strongly supports the U.S. presence, noting that he spearheaded three rallies protesting the withdrawal of U.S. forces from Korea.


Between Sunday worship services,
Bishop Kim hosts a lunch for
visitors from the U.S.
          
                      

"Without U.S. presence, Korea would not have grown to be one of the largest concentrations of Christians in the world," Jackson said. "The Korean people are on fire for the Lord. Bishop Kim credits his success to prayer and preaching the unadulterated Word of God."

The U.S. group attended one of the Sunday worship services. Ushered into a section of the sanctuary equipped with translation equipment, they heard Kim deliver a sermon supporting the U.S. military in Korea.

"The worship service the following Sunday was beautiful; the choir and music was an impressive part of the service," Carter said. "I will always have very fond memories of Bishop Kim and his wonderful church."

*Gilbert is a United Methodist News Service news writer based in Nashville, Tenn.

News media contact: Kathy L. Gilbert, Nashville, Tenn., (615) 742-5470 or newsdesk@umcom.org.

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Resource

Korean Methodist Church


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