United Methodist Church - Slovak District
Report about the visit to the Korean churches
7th – 22nd December 2007
By Robert Zachar, District Supt. UMC SR
Index
1. Overview
In Bupyeong City, we met with senior pastor Rev. Daniel Han, and Pastor Peter Lee. It was my first visit to Korea and in a church of such a big size. We saw the building with its departments, and had a chance to ask several questions about the ministry of the church. We attended morning prayers and took part in one of the house-groups also. The house-group atmosphere was friendly and open. They shared the word of God and prayed earnestly. I am grateful for the short fellowship following the official program also.
The history and recent ministry of this church was explained to us by several pastors. It was amazing to hear how the church membership grew and how they needed new buildings. We also attended different activities: morning prayers, children’s worship and clubs, youth worship, prayer group, Sunday worship, and the commissioning service for the large mission trip to China. Galilee church has a unique children’s ministry. The church motto is to be like the first church. Galilee church doesn’t want to become a mega church but rather plant new daughter churches in the area.
Here we spent two nights, using it as a base while we were at Bun-Dang city. I had very good personal prayer time at this place.
We saw a little prayer cell up in the hill in the middle of the woods. We prayed at the mountain chapel and visited a missionary lady in her apartment, which is part of the whole complex. Kim Sang Hna is an elderly lady; she is the founder of that place. The project was built sometimes in 70ies, all financed by believers. We were talking about discipline in prayer and exercising certain techniques to achieve better concentration in our personal prayer time.
A Baptist church. Young pastor Daniel Lee gave us a tour of the building with detailed information. He lectured us about their cell ministry system also. Things we saw were very challenging. We attended a kind of thank you service, where leaders of the church gave awards and presents to cell leaders. Leadership of this church is aware how much lay people can do. Their work is highly appreciated.
Prayer ministry - the church gives very strong emphasis to this ministry, especially the way in which the staff of this department follows the procedure:
„Prayer request – prayers itself – God s answer- feed back.“
We attended three cell – nurture groups, for women, men and a mixed one. The leader of each group kept the time, gave space to each participant and led the group in prayer. We saw that God is using this kind of ministry in today society. It is very effective in education, nurture and evangelism.
The building of the church is also worth a mention. It is situated in the centre of town, and the whole of the premises are designed to help people, in any stage of their life, attend Sunday worship or education processes.
We paid a short visit to this congregation’s Sunday service. We met the senior pastor and saw children’s worship. The preaching was very moving, especially at the last part, when the preacher was calling people to confess and receive healing in their lives.
This big building right in the middle of the capital is very impressive. We met the Secretary for mission and president Bishop Mr. Shin Kyung Ha with whom we spent quarter of an hour in general conversation. The bishop presented us with an ebony cross which fits in a man’s hand. It is obviously used in Korean Methodist circles as some kind of symbol while they pray. President bishop was telling us about prayer as the key element in the revival movement in the country.
A meeting with Rev. Dan Hyun Chul, National director, Ambassadors for Christ, and the senior pastor of the Presbyterian Church. The pastor showed us the church building. The congregation has 400 members. We had lunch together and spent time in conversation.
We attended a midweek worship service at 11:30. The meeting took place in the main chapel and approx 15000 people came. The sermon was addressed by Rev. Yongi Cho. The whole service was very moving. The congregation suddenly started praying, while Rev.Yongi Cho was still preaching, but he managed to say: „so this is probably the end“, and we emerged ourselves in prayer. Prayers were well organized, as the whole chapel is divided into smaller sections. Elders approached each section, laid hands on people and prayed. They managed to reach almost everyone in about 20 minutes of prayer. Prayers finished immediately at the sharp sound of a bell. Although there were so many people they were much disciplined. It impressed me profoundly.
This place belongs to Yoido Full Gospel Church. It is a large complex of buildings designed for various Christian activities. There are sport premises, a swimming pool, and a little zoo. Most new to us was the prayer cabins of course. Small in size, but very basic equipment. All in one line, on each side of a small long hill. They are used permanently. We did not enter. It felt very strange and uncomfortable to me. However, I understand this is a specific part of Korean Christianity.
This was a relaxing, kind of tourist activity. However seeing all the historical buildings, feeling the atmosphere of ancient times, its rules and everyday struggles were very helpful in our understanding of modern society. We are grateful to the korean couple who gave of their time, friendship and all provisions for this.
Also an important part of Korean identity . The National movement and its memorial during Japanese occupation.
2. Evaluation
3. Applications
As a district superintendent I was looking for inspiration and possible cooperation with Korean churches.
Cell ministry – although in Slovakia we are in a very different situation, cell ministry is not unknown to us. We were first introduced to this kind of system from our Methodist heritage and from later development also. However we saw in Korea how this kind of ministry works in practice. In the future we have to face the financial cut off from the government. Cell ministry is an option of how to carry on in the future. We were considering inviting Pastor Daniel Lee from Global Mission church Bun Dang city to do some kind of presentation. However we realized it has to be prepared and prayed for.
Prayer discipline and spiritual leadership are more like an inspiration to me. Seeing these very characteristic features of Korean Christianity we realized how different it is to what we know and experience under our conditions. We have more of a manager – administrator character leadership. Exchange of the ministers would probably be a very enriching project for both sides.
Founding a new church in a larger city in Slovakia
This is the project which follows the society trends in our country. People are moving to larger cities, looking for jobs or education.
So far we have:
We need:
Reconstruction of the UMC headquarters in capital –Bratislava.
This is a big, however necessary, financial investment. We own a big building right in the centre of the capital. Because it is an old historical building we struggle to maintain it, not even earning rent on it. We are going to take a mortgage from the bank and remodel some of the attic space in order to gain more space. After this reconstruction we will be able to rent more space and earn more money, which will help us to maintain the building and have some savings to support the work in Slovakia. The approx. amount is 700 000 USD.
4. Thanks
I would like to say thank you to the Korean churches for the full sponsorship of this visit. Without that we would not have been able to experience it. Special thanks belong to Kim Grace, our manager – guide. She worked very hard and all arrangements and appointments were managed thanks to her skills and dedication. We met many people who invited us for meals, provided transport and accommodation. To these I am very thankful also.
Slovakia United Methodist Church VIM Projects – 2008
