Anthea McGibbon, Staff ReporterTHE LARGEST Christian church in the world today, with a membership of more than 750,000 members is situated in South Korea. It is the Yoida Full Gospel Church (YFGC).
The church was established on May 18, 1958 in a living room. A recent report in the Korea Post says the original church was attended by the then pastor, Pastor Choi Jashil, her three children and an elderly woman who had come in to escape the rain.
Current pastor, Pastor David Yonggi Cho, who started attending in the early days of the church, related, recently, to the Korean Post, on the growth of the church.
A month after the church's establishment, a woman who had suffered from paralysis during the birth of her son, caught the attention of the church. Prayers of Pastor Choi and member David Cho, a miracle and a rejoicing woman, soon sparked interest in the little church. The membership increased to 50 and the living room was no longer adequate. Eventually tent churches funded by contributions of the members were built. But continued reported miracles of healing soon had the seams of the tents bursting. In 1961, there were 1,000 registered members, 600 attending regularly.
On Oct 15, 1961, a church was established on the grounds where a major crusade was held earlier that year, under the name Full Gospel Revival Centre. On April 26, 1962, David Cho was ordained pastor, and in 1964, upon invitation, he travelled to the 50th anniversary celebrations of the American Assemblies of God, as Korea's representative. The pastor who got married in 1965 to Grace Kim, says the church by 1968 had a membership of 8,000, which meant having three services on Sundays.
Pastor Cho remembers baptising several hundred persons in a single day, an event that caused him to collapse.
This collapse led to the birth of a cell system, of trained deacons, elders and district leaders, officially introduced in 1967. The system comprised 7,750 individuals of 2,267 families organised into 250 cells, and the home visits of the cell leaders proved an effective method in drawing the new members into the fold of the church.
Once a week, the leaders met to promote the growth of the church.
The women's fellowship was formed in 1960 and the men's fellowship followed three years later. Both play a critical role in providing volunteers for the various services of the church.
With membership rising to 10,000 the Sodaemun church was no longer adequate. Eventually the complex on Yoida island was built, but not without its share of trials. The negative factor of the coinciding Middle Eastern "oil shock" led to the plummeting of the Korean dollar, and hence, at that time many of the church members lost their jobs. After much praying and bonding, according to Pastor Cho, the first worship service at the now YFGC was held on August 19, 1973. On September 18-22, that year, the 10th Pentecostal World Conference was held at YFGC and the Hyochang Stadium with 50,000 Koreans and 5,000 foreign guests in attendance. On September 23, the inaugural thanksgiving service was held at the church with 18,000 members attending, and with this YFGC entered into a new era.
Following the relocation to Yoida, in 1977 the church grew to 50,000 members and by 1979 to 100,000 members, and to 200,144 in 1981. The church progressed outside of numerical numbers (see quick facts).
The church has since built independent churches around the country. The church's growth never stopped and in 1985 had 500,000 members and 700,000 in 1982.
General Editor of The Korea Post, Rev. Jae W Chung, said this growth is testimony of the work of the Holy Spirit, and free family bonding of the church members.
Today said Rev. Chung, the Yoida Full Gospel is a highlighting experience for hundreds of visitors to Korea each Sunday. For him the 'Yoida experience' is always refreshing, uplifting, challenging and strengthening. He is particularly proud of the tight bond woven among the members.
Visitors can also access the prayer mountain, each Sunday, through buses provided.
QUICK FACTS
Jan 20, 1977 - 10-storey educational building
Dec 31, 1981 - 13-storey educational building
March 1973 - Osan-ri Prayer Mountain in memory of Pastor Choi Jashil
September 1977 - Full Gospel Theological Seminary in the US
July 4, 1982 - main sanctuary and countless small prayer rooms and sanctuaries completed
November 1984 - 33-metre monument of a cross and praying hands built in front of the church's main sanctuary
1985 - The sculptured external wall of the church's facade was added.
July 1996 - satellite broadcast
Pastor David Cho is a convert from Buddhism. In 1976 he started Church Growth International and is the author of more than 100 books. In 1992 he was elected chairman of the Executive Committee of the World Pentecostal Assemblies of God Fellowship (now World Assemblies of God Fellowship) which has a membership of 30,000,000 among 60 nations of the world.
The Church was recognised by the Guiness book of world records as the church with the largest congregation.
