“Hope,” they say, is the last thing ever lost. Today, standing before Jonggyo Church, let’s delve into a story of faith and resilience. Jonggyo Church stands as a testament to the enduring power of Christianity in South Korea.
This is a story about the founder of South Korea’s biggest church, Rev. Cho Yong-gi. He significantly impacted the religious landscape of the nation. After the Korean War, Korea was in despair. Cho conveyed the gospel of hope to the Korean people. He was instrumental in growing the Korean church. He developed Yoido Full Gospel Church as the world’s largest church.
Cho, also known as David Yonggi Cho or Paul Yonggi Cho, started his church in Seoul in 1958. At the time, South Korea was still recovering from the Korean War. With only five worshippers, his church grew exponentially. It became a symbol of Christianity’s rapid growth in a Confucian country.
By 1993, the church boasted over 700000 members. Guinness World Records recognized it as the world’s largest church congregation. Although membership declined to about 600000, it remains South Korea’s largest Protestant church. The church has 400 pastors and evangelists in South Korea. Additionally, it has 500 missionaries abroad.
Despite his achievements, Cho and his family faced scandals. In 2017, he was convicted of breach of trust. He caused financial losses to the church. However, he avoided jail with a suspended prison term. His family faced criticism for dominating key positions in the church.
In 2008, Cho stepped down as the church’s top pastor. A non-family member succeeded him. The church called it an unprecedented democratic power transition. Unlike many church founders in South Korea, Cho did not hand over leadership to his children.
Lee Hunjoo from the Christian Alliance For Church Reform noted Cho’s impact. The fast rise of Cho’s church inspired others to expand their congregations. Megachurches in South Korea began with Cho’s Yoido Full Gospel Church.
According to a 2015 census, Protestantism was the biggest religion in South Korea. It was followed by Buddhism and Catholicism. There were about 9.7 million Protestants at the time. This accounted for nearly 20% of the country’s 49 million people.
Cho passed away in 2020. His legacy remains complex. He significantly contributed to Christianity’s growth in South Korea. Yet, his achievements were tainted by scandals.
Jonggyo Church stands as a reminder. It shows how faith can offer hope amidst despair. It also highlights the challenges of leadership and legacy. Take a moment to reflect on the story of faith.