“A church on sand dunes?” a skeptical voice echoed. That’s how many reacted to the idea of building Yoido Full Gospel Church on Yeouido Island. Back in the early 1970s, Yeouido was a desolate expanse. It was primarily sand dunes. There wasn’t even a bridge connecting it to Seoul. Yet, Pastor David Yonggi Cho felt a divine calling to build here, right across from the National Assembly. Yoido Full Gospel Church’s story began much earlier, in 1958, in a humble living room. Pastor Cho and his mother-in-law, Choi Ja-shil, held their first service with only a handful of attendees. They embarked on a mission of service, helping the poor, praying for the sick, and spreading their message of the Three-Fold Blessing: spirit, soul, and body. This resonated with many, and the church grew rapidly. They moved from a living room to a tent, then to a series of larger tents. Finally, they established a permanent structure in Seodaemun in 1961.
The Seodaemun church thrived, but the growing congregation soon outgrew the space. Pastor Cho’s innovative cell system, where small groups met in homes, further fueled the church’s expansion. This system, often led by women, proved incredibly effective in fostering community and outreach. By the early 1970s, the church had reached 10,000 members and needed a new home. That’s when the seemingly audacious decision to build on Yeouido was made. Despite economic hardships and the oil shock of 1973, the church persevered. The current Yoido Full Gospel Church building was completed in 1973. It could hold 12,000 people.
The church’s growth continued exponentially. By 1977, membership reached 50,000, doubling just two years later. To manage this immense growth, satellite churches were established throughout Seoul. The main auditorium expanded to its current capacity of over 20,000. Despite these expansions, multiple Sunday services in various languages are still needed to accommodate the hundreds of thousands of members and visitors. Yoido Full Gospel Church, once a small gathering in a living room, became the world’s largest Pentecostal congregation. It has faced its share of controversies, from embezzlement accusations to support for controversial figures. Yet, it remains a significant presence in South Korea’s religious landscape.