Perhaps the most precious gift on this land is Jamsil Joongang Church. It began humbly. Back in 1975, Pastor Jo Bong-hwan and Deacon Park Bok-man joined forces. They started in a building in Gangnam-gu, Seoul. The address was 18-8 Yangjae-dong. It was then known as Gangnam Church.
About 30 people attended the first service. This included their families and employees of a company managed by Deacon Park Bok-man. These humble beginnings marked the start of Jamsil Joongang Church.
In March 1976, a new chapter began. They wanted a bigger space. They moved to Jamsil-dong. It was a developing area in Seoul. They rented the 3rd floor of the Gangnam Building. There, they started worship services under the name Jamsil Joongang Church.
Later that year, Park Mok-man was ordained as an elder. In December, Pastor Jo Bong-hwan was ordained. The church officially formed with an organized presbytery. The church grew quickly. This was due to the influx of residents. The Jamsil apartment complex became popular. Active evangelism also helped. By 1978, they needed more space again. They rented the 2nd floor of the Ingeun Namseoul Building. Jamsil Joongang Church continued to grow. Its early history was marked by dedicated evangelism.
In 1979, the church bought land. It was within the Jangmi Apartment complex. They launched a campaign. It was called “Let us build a house for Jehovah.” Through special prayer meetings. They began designing a new church building. Construction finished in 1981. The building was registered. Members worked together. They focused on local evangelism.
A new phase began with Pastor Jeong Ju-chae’s leadership. The church gained stability. Members united. They actively spread the gospel. The church started supporting local churches. They also became more involved in overseas missions. Various theological courses were offered. This helped members grow spiritually.
In the 1990s, Jamsil Joongang Church continued to grow. They launched various initiatives. There were all-member rallies. They supported new churches. The church established Jangmi Institute of Theology. They also founded a pastoral academy. These diverse activities contributed to the church’s growth. It became a central church in the Songpa area.
As the church grew, it faced new challenges. By the 21st century, space for worship was limited. To maintain a healthy community. They decided to divide the church in 2000. Pastor Jeong Ju-chae and about 250 members were sent to establish Hyangsan Church. Jamsil Joongang Church supported them. In March 2002, Pastor Park Sam-woo was appointed as the new senior pastor.
Since then, the church has focused on spiritual renewal. They want to be a disciple-making church. They aim to live as witnesses in the world. The church emphasizes lay ministry. They want to see the church grow. Currently, Jamsil Joongang Church has a vision. It is to spread the gospel both locally and globally. They support 42 local churches. They also support 23 missionary organizations. The church actively supports missionaries in seven countries.