Baek Byung-yeul is a journalist at The Korea Times focused on cultural content, including films and cultural events in South Korea. You can contact him at baekby@koreatimes.co.kr to share your insights.
Global church leaders to convene in Seoul for peace, reconciliation
Lee Young-hoon, senior pastor of Yoido Full Gospel Church, speaks during a press conference for an upcoming Church Growth International (CGI) Conference to be held in Seoul from Oct. 23 to Oct. 26 at the Plaza Hotel Seoul, Thursday. Courtesy of Yoido Full Gospel Church
By Baek Byung-yeul
World church leaders will gather in Seoul this month to issue a strong message calling for a swift end to wars around the world, including the wars in the Middle East and the Ukraine-Russia war, Lee Young-hoon, senior pastor of Yoido Full Gospel Church, said Thursday.
"On the last day of the Church Growth International (CGI) Conference, a large-scale prayer meeting will be held. Church leaders from around the world will gather to issue a powerful message that the wars in Ukraine and Israel must be stopped as soon as possible. The prayer will also include issues on the Korean Peninsula," the senior pastor said during a press conference in Seoul.
The CGI will hold its 30th conference in Seoul from Oct. 23 to 26. About 12,000 believers from 79 countries worldwide are expected to attend, according to the organizing committee.
On the event's last day, Oct. 26, church leaders will gather at Yonsei University Amphitheater for a large prayer assembly.
"The wars in Israel and Ukraine are the greatest concerns for people worldwide, and with reports of large-scale North Korean troops being dispatched to Russia and Israel expanding its offensive, we want to strongly convey the message that wars must stop at this time," Lee said.
The senior pastor shared that the prayer will also include content about healing various conflicts and promoting reconciliation in current Korean society.
"Korean society has somehow become a society of conflicts. The prayer will include content related to healing conflicts, reconciliation and unity," Lee said.
At the prayer, Lee, David Sumrall, a pastor of the Cathedral of Praise in the Philippines; Rev. Francois Forchle of the International Evangelistic Centre Evidence, and William Wilson, a pastor of the Pentecostal World Fellowship, are scheduled to preach.
Established in 1976, the CGI is an international organization founded by Cho Yong-gi, founder and senior pastor of the Yoido Full Gospel Church. In its early days, the CGI was an event that shared the growth story of Yoido Full Gospel Church, which had achieved unprecedented revival. The CGI has since transformed into a gathering of spiritual leaders guiding the world's churches.
"The CGI Conference will be a practical event that contributes to the growth of many churches in line with this trend," Lee said.