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.
Yoido Full Gospel Church pastor appointed secretary general of Pentecostal World Fellowship
Lee Young-hoon, senior pastor of Yoido Full Gospel Church, speaks during the closing session of the Pentecostal World Conference held in Helsinki, Finland, Friday. Courtesy of Yoido Full Gospel Church
By Baek Byung-yeul
Lee Young-hoon, senior pastor of Yoido Full Gospel Church, was appointed the secretary general of the Pentecostal World Fellowship (PWF), the world’s largest association of Pentecostal churches.
The PWF, established in Zurich in 1947, represents about 700 million believers across more than 150 countries. The appointment highlights the growing influence of Asian and Korean churches in the global Pentecostal movement, the Seoul-based church said.
Pastor Lee was unanimously elected at a presbytery meeting of the PWF held in Helsinki, Finland, June 3, and his appointment was formally announced during the closing session of the 27th Pentecostal World Conference (PWC) on June 6, witnessed by Pentecostal leaders from around the globe. His term as secretary general is three years.
The PWC, held every five years, serves as a crucial platform for Pentecostal leaders worldwide to connect, exchange ideas and forge common stances on missionary directions and global issues. The secretary general position is one of the highest leadership roles within the PWF, overseeing the organization, finances and administration of the global Pentecostal movement.
Yoido Full Gospel Church has been an active participant in the PWF since 1973 and successfully hosted the 19th PWC meeting in Seoul in 1998. Pastor Lee previously served as vice president, fostering close cooperative relationships with Pentecostal leaders across various nations.
Lee Young-hoon, senior pastor of Yoido Full Gospel Church, speaks during the closing session of the Pentecostal World Conference held in Helsinki, Finland, Friday. Courtesy of Yoido Full Gospel Church
William Wilson, president of the PWF, remarked on Lee's appointment, "Pastor Lee Young-hoon is a global leader deeply trusted by the international Pentecostal community. His leadership will significantly contribute to the advancement of the global Pentecostal church for the next generation."
In response to his appointment, Pastor Lee affirmed his commitment to serving the global expansion of the Holy Spirit movement.
"I will devote all my capabilities to serving the global expansion of the Holy Spirit movement," he said. "In particular, I will do my best to ensure that the churches in Korea and Asia become forward bases for world evangelization."
The senior pastor further emphasized the contemporary relevance of the movement, saying, "Our era urgently calls for the power of the Holy Spirit, and the Pentecostal movement is called to be the alternative."
In addition to solidifying the theological foundation of the Holy Spirit movement, Lee added that his agenda includes strengthening the network of global Pentecostal churches and establishing systems for training next-generation leaders.