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.
FEBC-Korea holds nationwide seminars to revive gospel mission
Tyson Coughlin, lead pastor of Vizion Church in the U.S., speaks during Far East Broadcasting Company's (FEBC) Nationwide Pastors’ Conference held at FEBC Art Hall in Seoul, Monday. Courtesy of FEBC-Korea
By Baek Byung-yeul
Far East Broadcasting Company (FEBC)-Korea concluded a series of FEBC Nationwide Pastors’ Conference events to commemorate its 70th anniversary, calling on the Korean church to restore its core mission of spreading the gospel, the Christian radio network said Wednesday.
On Monday, FEBC-Korea, led by Rev. Billy Kim, hosted the pastoral seminar and evangelism rally at FEBC Art Hall in Seoul, drawing around 700 church leaders from across the country to discuss the spiritual challenges of the modern era.
Tyson Coughlin, lead pastor of Vizion Church in Charlotte, North Carolina, served as the keynote speaker. Coughlin, who has been described as a next-generation leader, shared his personal testimony of overcoming ministerial failure to achieve spiritual revival, FEBC-Korea said.
"Every promise comes with a problem," Coughlin told the audience during his sermon. "There is a divine purpose in every trial, which ultimately leads us to trust in God alone. God reverses our situations to reveal his glory, and the ultimate promise is the lord himself."
The American pastor recounted his experience of planting a church that initially struggled, seeing its congregation drop from 100 members to 70 before eventually growing into a thriving community of about 5,000 worshippers.
The pastor stressed that the fundamental strength of any religious institution lies in its message rather than its methods. "The best strategy for church growth is the gospel. The power to change the world lies only in the gospel," he said.
Coughlin also urged the participants to focus on the youth to ensure the long-term survival of the faith.
"We must respect the past, but we must build the church for the future," Coughlin said. "Investing in the next generation and spreading the gospel is the very essence of the church."
The seminar also included a special lecture by Unification Minister Chung Dong-young, who spoke on the Korean church’s humanitarian mission to support North Korean defectors based on a peaceful vision for unification.
Tyson Coughlin, lead pastor of Vizion Church in the U.S., speaks during Far East Broadcasting Company's (FEBC) Nationwide Pastors’ Conference held at Kimdaejung Convention Center in Gwangju, Tuesday. Courtesy of FEBC-Korea
Following the Seoul event, the momentum shifted to the southwestern region. On Tuesday, FEBC-Korea held a massive radio evangelism rally at Kimdaejung Convention Center in Gwangju. Under the slogan "3,000 people evangelizing 3,000 others," the event saw roughly 3,000 potential converts gather to commit themselves to the faith.
At the event, Kim urged the Korean church to return to the essence of the gospel.
"A clear and certain message of the gospel has been firmly planted in our hearts through this seminar and the regional rallies," Kim said, noting that such movements are essential for the future of the domestic religious community
Kim also commended Coughlin, who he said represents the future of global ministry.
"Pastor Tyson Coughlin is a next-generation leader who will lead the American church, who could even surpass the impact of Rev. Billy Graham," Kim said.
Following the successful events in Seoul and Gwangju, FEBC-Korea plans to host another large-scale radio evangelism rally in Daegu on May 10.