BUILDING MULTICULTURAL CHURCHES IN KOREA: AN OUTSIDER'S PERSPECTIVE

Being in Korea for almost four years, and leading an English ministry in three different churches gave me the passion to learn about the ways and means of doing it. When I was just starting with my first English ministry in Gwangju City, it was difficult not just for me, but for the church as well as my to spearhead a ministry like this. I was at a lost at first and I prayed so hard and sought for God’s enlightenment and wisdom to guide me get through the whole process of it. From there, I learned through experience and from talking with good friends and pastors alike of how they go about such kind of ministry in their own churches. Even as I minister now, I feel the need to know more and better understand on how a multiracial church should work.

At Gwangju Saesoon Church, Gwangju City, South Korea,
where I served as English Ministry Pastor, 2008-2009

George Yancey, in his book, "One Body, One Spirit", explained that racial distinctions create the most problems in our society. And if there is one community that is somehow responsible in solving or somehow helping foster diversity, acceptance, unity and fellowship, it should be the church. Yancey defined a multi-racial church as a “church in which no one racial group makes up more than 80 per cent of the attendees of at least one of the major worship services.” From this definition, we could somehow deduce the reality that it is not easy to build a multi-racial church. Yet, from this hinges the challenge that the church has to accept and be a vessel of unity and diversity among people of different race and ethnicity.

At Sekwang Presbyterian Church, Seoul, Korea
where I served as English Ministry Pastor, 2010.

Whereas the United States, and say Singapore, have become melting pots of all cultures for decades now, Korea in a sense is just starting to experience the same yet, it has a lot more to adjust and understand why it is at this time, that a huge number of foreigners are coming here. Enough to say, there's a lot of work to be done to establish a multicultural church in Korea since the culture is not that accepting of foreigners. There are some successful churches though and their examples should be considered in raising one.

A multicultural church is one that is made up of different races, ethnicity and culture, enjoying a genuine fellowship in the faith, under the name of one God and Savior, Jesus Christ. The church should be intentional in creating a multicultural atmosphere, accepting people of different races from all walks of life and making them feel that they are and they have a family inside the church. Those who are spearheading this ministry should as well be skillful in associating with and relating to people of mixed races, unbiased and gracious. They should somehow know and learn how to sympathize and empathize with the people who are culturally different from theirs, seeing where they are coming from, how they can be helped and how they can get empowered in the fellowship of a multi-racial church.

Friends, from different cultures, who helped me during the Cultural Camp
in my church at present, Suwon Jaeil Church. Standing from left to right, Thiu (India), Maria (Philippines),
Wida (Indonesia), Dmitry (Ukraine), Cahaya (Indonesia), Phouang (Laos), and Atem (India). 

The whole concept of raising multicultural churches is close to my heart because this is what my ministry is all about here in Korea. I had a lot of questions, worries, hopes and prayers about it at first and it takes really seeing God’s perspective in doing it. I’ve learned that as a minister whose aim is to promote such kind of community, I have to get as involve as I could not just in their souls but all the more in their need to feel accepted in the community of believers and likewise teach the Body of Christ that it is God’s desire that all men might be saved and be incorporated in the church. And so, they should get educated as well to know how to do it, so as to rally behind the ministry’s core purpose of bringing people from different cultures and colors to the church.

EXTRA: Here's a video of the cultural camp we held for the children in my church with the help of my friends from Torch Trinity Graduate University.

In John 7:11, Jesus Christ prayed that his people be united, as He is united with the Father. In the book of Galatians, the Apostle Paul firmly stated that, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus,” (Galatians 3:38). The preceding Scripture passages allows us to see the heart of Christ and his goal for his people- to be united in him, unmindful of their color, race and ethnicity, but loving each other and living as one as we are one in the name of our Savior.

Photo taken during the last day of our camp for Sekwang Church English Ministry members.
This camp was held with the help of my friends, from right to left, Gerald (Indonesia), Hiba (Iraq),
Cahaya (Indonesia), Maria (Philippines), and Natalya (Kazakhstan).

It is with much conviction that I say that if and when we are able to unite our own race, then would it only be possible for us to encourage and foster multicultural congregations. And when we do, we need to make sure that there is an authentic social interaction between cultures as well, for only then can we say that we have succeeded in uniting God’s people in spite of racial diversity. May we find ourselves in prayer and in faith, (and so does my heart long for), that we could be channels of God’s unity in a healthy diversity so that we can say in praise together with the psalmist…

“All the nations you have made will come and worship before you, oh Lord;

they will bring glory to your Name.”

-Psalm 86:9 (NIV)