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The Anabaptist model
Many South Koreans in the Korean Anabaptist Center-Jesus Village Church (JVC) community attend seminary in the United States. Others have traveled to North America as part of pastoral exchange programs. Nearly to a person, they mention a gap between Anabaptist theology and North American practice. In Korea, JVC leader Sang-Uk Nham said, churches host daily 5 a.m. prayer meetings — every church, every day. While Koreans who studied in the United States saw a reliance on rationality, prayer, in Korea, is as important as planning. "We don't talk much or discuss much when it comes to church matters. We pray a lot," said Daniel Ahn, another JVC leader. At JVC, which originated when members of a Chun Chon Bible study group determined that Anabaptists most closely resembled the early Christian church, any member of God’s church can baptize any other without waiting for pastoral approval. In fact, no official pastors exist, even though four couples have taken lay leadership roles — a situation atypical of mainstream Korean churches which, like many U.S. churches, rely on a smaller group of elite ministry leaders. "Church," Ahn said, "should depend on God." Still, Korean Anabaptists value North Americans. Both Mennonite Mission Network and Mennonite Church Canada Witnesssupport Cheryl Woelk with KAC and Bob and Fran Gerber within Chun Chon. JVC members hope another couple will volunteer with the church and its alternative school after the Gerbers’ August departure. North Americans, Ahn said, remind Koreans that Christians exist outside of their borders. Similarly, Koreans must go abroad to remind other Anabaptists that people of faith also exist in Korea. For more stories on Anabaptism in South Korea, read Korea's Anabaptist church turns10 and Partnerships across continents unite the body of Christ. In this issue: Features Highlights Viewpoints |
