David Yonggi Cho and Church Growth

David Yonggi Cho and Church Growth

John Chae

CH547- Dr. Robeck

Table of Contents

1. Introduction

2. A Short Biography of David Yonggi Cho's Early Life and Development

3. Korean Historical and Cultural Contexts

4. Cho's Leadership Behind the Church Growth Principles of YFGC

5. Conclusion

Introduction

From the signs and wonders of the Azusa Street Mission to the diverse pervasiveness of varying charismatic renewals, the Pentecostal movement of the last century has never lacked sensational elements and continues to be replete with mind-boggling occurrences. Within this seemingly supernatural environment, great and colorful leadership characters, such as William Seymour and Aimee Semple McPherson, have thoroughly flourished throughout Pentecostal history. Following these traditions of sensations and powerful leaders, many people argue that the story of David Yonggi Cho and the Yoido Full Gospel Church is undeniably unmatched. Currently boasting an attendance surpassing one million congregants, YFGC is the single largest Christian congregation in the world today and represents the most extraordinary instance of rapid church growth in a remarkably short period of about fifty years. Due to this great success, the figure of David Yonggi Cho, the founder and senior pastor of YFGC, is generally admired and surrounded by a sense of awe, especially among the Korean people. Dr. Cecil Robeck, a representative scholar of the Pentecostal movement has lauded Cho as "a Pentecostal leader who has very few peers anywhere close…(and) the person to be reckoned with…" Along the same lines, Han-hum Oak, a fellow Korean pastor and one-time critic of Cho has also expressed his genuine hope "that many pastors learn the principles and insights of the Reverend Cho." This is only a small sample of the praise Cho has received, although he has been met with a fair share of criticisms as well.

When asked about his recipe for church growth, Cho tends to humbly and appropriately respond by pointing to the Holy Spirit as his ‘senior partner,' or the power of prayer, as the driving forces behind the scenes. Other scholars, such as John Vaughan, may credit the extensive cell group system or the strict organization as the causes of growth. Clearly, it would be foolish not to acknowledge God's providential role in Cho's miraculous work or to deny the effectiveness of the systems of structure. However, it is the writer's position that Cho's charismatic