Learning from the Korean Church

The Second Korean–UK Consultation

At the end of April 2026, at the invitation of senior pastors from the Korean church, I had the privilege of joining church and mission leaders from across the UK and Europe for the second Korea–UK consultation. The same group visited the UK last year to begin building relationships, but this gathering was more organised, intentional, and forward‑looking. It represented a proactive step from the Korean church, and by the end of our time together several encouraging next steps had been identified, with clear commitments to deepen collaboration.

Much of our time was spent getting to know one another and exploring how churches and mission agencies in our two contexts might learn from each other and connect more effectively. The desire for mutual understanding and shared learning was evident throughout.

Korean Church Services and Young People’s Ministries

On the Sunday we arrived, we attended a number of different church services.

The first service I joined began at 9:00am — and it was already the second service of the day, with another seven still to come. Over 1,500 people gathered for that one service alone.

Later that afternoon, I visited a youth service attended by 1,200 young adults in their 20s and 30s. The congregation was so large that they had already split it, with another 600 meeting earlier in a separate venue. The commitment and enthusiasm were remarkable. Meeting with the leaders of the young people’s ministry was deeply inspiring.

This was just one of ten congregations belonging to the same church, each meeting in different locations. As a whole, the church is heavily involved in outreach and mission, sending teams to more than 15 countries. They even have an app for signing up to mission trips — and when it launched, twice as many young people registered within five minutes as they could accommodate, forcing them to close the booking!

Fifty young adults meet every day at sunrise to pray. Not the wider church — the young people themselves. This level of dedication is striking. Korea currently has over 20,000 missionaries worldwide, with more than 300 serving in the UK.

One challenge they identified is that much of their mission activity has historically focused on establishing Korean churches. Their leaders are now intentionally reaching out because they want to integrate more closely with local churches and develop stronger support structures, in host nations.

The trip was overwhelmingly positive, and I was able to make several meaningful connections with our Global Connections counterparts in Korea. A return visit is already being discussed with the possibility of a third consultation in the UK next year.

Strengthening the Global Church

Our conversations in Korea highlighted the importance of investing time in one another — understanding our contexts, sharing our experiences, and exploring opportunities for collaboration. They also reaffirmed a deeper truth: God’s call for His Church to work together as one requires intentional effort to cross divides, whether cultural, geographic, or generational.

We each have something to learn, and something to offer. The global body of Christ is not complete without the active engagement of both the UK church and the Korean church — and vice versa. Our hope is that this growing partnership will continue to bear fruit to further God’s mission in the world.