In 2009, the children’s ministries director of the Korean Union Conference, Pastor Park LaeKoo, led a team of 10 pastors all the way to Tennessee to learn about an initiative called Kids in Discipleship (KID). Upon returning, he worked hard on translating all the materials, and KID was launched in some schools and churches throughout Korea. The current director, Ahn JaeSoon, was eager to see KID continue this initiative, so when she learned that the GC children’s ministries director, Dr. Linda Koh, planned to stop by Seoul on her way to Mongolia, she seized the opportunity to invite her to work together with Dr. Sally Phoon, children’s ministries director of the Northern Asia-Pacific Division, to train pastors in this vital task.
From June 23 to 26, 2014, for three intensive days, about 30 pastors with some of their wives prayed, sang, interacted and learned what was necessary for making our kids disciples. In order to make disciples, we ourselves need to be disciples, true disciples of Jesus Christ, learn to connect with Him and be renewed daily at His feet. From there, they learned about engaging parents, grandparents, the home or, in some cases, mentors to be disciples first before discipling their children.
Clear steps were shared as to how they could go about initiating this with the church, gaining the support of significant persons, the pastor and the church board. We strongly believe that if everyone is engaged in this program, either praying for this or supporting it in other ways, the Church will change remarkably and will move forward in terms of spiritual growth and church growth.
A meaningful commitment ceremony was held for the participants, and all five of the association children’s ministries directors of the five conferences/mission pledged to run KID in their churches within the next year. We pray that KID will be the answer to not only growing our churches but also increasing the retention of members, particularly young children, in the churches in Korea.
By Sally Lam-Phoon