Contrasting Visions of Church: An Exploration of Two Korean House Church Movements

Youngki Kim

Etd

Contrasting Visions of Church: An Exploration of Two Korean House Church Movements

Public Deposited

MLA citation style (9th ed.)

Youngki Kim. Contrasting Visions of Church: An Exploration of Two Korean House Church Movements. rim.ir.atla.com/concern/etds/b6f4d441-01ce-4544-8db4-c381a63d3667.

APA citation style (7th ed.)

Y. Kim. Contrasting Visions of Church: An Exploration of Two Korean House Church Movements. https://rim.ir.atla.com/concern/etds/b6f4d441-01ce-4544-8db4-c381a63d3667

Chicago citation style (CMOS 17, author-date)

Youngki Kim. Contrasting Visions of Church: An Exploration of Two Korean House Church Movements. https://rim.ir.atla.com/concern/etds/b6f4d441-01ce-4544-8db4-c381a63d3667.

Note: These citations are programmatically generated and may be incomplete.

Creator

Youngki Kim

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In Copyright

Abstract

This study explores the growth and multiplication dynamics within two Korean Gajung Churches—Bridge Church and Green Hill Church—through a comparative case study of their theological, cultural, and organizational contexts. It addresses two key research questions: (1) the internal and external factors influencing church multiplication, and (2) the role of theological frameworks in shaping these practices. Bridge Church, grounded in the Gospel of the Kingdom theology, emphasizes relational depth, spiritual formation, and organic leadership transitions. While this approach fosters sustainable, mission-aligned growth, it faces challenges such as delayed multiplication and leadership fatigue, often influenced by life-stage constraints and strong relational bonds. In contrast, Green Hill Church adopts principles from the Church Growth Movement (CGM), prioritizing structured training, hierarchical efficiency, and rapid multiplication. Though effective in achieving numerical growth, this pragmatic approach can result in emotional strain, fragmented relationships, and premature leadership assignments. The findings indicate that sustainable church multiplication requires a balance of theological integrity, relational trust, structured leadership pathways, and life-cycle sensitivity. Integrating the relational and theological depth of Kingdom theology with the strategic clarity of CGM offers a promising framework for growth. This study proposes a hybrid model that combines theological formation, mentorship-based leadership development, and adaptive strategies to foster mission-driven, culturally responsive, and inclusive multiplication practices within Korean and Korean immigrant church contexts.

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