It was Easter Sunday, 1885.

Two young missionaries, Henry Appenzeller and Horace Underwood, stepped off a boat onto the shores of Korea. At the time, it was a country largely closed off to the Western world, often called the “Hermit Kingdom.”

They had no grand strategic plan and no idea what was ahead. They just had a deep, burning passion to share the hope of Jesus Christ.

When Appenzeller stepped onto the soil, he prayed a simple prayer: “May the people who sit in darkness see a great light, and may they find the liberty of God’s children.”

What followed wasn’t easy. The church endured Japanese occupation, when pastors were imprisoned for resisting forced Shinto shrine worship, and some died in prison or from the effects of torture. Then came the Korean War, when church leaders were kidnapped or executed and church buildings were destroyed.

Today, the Korean Methodist Church (KMC) is one of the largest Methodist bodies in the world, with approximately 1.5 million members worshiping across more than 6,000 congregations. Early morning prayer gatherings became a hallmark of Korean Christianity. Churches planted schools, hospitals, and ministries of mercy. What started as a handful of missionaries is now one of the world’s greatest missionary-sending forces.

The gospel didn’t simply arrive in Korea. It took root. It multiplied. And then it was carried to the nations.

Like many churches around the world, the KMC also faces significant challenges. Declining birth rates, rapid secularization, generational shifts, and growing cultural pressures are changing the landscape of ministry. Yet the church is focusing on “simple church” structures, building deep care communities, and leveraging new technologies to reach the marginalized while continuing to proclaim Christ.

A Prayer for the Korean Methodist Church

Lord, we thank You for the faithful witness of the Korean Methodist Church and for generations of believers who have shared the good news of Jesus with courage and perseverance. We ask for Your continued protection and provision over their pastors, congregations, and leadership. Renew their passion for evangelism. Encourage young leaders to answer Your call. Use their story to remind us that You are always at work, even (especially!) when the outcome isn’t clear yet. In Jesus’ name, amen.