On 11 March 2025, the Korea District held its 70th District Assembly at the Anseong Sarang Church Retreat Center, attended by 521 delegates. The assembly elected Rev. Choi, Hyoung-Young (Seongnam Church), as the new District Superintendent. Rev. Choi is currently the senior pastor of Sung Nam Church of the Nazarene. He has been serving in this capacity for 21 years. He planted and pastored Yang-Woo-Ri Church of the Nazarene for 16 years. He also served as district treasurer from 2004 to 2006 and district secretary from 2010 to 2012.
After his election, Rev. Choi, Hyoung-Young, shared, “I feel fear and a heavy sense of responsibility before God who has raised me to serve the denomination despite my infinite shortcomings and many faults,” and asked for “continuous prayers and cooperation so that I can serve the General Assembly well.” He expressed his feelings by saying, “I will work hard to unite all the churches of the Nazarene, which are facing a turning point, and achieve even a little better development.”
This District Assembly began with an opening service hosted by DS Rev. Yoon Moon-ki, followed by a prayer by Mr. Wang Jun-bok, the president of the Lay Leaders Association, a Bible reading by Mrs. Kwon Mi-ae, Korea National District NMI President, a special song by the lay elders choir, and a sermon by the General Superintendent, Dr. Gustavo Crocker. The President of the National Council of Churches in Korea, Rev. Kim Jong-hyeok, delivered a congratulatory address via video, and the Presidents of the Christian Holiness Church of Korea, Rev. Ryu Seung-dong, and Kim Man-soo, both of whom delivered congratulatory messages.
Dr. Crocker gave the message about “Holy People, Holy Purpose ” from the passage in 1 Peter 2:9-10, pointed out “self-righteousness” as the greatest opposition to holiness, and emphasized that we should live a holy life as the chosen people. He also emphasized that we should establish God’s holy kingdom through the work of the Holy Spirit, and urged us to “live a life where we take off our own righteousness every day, put on the garment of holiness, and fulfill the Lord’s mission.”
The second part of the meeting, held after the opening declaration, was followed by various reports, including the District Superintendent’s annual report. DS Yoon Moon-ki reported on the activities of the previous assembly year through a video and expressed his gratitude to those who devoted themselves throughout the year.
This District Assembly also revised the District Assembly Operation Regulations. Retired ministers’ right to vote will be granted until the age of 75 after retirement, and the retirement standard for senior pastors will be the day before they turn 71. In addition, senior pastors who have passed the retirement age will be referred to as “temporary pastors” and appointed by the District Superintendent with a vote of more than two-thirds of the board each year. In addition, the Low Birth Rate Countermeasures Committee was newly established as a special committee, and the revision bill to remove the Women Ministers Committee from the standing committee was carried over to the next session.
Ordination Service
The Ordination Service was also held at 7:30 PM on the same day. It began with the presiding officer, Rev. Moon-ki Yoon. It was held in a solemn yet festive atmosphere, and Rev. Yong-ju Lee, District Secretary, introduced the candidates for ordination. After explaining the purpose of the ordination ceremony, Dr. Crocker gave the candidates a pledge and a mission. Then, Rev. Moon-ki Yoon led the pledge of the ordinands and Rev. Eun-yeop Kim, a member of the District Ministerial Study Board, offered a prayer.
In the middle of the event, a choir of pastors sang a hymn, and Dr. Crocker delivered a sermon titled “Calling in the Storm (Luke 8:22-25).” In his sermon, Dr. Crocker emphasized that when unexpected storms come, one must center their faith in the Lord. He said, “Our plans may change, and unexpected things may happen, but if Jesus is in the boat of our lives, we can laugh even in the storm.” He emphasized that God’s presence is always with his people. The mission is not a journey to be taken alone, but with the Lord. He also said the mission brings his people outside their comfort zone. He explained with a biblical example that Jesus led his disciples to a different generation, not a comfort zone.
Finally, he warned of the danger of trying to control our faith, saying, “If our religious life is habitual and limited to religious formalities, we will live as if we were sailing alone.” He also said, “If the Lord is on our boat, but we forget Him, we will only realize it when the storm comes.” Dr. Crocker asked, “Where is our faith? He reminded us of Jesus’ question, “Where is the Lord? We must place our faith in Jesus Christ, not in property, buildings, material things, or government.” He concluded his sermon by saying, “When our faith is in the Lord, the Lord will govern our lives and rebuke the storm,” and “The good news is that the Lord is the Lord of the storm.”
Korea National District accepted seven pastors for ordination: Rotuam Riana (Senior Pastor, Korea Mijo Community Church), Park Hyeon-ho (Assistant Pastor, Uiui Tree Church), Shin Seon-ho (Senior Pastor, The Gospel Church), Jang Mi-na (Assistant Pastor, Angung Church), Kim In-sun (Assistant Pastor, Anjung Church), Kwon Hui-seong (Senior Pastor, Onseum Church), Kang Won-nam (Assistant Pastor, Cheonan Eunhye Church).
Several pastors were also accepted as new district-licensed ministers. Pastor Lim Nam-mi (Assistant Pastor, Chodae Church), Choi Young-ran (Sky Garden Community Church), Jeong Young-mi (Angung Church), Kim Jun (Tangjeong Church), Lee In-hee (Serving Church), Park Yeol-mae (Tojin Church), Kim Soon-nyeo (Asan Lord’s Church), Jo Jeong-sun (Ingwang Church), Noh Young-ok (Hanmaeum Church), Kim Eun-hee (Namdang Church), Yoo Chae-eun (Cheonan Disciple Church), Adema (Harbor Mission Church), Han Gi-ppeum (Evergreen Pasture Church).
Korea National District hopes that these pastors will grow to be faithful leaders and servants of God who will fulfill God’s calling and mission in the Kingdom of God.