| abstract | Since the 1990s, Korean Church has grown to an unprecedented extent in the world. Thousands of new members were educated in the church and began their religious lives as believers. But, today, Korean churches are heading toward a decline after the period of stagnation. They have not received a positive reputation they deserved. There are many reasons for this, but I think one of the main reasons is the result of poor care of new members. The seemingly positive growth of churches was possible due to the large influx of the new members despite of the lack of proper education and care for new members, but the growth and maturity of faith, which new members should have, have rarely achieved. Korean churches that provide a new member class used to think that it was enough when a new member finishes his/her class. However, the churches should have considered what our new members really needed, and whether they could grow in faith only through just onetime new member class. This ministry will also find that it is not just a responsibility of pastors or church leaders who were in charge of new members, but also the responsibility of all to share among all members in the church. And when the existing congregation is always growing up and becoming mature in their faith, new members can grow up emulating them. New members are spiritual children. The church has to teach them everything from the beginning to the end and be with them and take care of them. It cannot be just a few hours of education, but just like a mother-child relationship, the church needs to be with new members. Only then new members will be able to settle in the church and grow up in it with a sense of security and trust. |
