| abstract |
This study aims to examine the crisis faced by the Korean church. In the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic and to explore new pastoral alternatives for overcoming this challenge. The pandemic, unprecedented in the 21st century, brought about social isolation, economic and political paralysis, and a fragmentation of human relationships. These circumstances directly affected the Korean church, leading to the suspension of worship services and the rapid expansion of online worship. In this process, the identity of the church was significantly shaken. Most notably, the weakening of communal faith and the breakdown of emotional bonds among believers led to the rise of phenomena such as "Ganaan Christians" and "floating Christians." This rapid transformation revealed not merely a change in worship style but a profound crisis in the church’s social credibility and spiritual essence, which the Korean church continues to address as an urgent pastoral task.
Within this context, the present study focuses on Leonard Sweet's EPIC theory (Experiential, Participatory, Image-driven, Connected), which has been recognized as a valuable framework for interpreting the identity of the postmodern church. By applying and reconstructing this theory to reflect the realities of the Korean church, this study proposes the "EPIC L.I.F.E." (Learning, Immersive, Fellowship, Experience) model as a new paradigm for faith practice.
This study adopts a case study methodology centered on the small group ministries of Wolgwang Church. Various practices such as one-on-one discipleship, the Angelus prayer, evangelistic journeys, bazaars, family worship, and the Scripture Meditation School enabled believers to recover communal faith and emotional relationships through processes of experience, participation, immersion, and learning. The findings confirm that the EPIC L.I.F.E. model functions as an effective and practical alternative for enhancing affective relationships among congregants and strengthening the resilience of the church community.
Through this study, it is hoped that the Korean church will be equipped to address its post-pandemic pastoral challenges, restore the essence of genuine Christian community, and establish a renewed paradigm of faith for the contemporary era.
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