According to the results of research conducted by Prof. Kim Seon-il of Westminster Graduate School of Theology, titled “Lessons from Recent Research for Gospel Evangelism” and reported on May 16, when they were asked what had moved them to go to church, 55% of the respondents said “encouragement from family, friends or others.”
The research targeted 303 members of 20 churches in Korea who had undergone conversion since 2005. The standard for “conversion” was that the person had been a nonbeliever but was now baptized and attended church.
Asked who had played the role of catalyst in their conversion, 35%, the highest proportion, said that it had been a family member. Others said it was a friend or an elder or younger school mate (27%), and 16% said it was a pastor. Prof. Kim explained, “The research shows that rather than evangelism’s taking place via special evangelical experts or programs, it is believers’ exemplary, good actions and their forming of personal relationships that are much more effective.”
Reporter Lee Saya (Isaiah@kmib.co.kr), with Marion Kim (marionkkim@icloud.com)
Illustration by Young Eun Lee
Full Story in Korean:
노방전도보다 ‘친지의 권유’가 전도에 특효: 웨스트민스터신대원大 김선일 교수, 교회 20곳·성도 303명 조사 결과
