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At the background of Berea movement was Semone's campus mission. He, besides leading revival meetings and pastoral ministry, aimed to launch campus mission, and from 1964 he started gospel preaching at Agricultural college of Seoul National University. Since then he led Christian student assembly of Liberal arts college, Education College, Technology College, Music College and entire Christian student assembly.In this process Semone came to know Prof. Sang Hoon Lee(Currently Pastor, lives in America), who was professor of linguistics department of Seoul National University, and Prof. Lee ministered as Sungrak church's vice pastor. And He, teaching Hebrew and Greek in Presbyterian Theological Seminary(Present Presbyterian College and Theological Seminary Graduate School), introduced Semone to his students.
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In May, 1973, the Presbyterian Theological Seminary and the Presbyterian General Assembly Theological Seminary's(the present Chongshin University Graduate School) students to whom were introduced Ki Dong Kim by Prof. Sang Hoon Lee, visited Semone and studied the Bible. And they attended the revival meeting Semone led, saw and experienced many wonders. He named this Bible study as 'Berea' in 1976, and in 1978, 'Berea Academy' started. And in March, 1980, Berea Mission was established and Prof. Man Young Han, who was then the guidance professor of Seoul National University's Music College's Christian student assembly, became chairman of Berea Mission.
Since then Semone lectured Berea Academy 'Main Study Department' for pastors, and Prof. Man Young Han lectured 'Common Study Department' for laymen.
Thousands of students had, by then, gone through the Berea course, been certified, and gone on to teach inside Korea and throughout this world.
The Berea Movement as taught at Berea Academy has truly takes root as an international faith movement.
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The Berea movement centered at the Berea Academy, made Sungrak church explosive. As of July
1986, with over 30,000 registered adult
members, it ranked in 20 largest
church in the world. As a result the Southwest Baptist University of America 'Dr. Ki
Dong Kim Chair of Church Growth Studies, was
established and they entrusted Dr. Kim as the chairperson
and international trustee. From then, Seoul
Sungrak Church has been continuously growing. In
1996, we changed the name of our church, from
'Sungrak Church' to '21st Century's Mission Seoul
Sungrak Church', and renewed our resolution to be
ready for the 21st Century.
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Meanwhile, in
November 1987, pastors sharing
faith with Semone gathered and established "Korea Southern Baptist Church Convention". This religious convention, through teaching of this Berea movement, revived the works of the Holy Spirit which appeared in New Testament and witnessed that God's word and promises are the 65 same today. In 1994, they changed the convention name into "Korea Baptist Church Convention Federation" and have pursued a line of individual church and church unitity following the traditon of the Baptist church.
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Having witnessed that Berea movement accelerates individual church growth, overcoming the wall of denominations, and makes a stroke in this history of Christianity with theocentric faith and theology, churches joined under Berea movement felt the necessity to form a council of churches. So, in February, 1998, the reorganized Council of Berea movement, became the "Council of Churches of Jesus Christ" its ministerizing effect has spread under the Berea Teaching, as an authorized council of churches, joined under Berea movement.
The establishment of Council of Churches of Jesus Christ and its incorporation gave made an opportunity to unite churches joined under the Berea movement which were separated into denominations. Also, it became a legal shelter for churches under the Korea Baptist church convention.
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Berea University of Graduate Studies(President Dr. Ki Dong Kim), clarifying itself as a pure theology education institute which respects the Bible, not doctrines, and trusts the Holy Spirit, not commentaries, obtained authorization from the Ministry of Education on December 5th, 1997. By that, Berea movement became much more active.
Berea University of Graduate Studies is making efforts to educate dutiful professionals with designed courses centering on the Bible, which can be practically applied.
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