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Saddleback/Seoul Covenant Signed

    Added August 16, 2010

In a celebration of unity, commitment, and responsibility to God’s calling that all people may know him and worship him, Saddleback Church and SaRang Community Church in Seoul, Korea have signed a covenant to uphold the vision and values of the PEACE Plan.

“Although SaRang is only two years older than Saddleback, it has grown four times the size of our church,” says Saddleback’s pastor Rick Warren. After a long term-relationship, mutual respect, and a vision that aligned with ours, we know our partnership is blessed because it is ordained by God.”

“This day is so important because it makes Pastor Rick’s vision of PEACE and church-to-church connection formal,” says Executive PEACE Director, Mark Affleck. “And it puts together the resources of two giant churches in the field doing the things Jesus wants us to do.”

More than seven years ago, the PEACE Plan launched a vision for the church to build upon the work of the saints who came before us. It is ordinary people, empowered by God’s Spirit, doing what Jesus did, together, wherever they are. Its focus is to Promote Reconciliation, Equip Servant Leaders, Assist the Poor, Care for the Sick, and Educate the Next Generation.

Based on similar goals, SaRang’s ministry is based on five visions to change our world (H.E.A.R.T): Healing our nation, Equipping the disciples, Assisting the global Christian network, Raising up the next generation, and Transforming society and culture.

“We are living in this postmodern period that calls for different steps to produce action,” says SaRang Senior Pastor, John Jung-Jyun Oh. “SaRang Church is a disciple-making church intent on doing whatever it takes to reach people for Jesus. Partnering with Saddleback and working together, our hope is that we can win a lot of young people in the 21st century and build them up to be future church leaders.

Pastor Oh continued, “I’m thankful that God has given us this wonderful relationship with Pastor Rick for the past 20 years – trusting one another, walking together, and being able to climb this high mountain set before us as one team.”

Along with Pastor Rick, Pastor Oh believes this is a major turning point for the future of his church, as it is a symbol that the Korean church and the American church are working together to maximize their strength. “We’re not a cruise ship,” emphasizes Pastor Rick. “We’re a battleship and we have a war to win!”

Their prayer is that God will bless this commitment and expand the vision astronomically. “Who knows what’s possible? Rick Warren and I might be able to one day go to the capital city of North Korea and preach the gospel there – nothing is impossible with God.”