It is helpful to look at the Lay Pastors Ministry (LPM) in Korea from two perspectives: first, LPM Korea as an organization; and second, the spread of LPM among Korean churches.
LPM Korea was formally established in July 1999, although I had spent two to three years preparing for its official launch. During that preparation period, I trained several churches through the PACE program, and a few dedicated lay pastors joined me in establishing the ministry.
The development of our ministry can be described in three stages.
The first stage was the founding of LPM Korea. Three or four laypeople joined me in starting the work. In fact, they became the founding members of LPM Korea. Having completed PACE training in their own churches, they recognized the value of the ministry. They believed that it would not only strengthen their local churches but also deepen their own spiritual lives. Their commitment was remarkable. They remained with the ministry for more than fifteen years, demonstrating exceptional faithfulness and perseverance.
During those early years, we met almost every day or at least every week to pray, discuss the ministry, refine our vision, and develop practical strategies for serving both local churches and the wider Christian community in Korea. Those meetings became the foundation on which LPM Korea was built.
The second stage began through one of our staff members, Rev. Lee. Through him, another man came to our office. He was working part-time for a Christian newspaper and had come to interview me about the Lay Pastors Ministry. Our conversation lasted much longer than a typical interview because he became deeply interested in the vision of the ministry. Eventually, he decided to join our staff.
His involvement proved to be a significant blessing. Through his connections with the newspaper, I was invited to write a weekly column introducing the Lay Pastors Ministry. For the next two years, nearly one hundred articles were published, each accompanied by my photograph. As a result, many pastors and church leaders throughout Korea became familiar with both the ministry and its vision. The newspaper also helped us promote our seminars and national conferences.
The third stage was the publication of foundational material. One unexpected blessing led to another. A Christian publisher contacted me after reading about the ministry and expressed a desire to publish my Korean translation of Dr. Melvin J. Steinbron’s book, Can the Pastor Do It Alone? I explained that I did not have the financial resources to publish the book, but the publisher generously offered to cover the publication costs. As a result, the book was published without placing a financial burden on our ministry.
Before publication, Dr. Sangbok David Kim carefully reviewed and endorsed the entire manuscript. In 2001, the publisher printed the first 2,000 copies. The timing was significant. After LPM Korea was officially established in July 1999, we held our first National Lay Pastors Ministry Conference in 2000. The publication of the Korean edition of Can the Pastor Do It Alone? the following year greatly expanded public awareness of the ministry. The book was distributed through Christian bookstores across Korea, enabling pastors, church leaders, and laypeople throughout the country to discover the vision and ministry of the Lay Pastors Ministry.
Looking back, it is evident that God faithfully guided each stage of LPM Korea’s development. He provided committed co-workers, opened doors through Christian media, and supplied the resources needed to publish foundational materials. What appeared at the time to be a series of small and ordinary steps became significant milestones in establishing the Lay Pastors Ministry throughout Korea.
God was building the ministry one person, one opportunity, and one step at a time.