International Links

Wales and Korea

There have been close and important Christian links between Wales and Korea for well over a century. Our Dean of International Development, Sungho Choi PhD, is from South Korea. Today we are forging strong partnership links with SaRang Community Church, Seoul.

In 2010-11 there are about 10 South Korean students in WEST

Christian links between the two countries

There have been close and important Christian links between the two countries for well over a century now. Some of these include:

The first Protestant missionary martyr in Korea, namely, Robert Jermain Thomas (1839-1866). He was a Welshman, whose father was the Welsh-speaking minister of Hanofer Congregational Chapel, in Llanofer, near Abergavenny.
It was Robert Thomas who first distributed a few copies of the Scriptures and preached to the Koreans in their own language. Many of the early Korean Christians embraced the Christian gospel through reading the Bible given to them by Thomas.
The 1904-05 revival in Wales also influenced Korea. Hearing of the revival in Wales in 1905 through Welsh Presbyterian missionaries in India, some Korean Christians and American missionaries began to pray earnestly for revival in Korea; this occurred in 1905 and especially in 1907.
Several other missionaries from Wales have served in Korea during the twentieth century, such as Rev John Thomas, born near the village of Llanllawddog in Carmarthenshire (in Korea 1910 to 1939) and John Lewis from Lleyn Peninsula who went out under the auspices of the Overseas Missionary Fellowship in 1974 for a four year period.
The former WEST Principal, Dr Eryl Davies, makes regular visits to Korea for preaching and lecturing purposes and has established strong links with church and university and seminary leaders in the country. He has also contributed to some of their theology journals and major conferences. The New Testament lecturer, Dr Tom Holland, also visits Korea for teaching purposes. The present Principal, Rev Jonathan Stephen and the Chairman, Rev Peter Milsom, visited in 2008. The Dean of International Development, Mr Sungho Choi, is Korean and makes frequent visits.

WEST has some full-time Korean students pursuing the degrees of BA (Hons), MTh, MPhil and PhD. These students assume key positions as church ministers and seminary teachers or missionaries when they return home.

Historical background: Protestant churches in Korea

A Welshman, Robert Jermain Thomas, was the first Protestant martyr in Korea; he was killed in 1866 in North Korea.
Official Protestant missions began in Korea in 1884 with North American Presbyterian and Methodist missionaries.
A major contribution to the training of Korean church leaders was made in 1890 when a missionary, Rev John Nevius, visited Korea from China. He introduced what is now known as the Nevius method of missions, namely, self-support, self-propagation and self-government. These principles are highly valued and still used by Korean churches.
Severe persecution was experienced under Japanese occupation (1910-1945) and then, in the North, under Communism in the late 1940s onwards.
North Korea was the focal point of Korean Christianity until August 1945, the end of World War 2. Pyong Yang, its capital, used to be called the Jerusalem of the East. On Sunday morning, streets were crowded with people in traditional white Korean costumes carrying their Bibles and hymn books on the way to church.
Since 1950, the year of the war between North and South Korea, over 3,000 churches in North Korea were destroyed by the communist regime.
Many Protestants, before and after the Korean War (1950-1953), moved to the South and helped to evangelise the area.
South Korean churches long and pray for reunification in order to evangelise and plant churches there.
On the initiative of some Presbyterian ministers, a church was dedicated in Pyong Yang, now capital of North Korea, in September 1931 to remember the contribution and death of the young Welsh missionary, Robert Thomas, martyred in 1866. Sadly, this church was closed down later by the Communist regime and damaged.
At this opening service, one of the church deacons testified that he was present as a boy of twelve when Thomas, the Welsh missionary, was murdered. The child also took three copies of the Bible which had been thrown on to the beach.
Robert Thomas now has a very special place in the hearts of Christians in South Korea. There are plans in the South to build a new memorial church to Robert J Thomas, their first Protestant martyr.
Many Korean Protestant missionaries have been commissioned to serve overseas, with about half of them serving in Asia.

Religious situation in Korea

Major religions in Korea include Shamanism, Buddhism, Confucianism and Christianity.
All the main Christian denominations are represented in Korea; the largest is the Presbyterian Church with many sub-divisions.
The largest Presbyterian church in the world is situated in Seoul with a membership of over 75,000.
The world's largest Methodist church, and the world's largest Pentecostal church are located in Seoul.
About 25% of the country's population claim to be Christians and active members of various Protestant churches. Most of them are evangelical Christians who love the Bible.
There has been an enormous growth in the number, and membership, of Protestant churches in the country. In the 110 year history of the Korean Protestant church, there have been four major periods of rapid church growth: 1905-1910; 1919-1931; 1945-1960; 1975-1990.
South Korea now has 50,000 churches, more than 80,000 clergymen and over ten million Christians out of its 48 million population.

Postscript

WEST intends to build a library bearing the name of Robert Thomas. It is anticipated that this new library will arouse considerable interest in Wales and amongst Koreans; it will be a worthy tribute to Thomas and, hopefully, a challenge to many in the West to be involved personally and sacrificially in world mission.

Gifts are invited towards this project. Please contact us if you would like to help.

Wales and the USA

Most years WEST makes a deputation trip to like-minded seminaries and churches in the States. The main aim is to recruit students for the MTh and research programmes. In 2010-11 there are about 20 American students in WEST.

Wales is about the size of Massachusetts. It is part of the United Kingdom (England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland). WEST was established in Wales in 1985. It is one of only a handful of faithful Bible colleges in the UK.

The capital of Wales is Cardiff (population 300,000), 160 miles west of London.
The Welsh Assembly in Cardiff is responsible for local affairs.
Much of the country is spectacular coastal and mountain scenery.
Everyone speaks English and nearly 1 million speak Welsh as well.
The Welsh, like the Scots, are Celts, the ancient inhabitants of the British Isles.
Cardiff Wales Airport is only 10 miles out of Cardiff and a similar distance from WEST.

Wales: Church history

Known for its remarkable history of spiritual awakenings (1735 - 1905)
In the 18th and 19th centuries this led to the establishment of the Calvinistic Methodist denomination, later called the Presbyterian Church of Wales
An outstanding 20th century Welsh Christian leader was Dr Martyn Lloyd-Jones
WEST fosters warm Calvinistic preaching and scholarship and is situated near Dr Lloyd-Jones first church.
Established in South Wales in 1985 (a predecessor college dated back to 1936).
Its mission is: ‘To promote biblical thinking, personal godliness and God-honoring church related ministries worldwide’.
Protestant - Reformed - Evangelical - Interdenominational - International
160 students (men and women) from more than 20 countries.
It’s a seminary offering initial training for the full-time ministry, in-service training and post-graduate research.
One of only a handful of faithful Bible colleges in the UK.
Ideal for someone wanting to train cross-culturally.

Why consider WEST?

Our fees are about half what they are in American seminaries.
To experience a different culture while studying in English.
We are not just a seminary, we are a caring Christian community.
To be exposed to a range of international theological perspectives.
To obtain an internationally recognized UK university qualification.

If you can not leave the USA you can still study with WEST!

The BA Hons (equivalent of a US MDiv) is available by distance learning(email, CD Rom, etc).
The MTh and MA are taught intensively on campus over 6 weeks only.
The MPhil and PhD are by thesis only, requiring only one short visit per year.
A Sabbaticals and Furloughs here would give you a chance to come up for air as part of a worshipping community.

We invite you to support us in prayer as well as financially