Church History

Holy traces of God found at Kwanglim

A Burning flame moving towards the world. Kwanglim and 68 years!

Adorn the place of my sanctuary; and I will glorify the place of my feet. (Isaiah 60:13)
68 years of Kwanglim's ministry of the Gospel is certainly a living witness to the amazing grace of God and the guidance of the Holy Spirit. At times of need God always extended a helping hand, performing miracles and showing signs of hope. Thank and glory be to God, Kwaanglim is growing and expanding even today to be a 'church bringing light to the world ( L.I.G.H.T )' and to share the love and grace of our Lord, Jesus Christ.

A New Era. A New Site for Spiritual Revival
  • 1971
    • Feb. 28

      Rev. Sundo Kim appointed as 5th Senior Pastor

    Rev. Sundo Kim appointed as 5th Senior Pastor

  • 1971
    • May 23

      Joint Korea-US Music Concert

    • June 13

      Launch aid to international mission activities

  • 1972
    • Jan. 16

      Reorganize cell bible study into 11 groups

    • July 9

      Open the 2nd Sunday service session

    • Nov. 19

      Organize the first Men’s Mission Society in Korea

    • Dec. 24

      First Service with all members of the congregation participating

  • 1973
    • June 10

      Lay cornerstone of the Kwanglim Memorial Hall, marking the 20th anniversary

    Lay cornerstone of the Kwanglim Memorial Hall, marking the 20th anniversary

  • 1973
    • Nov. 4

      Dedication Service and Worship commemorating the 20th anniversary

    Dedication Service and Worship commemorating the 20th anniversary

  • 1974
    • Feb. 1

      Launch 1000 members movement

    • April

      Rev. Sundo Kim joining the pastor exchange program in UK

    • Dec. 8

      Plant Youngdong Jeil Church

  • 1975
    • Sept. 13

      Open Wednesday Bible Study Service

    • Sept. 28

      Open University Student Ministry

    • Oct. 12

      Open the 3rd Sunday Service session

    • Nov. 2

      Plant Kangnam Jeil Church

  • 1976
    • Feb. 15

      Plant Chunnam Yeondo Church

    • Feb.

      Launch 2000 members movement

    • Sept.

      Sunday Sermons begin radio broadcasting

  • 1977
    • Jan. 30

      Plant Sanggae Church

    • June 6

      Plant Yeoju Jeil Church

    • Dec. 7

      Embark on a sisterhood relation with the Army Administration School Church

  • 1978
    • Feb. 26

      Organize Connecting Business and Marketing Place to Christ

    • April 18

      Ground breaking of the new church building (Gangnam-gu, Shinsa-dong)

    Ground breaking of the new church building (Gangnam-gu, Shinsa-dong)

  • 1978
    • May 7

      Pitch a tent church and move to the new church site

    Pitch a tent church and move to the new church site

  • 1978
    • July 9

      Publish 'the Pulpit of Kwanglim'

    • Aug. 6

      Sermons aired by FEBC

  • 1979
    • March 18

      Service held to mark the completion of the building framework

    • Aug. 6

      Publish Wesley hymn book & children’s hymn book

  • 1979
    • Dec. 16

      Service to celebrate the relocation of church building

    Service to celebrate the relocation of church building

  • 1980
    • Jan. 30

      Discipleship Training for lay officials.

      Introduce 5 traditions of Kwanglim Church

    • March 26

      Host the Joongang Annual Conference

    • July

      1st  Seminar on the Growth of Modern Churches

    • Oct. 2

      1st Seminar on Spousal Faith

  • 1981
    • March 12

      Seminar on Pastoral Studies

    • April 12

      Inauguration of Philemon Businessperson Mission Society

    • Sept.

      Establish Luke Medicine Mission Society

    Establish Luke Medicine Mission Society

  • 1982
    • May 18

      Form the Kwanglim orchestra

    • Nov. 28

      Dedication Service for the new church building

  • 1983
    • Jan.

      Organize Men’s Mission Union

    • Jan.

      Organize Women’s Mission Union

    • Jan. 18

      Open Trinity Bible Study Course

    • March 13

      Publish the first edition of Kwanglim Newsletter

    • May 29

      Host the first Mission Bazaar 

    • Sept. 15

      Open Choose Life Course

    • Sept. 28

      Chunju Kwanglim Church Inauguration Service

    • Nov. 13

      Service to commemorate the 30th anniversary

    Trinity Bible Study

  • 1984
    • April 1

      Extend Sunday service to 4 sessions

    • April 19

      Host the National Disability and Welfare Conference

    • Aug. 17

      Host Korea-Japan Mission Friendship Conference

    • Sept. 8

      Ground breaking service for the construction of an annex wing and extension to the main Sanctuary

    • Dec. 3

      Kwanglim Mission Music Concert (Saejong Music Hall)

  • 1985
    • April

      Rev. Sundo Kim appointed as superintendent for the Kangnam East Region

    • July 7

      Dedicate Nanjido Jeil Church

    • Aug. 9

      Send a missionary to the Australia Kwanglim Church

    • Nov. 10

      Opening service for the education building and annex wing

  • 1986
    • Jan. 20

      Open Kwanglim Library

    • Oct. 2

      Ground breaking service for Baikeun Retreat Center

    • Oct. 13

      Dedicate Kwangwha Elim Kwanglim Church

  • 1987
    • May 11

      Organize a committee to support family events

    • July 1

      Ground breaking service for Kwanglim Retreat Center

    • July 2

      Ground breaking service for Ahnsan Kwanglim Church

    • July 6

      Dedication service for Baikeun Retreat Center

    • Aug. 30

      Inaugurate Kwanglim Wefare Foundation

    • Sep.

      Completion of Chuncheon Air Force Church

  • 1988
    • Jan. 30

      Install simultaneous interpretation booth

    • March 13

      Start providing Kwanglim scholarship to selected students

    • March 25

      Special theological sermon by Rev. Sundo Kim, marking 30 years of ministry

    Special theological sermon by Rev. Sundo Kim, marking 30 years of ministry

  • 1988
    • May 24

      Inauguration Service at Vancouver Kwanglim Church

    • Oct. 25

      18th Korean Methodist Church General Assembly hosted at Kwanglim Church

    • Oct. 30

      Dedication service for Kwanglim Retreat Center

  • 1989
    • Feb. 26

      Inauguration service for the Philippines Manila Kwanglim Church

    • May 13

      Set up a support group for Chinese mission

    • June 22

      1st Mt Horeb Early Morning Prayer Service Rally

    • Aug. 30

      Ground breaking service for the construction of Kwanglim Seminar House

  • 1989
    • Oct. 5

      Ground breaking service for the construction of Charity House (Kangchon)

    • Dec. 5

      Inauguration Service at Kwanglim Sanggae Campus

    • Dec. 24

      Dedication service for Wesley Education Building (No.2 education building)

  • 1990
    • Jan. 1

      First new year fasting assembly

    • March 20

      Dedication service for Kwanglim Bucheon Campus

    • April 5

      Anniversary service for the foundation of the Southern Seoul Annual Conference, Korean Methodist Church

  • 1991
    • May 9

      Dedication service for Charity House

    Dedication service for Charity House

  • 1991
    • Sept. 8

      First service to congratulate the opening of Sarangbu for the disabled

    • Sept. 22

      Ground breaking service for the construction of Moscow Kwanglim Mission Center

    • Dec. 9

      Dedicate Dangeul Church at Seungri Camp, ROK Army

  • 1992
    • April 1

      Inaugurate a Mission Society for North Korea

      Build a noodle factory at Suncheon, North Korea

    • April 26

      Rev. Sundo Kim visits Mikhail Gorbachev

    • May 30

      Dedication Service for the completion of the Prayer Mt. at Kwanglim Retreat Center

    • July

      Open 2 sessions for sunrise service

  • 1993
    • March 13

      Dedicate a church for Canaan Farmhand School

    • March 21

      Second return of 43 Korean-Sakhalin, all admitted to Charity House

    Second return of 43 Korean-Sakhalin, all admitted to Charity House

  • 1993
    • July 21

      Invite Rev. John Stott to ‘the Lausanne Night’ event

    • Sept. 5

      Dedication service for Kwanglim Sanggae Campus

    • Sept. 18

      Send 1 million dollars in sponsorship to the Baltic Mission Center, Estonia

    Kwanglim Sanggae Campus

  • 1995
    • May 28

      Dedication Service for Ilsan Kwanglim Church

    • July 20

      Dedication Service for Kwanglim Seminar House (Kwangryung)

    • July 27

      Dedication Service for Moscow Mission Center

    Dedication Service for Moscow Mission Center

  • 1995
    • Aug. 22

      Host WMC Council Meeting at Kwanglim Seminar House

    • Nov. 15

      Dedicate New Zealand Kwanglim Church

  • 1996
    • Feb. 18

      Third return of 45 Korean-Sakhalin, all admitted to Charity House

    • March 24

      Dedication service for Bucheon Kwanglim Church

    • April 4

      Ground breaking service for the construction of the Seoul National Hospital Church

    • Aug. 7

      Rev. Sundo Kim appointed as President of World Methodist Council

    • Sept. 23

      Dedicate Inwho Dormitory

  • 1997
    • Jan. 4

      Rev. Sundo Kim receives national merit of order, the Mokryun Award

    • July 24

      Dedication service for the Seoul National University Hospital Church

    • Sept. 4

      Dedication Service for Muahn Kwanglim Church

    • Oct. 27

      Bishop Sundo Kim named as one of Korea’s top 10 preachers

    • Nov. 9

      Dedication Service for Suji Kwanglim Church

    • Dec. 14

      Dedicate Kwanglim Chapel at Africa University, Zimbabwe

  • 1998
    • Feb. 3

      Dedicate Geoje Kwanglim Church

    • April 27

      Dedicate Onyang Hope Church

    • May 8

      Dedicate Youngcheon Church, Daejeon

    • Nov. 3

      Host Jangcheon Theology Symposium (Methodist Theological University)

  • 1998
    • Nov. 8

      45th Church Foundation Anniversary, Special service to mark 40 years of Bishop Sundo Kim’s ministry

    • Nov. 22

      Dedication service for the installment of stained glass window at the main sanctuary

    stained glass window at the main sanctuary

  • 1999
    • July 9

      Grand opening of the Seocho Welfare Center

    • Sept. 16

      Dedication of the Seoul National University Hospital

    Dedication of the Seoul National University Hospital

  • 2000
    • June 9

      Inauguration of Frankfurt Kwanglim Church, Germany

    • June 21

      Dedication of the Antioch Protestant Church, Turkey

    Antioch Protestant Church, Turkey

  • 2000
    • Sept. 5

      Dedication of the Baltic Mission Center Chapel, Estonia

    • Nov. 25

      Inauguration of the Rumania Kwanglim Church

    • Dec. 4

      Dedication of Bansuk Church, Kwanggu