The Study on the Influence of the Fasting Prayer Movement of Rev. Ja Shil Choi in the ChurchGrowth of Yoido Full Gospel Church

Abstract

The Yoido Full Gospel Church (YFGC) is the biggest church in the world. The beginning of the church was the result of the fasting prayer of Rev. Ja Shil Choi. It is certain that due to her fasting prayer, the biggest church was established. Fasting prayer is a unique and useful tool which gives positive influence on faithful life and health. Further, it brings the power of God into our life. Rev. Choi argues that fasting prayer is a useful religious practice through her own experience. Today, we live in the era where we need faith. When we subdue the body through fasting prayer and have deep fellowship with the Holy Spirit, our spirit is filled with the Holy Spirit. Thus, we can do not belong to body, but to the Holy Spirit so that we can be a spirit-filled man and have a victorious life. Through this study, the writer wants to delineate how the Fasting Prayer Movement of Rev. Choi influenced the church growth of Yoido Full Gospel Church. Rev. Ja Shil Choi realized the necessity of fasting prayer mountain for spiritual life, and prayed for the building of prayer mountain. Initially, she tried to establish at Shiheung and made a contract to purchase 10,000 sq.m.; but she was swindled. When she prayed in despair, she heard the voice, “Go to the graveyard at Ohsanri.” Initially, she prayed in a storage house which manages a cemetery and more people gathered in the storage house and built the prayer mountain with the approval of church council of Yoido Full Gospel Church. Prayer is the highest priority task in church growth. The writer proves six essential aspects. The church began at the outskirt of Ja Shil Choi and has become the biggest church in the world. In this growth, the writer proves that Fasting Prayer played an important role in the growth of YFGC. Rev. Choi emphasized not only fasting prayer but also practicing the Christian life. The power of fasting prayer is to restore family, to give spiritual power, and to bring divine healing. As a result, she taught us that fasting prayer brings church growth. We, Christians, should apply the spirituality of fasting prayer to our religious life to bring church growth.