A Critical Reflection upon Pyungyang Great Revival in Light of Howard Snyder’s Fivefold Church-Renewal Dimension

The Korean Church is currently in a state of gradual decline in terms of both numerical growth and social credibility. That is, the Korean Church is in urgent need of renewal and revival. In this situation, this paper aims to provide the Korean Christian world with some theoretical and practical insights on church renewal through the correlative exploration between Howard Snyder’s theory and Pyungyang Great Revival. The body of the paper consists of three parts in the following order: 1) the ecclesiological implication of church renewal with special focus on God’s initiative role; 2) Snyder’s fivefold church-renewal dimension alongside with historical illustrations pertaining to each aspect; 3) the investigation of Pyungyang Great Revival in light of the fivefold dimension. As a result of this research, the correlation between Pyungyang Great Revival and Snyder’s theory was discovered in such ways that the 1907 Pyungyang Great Revival was an epoch-making event in Korean Christian history when Snyder’s fivefold church-renewal dimension(personal, corporate, conceptual, structural, missiological) brimmed over in abundance. First, personal renewal occurred in the lives of such Christian leaders asHardie and Gil. Second, with Jangdaehyun Church as the epicenter, numerous local churches were pentecostally renewed and revived. Third, such conceptual renewal as Saebyuck-kido and Cheolya-kido ignited and continued to kindle the spark of the Great Revival. Fourth, such structural renewal as Sakyungwhe deepened, broadened, and strengthened the revival flame across the nation. Finally, missiological renewal was visualized and actualized into Nalyeonbo and the Million Souls Movement. To experience another Pyungyang Great Revival in this 21st century, the Korean Church as a whole must first turn to God, the alpha and omega of renewal, in repentant and expectant ways. In particular, Christian leaders should be wholly sanctified before God in pursuit of personal renewal. At the same time, they must engage in corporate renewal with particualr reference to Snyder’s tenfold suggestion, while vigoroulsy seeking conceptual and structural renewal, both biblically faithful and contextually relevant, that can ultimately conduce to missiological renewal. When this five-fold renewal dimension takes place in the Korean Church and “a vital urge toward its own health and renewal” is unleashed, it can be the Church which truly reflects the Kingdom and powerfully transforms the Korean society and beyond.