International Worship in English (IWE - pronounced "I" "WE") is a Christian ministry of Young Nak Presbyterian Church in Myeongdong Seoul, South Korea that in English offers traditional worship at 10am and contemporary worship at 3pm on Sundays. Weddings, counseling, small group studies, fellowship and retreats are provided for the international community in the greater Seoul area. The ministry is like a church (mega-church) within a church (international church). It was formed on Easter in 1998 by a volunteer pastor, Bill Majors, who, for his efforts, was made an Honorary Citizen of Seoul (2005). Young Nak Presbyterian Church was founded by Rev. Kyung-Chik Han, winner of the 1992 Templeton Prize, in 1945. Rev. Han, who died in 2000, lived to see the foundation of an English-language ministry at his church.
Young Nak Presbyterian Church's IWE has a website where weekly internet TV broadcasts of the 10am and 3pm worships can be seen. English services in Korean churches are popular, with almost all the large churches having a service in English. This ministry is unique in two ways: the target of the ministry is to be a "home away from home" for those who come to Korea from abroad, also a non-Korean full-time pastor (Bill Majors who started as a volunteer) was hired in 2002 to pastor people in the international community. The services are open to be attended both by people who do not speak Korean (people from abroad) and by Koreans who attend for many reasons one of which is to practice their English.
Famous quotes containing the words english and/or worship:
“I suggested to them also the great desirability of a general knowledge on the Island of the English language. They are under an English speaking government and are a part of the territory of an English speaking nation.... While I appreciated the desirability of maintaining their grasp on the Spanish language, the beauty of that language and the richness of its literature, that as a practical matter for them it was quite necessary to have a good comprehension of English.”
—Calvin Coolidge (1872–1933)
“Oh! thou clear spirit of clear fire, whom on these seas I as Persian once did worship, till in the sacramental act so burned by thee, that to this hour I bear the scar; I now know thee, thou clear spirit, and I now know that thy right worship is defiance. To neither love nor reverence wilt thou be kind; and e’en for hate thou canst but kill; and all are killed. No fearless fool now fronts thee.”
—Herman Melville (1819–1891)