Nearly 50 Korean churches unite for three nights of worship and renewal

SUWANEE, Ga. — The Council of Korean Southern Baptist Churches in Georgia hosted its statewide revival on Oct. 3-5, 2025, under the theme “Restart! – Renewed in Grace, Renewed in Spirit, Renewed in Revival.”

The three-day gathering, held at New Life Baptist Church in Suwanee, brought together pastors and members from nearly 50 Korean Georgia Baptist churches across the state for a time of worship, renewal, and unity in the gospel.

According to the council, the purpose of the revival was to rebuild relationships among pastors and churches that have struggled since the COVID-19 pandemic. This is the first revival after a seven-year break.

This event was supported by the Georgia Baptist Mission Board and the Gwinnett Metro Baptist Network. 

More than 600 participants attended over the three nights, representing the diversity of Korean Baptist congregations in Georgia. Each service was marked by heartfelt worship, powerful preaching, and renewed commitment to gospel unity.

Joseph Choi, the GBMB's Korean representative, said the revival centered around boosting leaders and church members with the gospel, encouraging evangelism, strengthening church relationships, and refocusing the churches' mindset on collaboration for the Kingdom of God. “One of the pastors said we have to meet together, support each other, and take care of each other.”

Mark Marshall, Senior Lead Strategist of Church Strengthening at thje GBMB, said attendees were passionate worshippers and he was happy to speak briefly at one of the services. “It’s a great picture of what heaven is going to look like one day. Every nation and tongue.” Marshall said right now, Georgia Baptist has an initiative to evangelize to every person in Georgia. “Without the Koreans and the Spanish and others, we would not be able to accomplish that.”

Marshall said the choir was made up of retired pastors and their wives. 

Each evening featured a different message from Rev. Kwan-Sung Kim, senior pastor of Lowwall Baptist Church in Ulsan, South Korea. 

“The leaders chose a good speaker. A lot of churches are still very small, and a lot of the pastors and wives are burned out. His personal testimony is very encouraging to not stop ministering to the church even if it is small,” said Choi.  

On the first night, New Life’s praise team provided worship, and Kim talked about a God who turns tears into grace based on Genesis 49: 5-7. The second night featured the Bethel Faith Church praise team, and Kim talked about those who restore another’s calling based on 2 Samuel 9: 1-10. The closing night three featured the United Praise Team, and Kim talked about a life whose purpose is love based on 1 Samual 23: 1-14. 

Choi said what deeply moved participants during the revival was not only Kim’s biblical preaching, but also his honest testimony of pain, grace, and redemption. Kim testified that it was not his ability but God’s grace that restored him. Through planting a small church, he learned to face and heal from his inner wounds. Because of his empathy for broken people, he began to live among the wounded, pastoring them not from a pulpit but from shared daily life. To his amazement, God began transforming those lives one by one. 

Although several large churches invited him to serve as their pastor, he discovered that his true calling was to live and serve among the struggling and the poor. His church, Lowwall Baptist Church, has no complex structure or hierarchy, yet it has built a system of compassion where everyone helps those in need—much like the early church in Acts.

His testimony reminded many Georgia pastors that true revival begins not with numbers or systems, but when the church becomes a family that embodies the love of Christ.

Following each two-hour service, pastors gathered informally for extended fellowship and conversation, sharing stories of ministry challenges and encouragement. The atmosphere was one of laughter, prayer, and genuine friendship in Christ, said Choi.

On Monday morning after the final service, pastors met once more for a focused time of reflection and sharing. The central message was clear: “God uses imperfect servants, and discovering and nurturing our spiritual gifts where we are is the most important act of obedience,” said Choi.
Choi said the revival became a defining moment of reconnection, repentance, and recommissioning for many pastors and churches who long to see the light of revival once again shine through the Korean Baptist community in Georgia.