Introduction of Hanbit Church’s Prayer Movement 1
Introduction of Hanbit Church’s
Prayer MovementWith Pastor Baek Yong-hyun
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Pastor Baek Yong-hyun and his Prayer Ministry
Pastor Baek Yong-hyun
Pastor Baek Yong-hyun, the senior pastor of Hanbit Church in Daejeon, South Korea, has
been engaged in a remarkable campaign for real change through prayer campaign that has
covered the entire country and now he is preparing to reach out to the world. Pastor Baek has
embraced a new vision for a transformation of our society through the tremendous power of
prayer. He efforts extend beyond the Hanbit Church to form the foundations for a spiritual
revival throughout Christianity in South Korea. He believes that any believer can be
transformed through practice into a prayer warrior ready to change the world.
According to Pastor Baek, prayer is the core of God's work and the daily practice of prayer
prepares us best to listen to, and to obey, God's commands in every aspect of our lives. Pastor
Baek directly leads the early morning and evening prayer meetings at Hanbit Church, and
increasingly for believers across Korea, every single day of the year, all 365 days without
fail.
Some ask how it is possible for him to lead those prayer meetings every single day, without
rest. Pastor Baek’s response is remarkably simple:
“Praying is simply the most important thing in life.” Prayer is not part of his ministry
services, just part of his work. Prayer is like breathing, a necessary act to stay alive
spiritually. He feels that prayer is his essential responsibility to all followers of the faith, to
himself, and above all to God from morning to night, throughout the entire year.
Prayer has been critical for Pastor Baek for a lifetime, but there was a specific turning point
in his ministry. In 2012 he was inspired to devote himself to a prayer fast that went on for 40
days and from which he emerged invigorated and closer to God. He grasped then the true
power of prayer to transform our lives and the world around us.
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He devoted himself to a mission of launching an enormous prayer movement in Korea that
has served to revitalize Christianity and to make passive believers active. He has made prayer
a central practice for at his church and formed a nation-wide prayer network. He has held
over 500 revivals centered on prayer for fellow pastors and for the laity.
Pastor Baek resolved to pray at least three hours every single day, making it central to both
his ministry and his own personal life.
He sees this level of commitment as a continuation of the original ministry of the Apostles of
the First Church, an embodiment of their pledge, “We will give our attention to prayer and
the ministry of the word”(Acts 6:4).
Pastor Baek through himself into his mission of transformation through prayer after he was
appointed as Senior Pastor of Hanbit Church in 2015. As a result, the attendance at the early
morning prayer meetings increased from around 100 to over 1,000 people. He inspired
prayers and sermons have transformed the church members into “prayer warriors” by
following the program for “A fifty-day Prayer School” that he leads every year.
The Prayer School program has rapidly expanded, exerting a tremendous positive influence
on other Korean churches, and helping to establish an effective and inspiring approach to
teaching and training a new generation of prayer warriors every year. No one in the ministry
is left out of this powerful transformational movement.
Ministry Baek has become a leader in this growing movement for spiritual transformation,
and in the process he has established a new paradigm for making prayer a concrete and
powerful part of the lives of every believer and the cement that binds together every church,
and pulls together the nation.
The “Prayer School” movement has taken off in Korean churches.
Currently, there are over 400 churches across Korea that have taken up Pastor Baek’s call for
a transformation through prayer as described in his book “Prayer School.”
Over 5,000 people, including pastors and members of the Prayer School from all over the
country, gather to pray together at Hanbit Church for the prayer conference over three days
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every August.
Pastor Baek has published a series of books on prayer: Prayer School (published by
Duranno), 40 days of Prayer School (published by Hanbit Church), 50 Days of Prayer School
(published by Hanbit Church) and Practice Book for Prayer (published by Hanbit Church).
Introduction to Hanbit Church’s prayer ministry
1. 50 Days of Prayer School
Hanbit Church includes all the members of its congregation in 365 days a year series of early
morning and evening prayer meetings. Followers gather together to pray fervently at the
church, both by day and by night. The 50-day Prayer School runs from March to April and
forms a core ministry of the Hanbit Church. The principles of prayer and the method for
communication with God are introduced systematically as the essence of the Gospel and its
relevance to prayer is made manifest.
The whole church comes together to concentrate on prayer together, generating tremendous
spiritual energy. For that period of 50 days, some 3,000 church members attend the early
morning prayer meeting every day.
2. Early morning and evening prayer ministry
When all the members of the Hanbit Church gather for prayer at 5 AM or 7:30 PM, they are
overwhelmed with the passion of prayer and the connection with God in a manner that deeply
inspires and motivates.
The Hanbit Church breaks up into worship teams made up of about twenty people
representing the church community as a whole who are devoted to playing their special role,
giving their specific prayers, at each prayer meeting service. A special prayer meeting is held
at the start of each month at which all church members come together to pray with great
fervor and concentration for three days. That prayer meeting is known as “The Attic Prayer
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Meeting ” and it serves to launch the month’s series of powerful prayer events that take the
form of inspiring services and sermons, prayer meetings that pull the community together and
rallies. These events offer a precious time for church members and profound spiritual
experiences.
The whole church gathers on the first day of the month for the prayer day together with
children called “The New Day Prayer Meeting.” At that time, the younger generation joins
the adult members at the early morning prayer meetings and together they launch into the
new month with inspiring prayers and receive blessings from the Pastor with his own hands
conveying the spirit of Jesus Christ.
3. Intercessory Prayer Ministry
There is a team dedicated to intercessory prayer that consists of 35 groups, or a total of about
350 people. Each group for intercessory prayer prays in relay, following a carefully planned
schedule every day, and more than 10 people will stay up all night for the prayer. On Sunday,
the intercessory prayer team prays during worship services. The church also sets up an
“emergency intercessory prayer box” that is available to all church members who need urgent
prayers for the challenges that they face.
In addition, church schools also form intercessory prayer teams that inculcate in the next
generations a focus on prayer as the means to address the challenges of life and to derive
power and inspiration. They conduct prayer training sessions and form motivated groups for
prayer such as the “Children’s prayer special forces,” “Elementary knee prayer meeting,”
“Middle school prayer team,” “High school prayer team,” and the “Youth prayer team.”
4. The Prayer Movement Ministry
* Prayer Conference
Pastor Baek holds a “Prayer conference” every year at which he shares the prayer work of the
Hanbit Church with others and he holds numerous rallies and lectures across Korea that are
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based on the principles laid out in the book “50 Days of Prayer School.” The last conference
brought together 5,000 attendees from 1,000 churches across the country who prayed
fervently as one for three straight days in 2019.
Network of the Cooperating churches for the Prayer School
Minister Baek organized in 2016 a "Prayer School Network with the cooperating churches"
to share the way of prayer ministry with the entire country. As a result, Hanbit Church signed
agreements with more than 400 churches nationwide. The Prayer School Network includes
biannual meetings and national prayer conferences. Minister Baek supports other churches
when they hold a “50 Days of Prayer School” with spiritual aid, financial support and other
knowhow from the prayer ministry. He is happy to help you get started.
Compilation and dissemination of prayer materials
The “40 Days of Prayer School” textbook is the direct fruit of Pastor Baek’s 40 days of
fasting and fervent prayer. The book details the spiritual principles and the concrete blessings
and benefits of such focused prayer in a systematic manner.
The following book “Prayer School” covers 50 subjects essential to effective prayer and
serves as a foundational text for training and education. The clear and concise language
makes it possible for anyone to recognize the secrets of prayer, both in terms of fundamental
principles, but also the specific impact that prayer can have for the individual, the family, the
church and the nation.
Since its publication, “Prayer School” created a sensation among Korean churches, especially
the most recent 22nd edition.
In addition, “50 Days Prayer School” and “Prayer School practice book” are also immensely
popular in Korean churches. Together, these books form a solid foundation for the strategic
and unified use of prayer in our Christian community.
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5. Evangelism ministry
Hanbit Church starts the mission of evangelism for members with prayer. Church members
who have started a new life of prayer through Pastor Baek’s prayer ministry, and who have
received an answer to their troubles and concerns in those prayers, naturally want to share
their testimonies with others. Their testimonies are the most effective method of evangelism
to reach those who have not yet experienced the Gospel directly.
Hanbit Church's evangelism is more than an organized and strategic method for the church
community, it is also a self-sustaining and voluntary approach of each individual. Various
groups and individuals from the Hanbit Church go out into the community during the week to
spread the word of God and to invite people to the church for worship after morning prayer
services. All of the teams join in the effort to evangelize so that they can share the grace they
have received naturally, without pressure. All church staff, including all of the aid pastors,
take to the streets to evangelize the way of Heaven every Friday morning.
Elders who wish to evangelize also go out on the road of their own free will every Sunday
afternoon to spread the Good Word. Even the church school participates in evangelical
activities in front of nearby schools every Thursday. All members enjoy sharing their
testimonies and inviting new members to join the church.
“50 Days Prayer School”
The approach and the ideal, the method and the practice of Pastor Baek’s Prayer
School are laid out for the layman in his masterful work “50 Days Prayer School.” It is
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Pastor Baek’s sincere hope that he will be able to translate this book into English to
share with the world in the near future.
“50 Days Prayer School”
Table of Contents
Chapter 1)
The principles of prayer
What is prayer?
The reason that we pray.
How do we pray?
The necessity of prayer
The benefits of prayer
Prayer as God’s work
Prayer as God’s promise
Prayer is what I offer to God of myself
Prayer and Faith
The Value of Prayer
Prayer as Awaiting the Proper Moment
Chapter 2)
The Efficacy of Prayer
Prayer will have efficacy from the start
All Prayers will be Answered
The Possibilities for Response
The Efficacy of Prayer by God’s Grace
Adore the Grace in the Efficacy of Prayer.
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Four Characteristics of God’s Response to Prayer
The Process whereby Prayers are Answered.
Only when you listen to God’s Voice can you overcome a Challenge
Only when you listen to God’s Voice can you be true to your Mission
Chapter 3)
The Method of Prayer
Early Morning Prayer
Spoken Public Prayer
Prayer for the Fast
Prayer for the Blessing
Speaking in Tongues Prayer
Prayer of Proclamation
Healing Prayer
Intercessory Prayer
Repentance Prayer
Prayer of Tears
Prayer that Opens the Door
Prayer for the Nation and its People
Chapter 3)
The Method of Prayer
Early Morning Prayer
Spoken public prayer
Prayer for the Fast
Prayer of Blessing
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Prayer of Speaking in Tongues
Prayer of Proclamation
Prayer of Healing
Intercessory Prayer
Prayer of Repentance
Prayer of Tears
Prayer that opens the Door
Prayer for the Nation and its People.
Chapter 4)
Prayer and Spiritual Breakthrough
Break through into the Camp of Prayer
Break through the Spiritual Barriers
Break through to the Turning Point of Prayer
Break through to yourself through Prayer
Break through Spiritual Torpor
Break through the limits of Prayer by Grace
Break through Tests by Prayer
Open the Gates of heaven through prayer.
Chapter 5)
Prayer and Spiritual Growth
Prayer in the Small Back Room
Prayer with Gratitude
Prayer and Spiritual Growth
How the Place for Prayer determines Ability
Don't give up; Pray!10
Keep praying!
Look to God and pray!
Chapter 6)
Testament to the Power of the Prayer School
The Power of Prayer changed my Life
Grace of Early Morning Prayer
The Secrets of Prayer I learned from “Fifty Day Prayer School”
God Prepares in Advance for our Prayers
How God heals
Grace from the “Prayer Conference”
Prayer is the Answer
A Time for Grace Replete with Gratitude
Appendix
1. Introduction of Hanbit Church
Full Name: Christian Methodist Church Hanbit Church in Daejeon
Foundation Date: 29th October, 1971
Denomination: Methodist
Total Members: 8,500 (registered members as of December, 2020)
Staff: Senior Pastor,13 Assistant Pastors, 16 Junior Pastors, 39 Active Elders
Facilities: 10 story Main building (including 3,500-seat main hall) 2 story basement,
multi-purpose annex.
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Address: Daedeok-daero 22 gil 21 (Nae-dong 136-5) Seo-gu, Daejeon, South Korea
Phone: 82-42-535-4245
2. Biography of Senior Pastor Baek Yong-hyun
B.A. in theology from Methodist Theological University
M.A in Theology from Jeonju University Graduate School of Theology
Founder of Daedong Methodist Church in Geochang, Gyeongsang-namdo, South
Korea (member of congregation for 26 years)
Appointed as Senior Pastor at Hanbit Church in Daejeon, South Korea, 2015
Has held over 500 revivals, prayer conferences and rallies in addition to daily services
and prayer sessions at Hanbit Church.
PHOTO
1) Hanbit Church
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2) Prayer School at Hanbit Church
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3) New Year's Eve Service & Prayer meeting
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