In 1885, Henry Appenzeller took a bold step of faith, leaving behind the familiar to bring the good news of Jesus Christ to Korea. His story began in our own backyard, at Lancaster First, on the West District in EPA, but his impact reached across the world. Appenzeller had trained for ministry at Drew Theological School in New Jersey—a connection that continues today, as many young Koreans discerning calls to ministry also seek theological education there.

This summer, 140 years later, Bishop Cynthia Moore-Koikoi, EPA&GNJ cabinet members, and their guests journeyed to South Korea to honor Appenzeller’s legacy and witness how the seeds he planted continue to bear fruit. Their trip not only celebrated the past but looked ahead to a Spirit-led future of relationship and collaboration between the United Methodists of EPA&GNJ and the Korean Methodist Church.

For cabinet members who had never been to South Korea, the trip offered a chance to gain a deeper understanding of the context of their Korean clergy colleagues – making concrete for them what had been abstract. D.S. Lee shared that one of his hopes for the trip was that they might “experience the fruit of the gospel in South Korea. And then Henry Appenzeller’s legacy still keeps moving forward. We receive the baton from him and then right now we try to pass the baton to all the different generations in different countries.”

Radical hospitality and prayer steeped spirituality

Among the most remarkable fruits of the gospel the travelers experienced was the extraordinary hospitality of their Korean hosts. At every turn, the visitors were welcomed as though they were old friends. Some churches arranged for entire staffs to greet the group, waiting hours for their arrival, while Rev. Chung Suk Kim, President Bishop of the Korean Methodist Church, carved out time for them during lunch at their hotel despite his demanding schedule. Other pastors and bishops of the churches the group visited also graciously made time to share fellowship with them.

Churches lovingly prepared meals for the EPA&GNJ visitors, shared detailed histories of God’s work in their midst, and marked the occasion with exchanges of gifts. Rev. Kate Monahan, Delaware Bay District Superintendent, reflected, “People did not have to treat us the way they did, but they all went above and beyond.”

Another clear expression of the gospel’s power in South Korea was the prayer-steeped spirituality of the Korean church. The travelers participated in a 6 a.m. early morning prayer service at Myeongseong Presbyterian Church alongside thousands of worshipers. Rev. Dawn Taylor-Storm, EPA&GNJ Director of Connectional Ministries shared, “It was a powerful spiritual practice that focused our day on God and what matters most in life.” Early morning prayer is a daily discipline of Korean spirituality, with nearly every church hosting daily services.

Kwanglim Methodist Church, another stop on the cabinet’s trip, has a prayer room that is open 24 hours a day – a space where people can drop in at any time of the day or night to write down prayer requests or be accompanied in prayer by a volunteer. The room is located on the floor below the worship space, directly under the altar. During each of the five Sunday worship services, a team remains in constant prayer. Prayer shapes and sustains every aspect of the church’s mission and ministry.

For Rev. Lee, the Korean church’s focus on cultivating deep spirituality inspires a renewal of priorities, recognizing that it is in forming faith-filled and passionate disciples that churches become conduits of God’s grace in the world. “We need to have a revival,” says Rev. Lee. We need plans “to train our lay people and for the lay people to really feel like they are prophets, they are disciples and they try to bring the Bible… the word of God to people – their neighbor, and even their family.”

Deep spirituality births vibrant community connections

This outward-facing faith, stemming from deep roots in the soil of spirituality, is another hallmark of the Korean Methodist Church. The churches’ ministries – like Appenzeller’s – extend far beyond church walls to encompass every aspect of the lives of the communities they serve.

“Each Korean Methodist Church we visited had a café on site that drew visitors from the community,” said Rev. Taylor-Storm. “Each church had a day school and provided educational services and small groups to all ages.” Rev. Lee added that the larger churches even provide free realtor services, medical services, legal and consulting services.

Rev. Monahan reflected, “They invest in the culture and future that they want to see. The church does that there. They go above and beyond to make sure people have access. Not just, ‘we want people to come into our church on Sunday morning.’ They are investing in bettering the systems they want to see future generations have.”

Beyond local outreach, South Korea is one of the top missionary-sending countries worldwide. In fact, Bishop Moore-Koikoi and her husband Rev. Raphael Koikoi were married  at a church planted by the Kwanglim Methodist Church at Africa University – a connection that delighted the church’s pastor when she shared a photo from their wedding day!

EPA&GNJ have experienced firsthand the blessings of Korean Methodist mission-mindedness. Over 100 Korean clergy serve in GNJ churches and the cabinet’s trip strengthened this connection. “I think in heaven Henry Appenzeller is really smiling because he came to Korea and then planted a seed and right now many, many Korean pastors come to the United States, they serve the church and the people of God in the United States. It’s kind of a big circle. We pass the baton every single generation, every people and we work together,” mused Rev. Lee. 

Seeds of ongoing collaboration and partnership

Indeed, this trip to South Korea was an opportunity for Bishop Moore-Koikoi and the cabinet to seek the Holy Spirit’s direction for renewed relational and missional connections between EPA&GNJ and the Korean Methodist Church.

Bishop Moore-Koikoi met with both the President of Bishops of the Korean Methodist Church, Rev. Chung Suk Kim, and the President of Seoul Methodist University, Dr. Kyoungdong Yoo, to build relationships and dream about how they might collaborate in the future.

Rev. Monahan shared, “As we talked with our siblings in the Korean Methodist Church, it didn’t take long before we were able to identify areas where partnership would be helpful, where if we collaborated we could do more together in ways that benefit not only our Korean clergy but all of our clergy.” The Bishop and her cabinet are discerning opportunities for collaborative work between EPA, GNJ, and the Korean Methodist Church with hope and excitement.

The cabinet’s pilgrimage to South Korea was more than a commemoration of the past—it was a living witness to the Spirit’s work across time and continents. Just as Henry Appenzeller once crossed an ocean to plant seeds of faith, so too do today’s partnerships between the Korean Methodist Church and EPA&GNJ carry that mission forward. Along the way, the cabinet also deepened their own bonds—sharing meals, delighting in Korean culture and food, and discovering joy in one another’s company. Many left not only inspired by the vibrant spirituality of the Korean church, but also strengthened in their own sense of community and already looking forward to returning. What began as a journey to honor the past became an experience of renewal, friendship, and hope for the Spirit-led future God is shaping among us.