David Yonggi Cho
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David Yonggi Cho | |
---|---|
Pentecostal) | |
Congregations served | Yoido Full Gospel Church |
Title | Doctor (Honorary) |
Korean name | |
Hangul | 조용기 |
Hanja | 趙鏞基 |
Revised Romanization | Jo Yong-gi |
McCune–Reischauer | Cho Yonggi |
Website | davidcho |
David Yonggi Cho (
Early life
Cho was born on 14 February 1936, in Ulju-gun, now part of Ulsan metropolitan city.[2] The son of Cho Doo-chun and Kim Bok-sun, Cho was the eldest of five brothers and four sisters. He graduated from middle school with honours. Because his father's sock and glove business went bankrupt, he could not afford high school or university tuition. Subsequently, he enrolled in an inexpensive technical high school to learn a trade. At the same time, he began frequenting an American army base near his school, and learned English from soldiers whom he befriended. He mastered English quickly, and became an interpreter for the commander of the army base and the principal of his school.
Raised initially as a Buddhist,[3] a visit from a Christian girl led Cho to convert to Christianity at the age of 17, before he was diagnosed with tuberculosis. Sensing God calling him to the ministry, Cho began working as an interpreter for the American evangelist Ken Tize. In 1956, he received a scholarship to study theology at Full Gospel Bible College in Seoul. While there, he met Choi Ja-shil, who became his mother-in-law and a close ministerial associate. He graduated in March 1958.
Wider ministry
Cho spent more than 44 years emphasizing the importance of cell group ministry, which he believed was the key to church growth, as well as team ministry.
In November 1976, Cho founded
In 2008, Cho retired, with Young Hoon Lee succeeding him as senior pastor.[4]
Death
Cho died on 14 September 2021 at the age of 85 due to complications from a stroke.[5]
Controversies
This section needs to be updated.(September 2019) |
In March 2011, Cho became a subject of controversy when he reportedly made comments suggesting that the 2011 Tōhoku tsunami "could be a warning from God to Japan, which has become an increasingly materialistic, secular and idol-worshiping country." However, as the context of the interview was distorted, a text of apology was announced by The News Mission.[6]
In September 2011, 29 church elders filed a lawsuit by South Korean prosecutors. The prosecutors began an investigation of Cho's alleged embezzlement of 23 billion won ($20 million USD) from the Yoido Full Gospel Church's funds. A national broadcaster, MBC, released a documentary that claimed the money had been used to buy properties for Bethesda University in Anaheim, California, United States, which Cho founded.[7]
In 2014, Cho was convicted of embezzling $12 million USD in church funds that he bought from his son Cho Jong-Un.[8]
See also
References
- ^ "O come all ye faithful". Special Report on Religion and Public Life. The Economist.
- ^ [1] Archived 8 December 2004 at the Wayback Machine
- ISBN 0310224810.
- ISBN 9781107033993.
- ^ "SOSOK Pendeta Paul Yonggi Cho, Simbol Pertumbuhan Kristen Pasca-perang Korea, Dahulu Penganut Buddha" (in Indonesian). Tribun Manado. Archived from the original on 14 September 2021. Retrieved 14 September 2021.
- ^ "The Kyunghyang Shinmun, 14 March 2011". December 2017.
- ^ "For God and country". The Economist. 15 October 2011.
- ^ Moon, Ruth (24 February 2014). "Founder of World's Largest Megachurch Convicted of Embezzling $12 Million". Christianity Today.