Nampa, Idaho Northwest Nazarene University conferred an honorary degree on Ki-Dong Han during an October 10 university chapel service.
Han was honored with a Doctor of Divinity for his life of service as pastor, district superintendent, and trustee of Korea Nazarene University; for his leadership in establishing the Jeonwon Church Movement throughout Korea; and for his impact on the Church of the Nazarene and all churches throughout Korea.
He holds a Bachelor of Theology from KNU and is an ordained elder in the Church of the Nazarene. Han has served as pastor of the Kojan (Korea) First Church of the Nazarene for the past 25 years. In addition to serving as district superintendent of South Korea National District, he is a member of the KNU Board of Trustees, a member of the Times Korea Board of Advisors, and co-chair of the Korean Association of Holiness Churches.
From 1978 to 1989, Han pastored three different Nazarene churches, growing them in attendance while also constructing new sanctuaries. In 1989, he was assigned to pastor the Nazarene church in Kojan. This assignment came while Korean society was experiencing rapid urbanization, causing the decline of rural churches.
In response to this societal paradigm shift, Han set out to create a new ministry model for rural churches that became the Jeonwon Church Movement. Jeonwon means “field and hill” and emphasizes the natural, pastoral setting of the rural life.
Han is now recognized as the founder of the Jeonwon ministry throughout Korea. He and his church were featured in numerous media stories focused on rural ministry in an increasingly urban culture. Han’s church was selected as one of Korea’s Top Ten Beautiful Sanctuaries and one of Korea’s Top Thirty Growing Churches in the Jeonwon Church Movement. Because of his innovation and its impact, Han is sought for various leadership roles across Korea.
To listen to a recording of the chapel service and degree presentation, visit nnu.edu/chapel.
—- NCN News
