• Journal of Christian Education in Korea
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• v.76
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• pp.51-71
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• 2023

Purpose of study: Recognizing the importance of securing professionalism in church education in the context of the serious problem of church eucation in the Korean church today, this study aims to reveal the problems of current church education and suggest alternatives for solving the problems. Research content and method: The Korean church is facing crises. One of the crises is the decline in church membership and worship attendance. Another, more fundamental problem is the crisis of church education, where the number of students in Sunday schools is plummeting, and many young people are leaving the church. Many of them are questioning the quality of church education leaders. The decline and demise of Sunday schools does not bode well for the future of the Korean church. What the church needs to do to address these issues is to build up educational professionals. Leadership and professionalism are critical issues. Until now, the needs of church education in the Korean church have relied on dedication and life mission rather than professionalism. And these criteria were enough. It has been 34 years since the October 1989 resolution of the General Assembly of the Christian Church in Korea to establish a system of educators. However, little progress has been made and the system has not been changed to a system of educators. One of the ways to solve this problem is for the Korean church to prepare for the future of the Korean church by utilizing educators for church growth and the restoration of Sunday schools. Conclusions and Suggestions: For the function, mission, and purpose of the church, the system of educators is requested to be established in the Korean church as soon as possible to fulfill the professional church education and educational pastoral mission. In response to this call, current Korean church education needs to change and innovate. The direction of innovation is professional education, which means that there is a need and urgency for professional educators qs church education leaders.

• Journal of Christian Education in Korea
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• v.64
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• pp.81-107
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• 2020

Church education in Korean churches is facing a very serious crisis. This crisis is a negative perception of the church as viewed by the present society. The negative perception of the church has led to children, adolescents, young adults, and even adults leaving the church. There have been countless studies on the problem of Christian education and its alternatives. However, those problems still remain a matter of church education. The alternatives do not become viable and remain a problem. To solve these problems, a paradigm shift is required, and in order to overcome the crisis of the church, it is necessary to study alternatives and its method factors and find application points. Today's church education is absolutely influenced by postmodernism and informationalization. However, church education is education for Christian identity that transmits Christian faith. This Christian education is facing challenges and crises against its religious and academic identity. Christian education has a responsibility to be aware of this reality and to present alternatives to overcome various crises facing church education. Therefore, it is the task of church education to establish standards so that we can live a life where the Bible becomes the standard. In other words, it is to give them biblical faith. Furthermore, it is necessary to point out and understand Christian faith in the Korean church, which has been evaluated as insufficient. In addition, establishing a Christian worldview and realizing the Kingdom of God that practice justice and love in society are tasks that can be accomplished efficiently through Christian education. Therefore, the Korean church should actively seek ways to support the practice of Christian education as well as church education in forming ideal Christians which is the goal of Christian education.

• Journal of Christian Education in Korea
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• v.71
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• pp.241-276
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• 2022

Due to the 4th industrial revolution, which started with the Smart Revolution in the early 21st century, Hyper-Connectivity, Hyper-Convergence and Hyper-Intelligence of our society is accelerating. These changes induced formation of Metaverse as a fused new space that crosses the perimeter of the physical space and virtual(digital) spaces beyond time and place. The characteristics of Metaverse are continuously spread by engaging with the characteristics of the MZ generation, which collects both Millennial generation (M Generation) and Z Generation. With outburst of Covid-19 pandemic, a variety of attempts have been made to utilize Metaverse, even in church education when it was impossible to worship directly. In other words, the usefulness of the Metaverse was confirmed as a new community space of the education of the church. In addition, Metaverse may provide a substantial, experiential and evolving space for church education. However, in order for church education to further develop, the development in the method of education is also required to move beyond mere concept of space. In particular, when the learner-centered education method, one of the common characteristics of the Metaverse and MZ generation, it is thought that the church education in the Metaverse era will be able to go in a more evolving direction.

• Journal of Christian Education in Korea
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• v.74
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• pp.209-225
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• 2023

The demand for lifelong education is increasing. Individuals, organizations, and groups are creating an environment where anyone can learn anytime, anywhere while conducting educational and learning activities. The propagation of Christianity in Korea began with education. For churches that own various human and material resources, their functions and roles in the region are more important. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to explore the role and function of church lifelong education in the community to view church lifelong education as a mission tool. It examines the significance of church lifelong education, the biblical basis for church lifelong education, and the history of church lifelong education. It also examines the role of the church in the community and its functional basis for lifelong education. I would like to present the meaning of church lifelong education as a community mission tool. Through the practice of church lifelong education, local residents have a positive perception of the church, and it can be seen that the church provides an opportunity for evangelism. It is now necessary for churches with various advantages to implement lifelong education to revitalize church lifelong education as a missionary tool for local missionary work.

• Journal of Christian Education in Korea
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• v.69
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• pp.221-251
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• 2022

This study analyzed research trends related to lifelong church education through the analysis of academic papers recently published in Korea since 2000 and derived implications for lifelong church education. For the study, a total of 95 studies related to lifelong church education were analyzed among academic papers in domestic journals from 2000 to 2021. Academic papers were classified into research years, published journals, research subjects, research topics, and research methods, and then research trends were analyzed. As a result of the analysis, first, research related to lifelong church education has been activated since 2000 and has shown an increasing trend since 2010. Second, it was found that lifelong church education research has been conducted in various academic journals other than Christian education-related journals. Third, learner-centered research was the most common research subject, and among them, many studies targeting the elderly. Fourth, in relation to the research topic, studies on the role and necessity of lifelong church education were the most dominant, and many studies on the direction of promotion of lifelong church education were also conducted. Fifth, research related to lifelong church education is a theoretical study, and literature research is mainly conducted, and the use of other research methods was insignificant. According to these research results, it was found that practical approaches such as analysis of demands for life long education and verification of program effectiveness were insufficient. Therefore, an integrated search for lifelong church education is needed. In addition, it is necessary to continuously develop regional customized programs to support detailed areas of lifelong church education and local missionary work. It is suggested that policy sponsorship at the church, seminary, and state level is needed to promote lifelong education in churches.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.20 no.9
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• pp.604-614
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• 2020

Contemporary Christian educators emphasize that the student has to become not a passive beneficiaries of knowledge, but an active subject for self-directed learner to pursue a Bible training. In addition, learning environments need to be converted into a learning place in which students can learn the principles of the Word, taste its meaning, and apply them into the scene in their lives. This study is to investigate new possibilities of self-directed volunteer camp, developing it as an alternative program for summer retreat and evaluating its effectiveness. According to qualitative research findings. self-directed volunteer camp provide for the youth students to develop their leadership as well as their faith. Especially, the higher effect of self-directed volunteer camp was found on program satisfaction, promoting cooperation through real problem-solving, and internalizing of the faith. Therefore, self-directed volunteer camp for vacation Bible church programs can be expected as an alternative teaching method for church education in the 21st century.

• Journal of Christian Education in Korea
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• v.72
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• pp.341-366
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• 2022

In Korean society, church once witnessed the period of its being considered light and salt. After the liberation, Korean church bestowed Jesus Christ's love to underprivileged neighbors in the industrialization process and organized practical participation activities for human rights and democratization. Nonetheless, church was sunken into quantitative growth without having qualitative growth. As church was cited as the epicenter of the spreading COVID-19, the image of selfish church has started receiving attention and there has appeared a criticism for immoral church tendency, which brought low trust about church. These things are resulted from church's failure to undertake its role with responsibility, in society. Such as this, church has lost its identity as the model of the Kingdom of God. In such a situation, church needs to remind itself of the enlightenment of the Ecumenical Movement, in order to recover trust and perform its mission. The Ecumenical Movement means accomplishing unification of the universe through a renewed church. This movement is aimed to create the earth as 'where humans can stay' and to consider the sustainability of mankinds. This purpose of this study is to examine political activities conducted for responsible participation in the church world and to find the way for church roles in this world. This researcher will attempt to investigate educational methods to help Christians in this world take full responsibility given to them, through an educational discussion about Christianity made in this context. This educational attempt means, in other words, political affairs also.

• Journal of Christian Education in Korea
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• v.77
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• pp.85-105
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• 2024

The purpose of this study is to formulate the direction of Church education, taking into account the negative effects of digital technologies in the era of the Great Digital Transformation. Firstly, the study discussed comprehension of the Great Digital Transformation and negative effects of digital technologies. The term "Great Digital Transformation" signifies a fundamental shift into a world where everything that surrounds us becomes digital-based. In this era of the Great Digital Transformation, the negative effects of digital technologies are intensifying. Secondly, the study discussed the issue of education and church education during the great digital transformation period. The use of digital technologies has been widespread in schools. However, academic circles have raised concerns about the negative effects of digital technology on both the classroom environment and basic academic skills such as reading ability. Since digital education is becoming more popular, there is a fear that church education may fall behind in a rapidly changing society. In conclusion, the study proposed recommendations for reshaping Church education in the era of the Great Digital Transformation, considering the negative effects of digital technologies. The first is Christian worldview education, which is centered around the faith community. Education in the Christian worldview, learned through the interaction with various faiths within the faith community, encourages critical thinking and reflection on the risks posed by the digital age that are associated with capitalism and meritocracy. The second is Christian care, which is centered around the faith community. Christian care in the era of the Great Digital Transformation will help us to form genuine connections with discriminated, isolated, and lonely souls who suffer from negative effects of digital technologies, guiding them towards the path of salvation.

• Journal of Christian Education in Korea
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• v.63
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• pp.13-37
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• 2020

The World Health Organisation(WHO), paying attention to the spread and fatality of the coronavirus(COVID-19), which first occurred in Wuhan, China, declared a global emergency. Although many countries implement strict measures to slow down the spread, WHO officially declared a pandemic. COVID-19 has sparked fears of an impending economic crisis and recession. Due to the economic crisis caused by social distancing, self-isolation and travel restrictions, the collapse of the world economic system centered on free trade and the decline of globalization are mentioned. Political leadership that has not responded properly to the pandemic is challenged, and nearly all of society is rapidly changing to a non-contact and immobile culture. COVID-19 has seriously affected all levels of the education system, from preschool to tertiary education. The so-called old concept of deschooling is realizing in the field of education through digital media paradoxically. Church education is facing a serious crisis as well. Churches are seeking now a new normal that includes theological reflection on the pandemic, online worship, education, and non-face-to-face ministry to overcome the worst unexpected crisis. In the post-corona era, church education must actively seek alternatives in response to rapidly changing surrounding conditions and reconstruct educational philosophy(theology) that focuses on Christian values. In addition, it is necessary to start operating a mobile(or online) church school that combines offline and online. It is necessary to introduce 'Blended Learning' method that combines non-face-to-face and face-to-face learning, and by combining church school and homeschooling, churches and families need to share the responsibility of education in faith.

• Journal of the Korean BIBLIA Society for library and Information Science
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.33-48
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• 2010

The study aimed to identify current situations of Korean church libraries. The results from 22 church libraries are investigated in terms of some factors such as material organization, quantity of materials, facilities, staffs, budgets, public services, users and classification systems. Current libraries are very small in its facility, quantity of the materials and the budget, and lack of the full-time librarian. Recently, children's libraries are established among small churches, and their budgets and public services are stable. Suggestions for revitalizing the church libraries are made: the pastor's understanding of the significance of church library for missions' sake, establishment of more church libraries, acquisitions of various non-book materials, budget security, necessity for a full-time librarian, provision of various types of services and cooperations among church libraries.