Conditions Prior to the Revival

Robert J. Thomas
Killed (beheaded) August 1866 while
attempting to enter Korea.

Due to Korea’s position of remaining isolated and closed to foreigners, it was the last Far Eastern nation to receive the Gospel. Though there are reports of missionary work taking place by Catholics during the 1700s, protestant missionaries didn’t make an appearance until 1832, with no significant impact being made. One of the initial protestant missionaries, Robert J. Thomas, a Welsh missionary, was killed in 1866 while attempting to enter Korea.

The date the Korean Church was founded was 1885. Even so, by the end of 1887, there were only 7 converts, and though there were “conversions” taking place, the initial converts did not demonstrate a repentant lifestyle. It appeared that most were merely curious with the new religion and with the benefits it brought, rather than becoming regenerated believers.

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Mary Culler White, who
with Louise McCully
Initiated prayer prior
to the revival.

Extraordinary Prayer

►In August 1903, Mary Culler White, a Methodist missionary, along with Louise McCully, a Presbyterian missionary, started a prayer meeting. This time of prayer grew and began to include many others.Louise McCully, far left second row. She and Mary Culler White initiated a growing prayer movement prior to the revival.

Korean Methodist Church

What Happened

Dr. Robert Hardie

►The missionaries assembled a weeklong conference to be held in August of 1903 at the Wonsan Methodist church. They had asked the medical missionary from Canada, Dr. Robert Hardie, to be the keynote speaker.

►During the conference, Hardie confessed his inability to obtain any fruit from his years of ministry in the Gangwon Province (Hardie arrived in Korea in 1890.). In addition to the confession of the lack of fruit, he also confessed his strong racial prejudice against Korean people. This sincere confession greatly influenced those present. The Korean believers, being greatly impacted by Hardie’s honest confession, mutually confessed of their hatred toward Hardie, and reconciliation was carried out.

►This move of God led to Hardie conducting “revival meetings” in various areas for three years, wherein many times he would confess of his sin, as well as acknowledge he had repented and been restored and cleansed. He then used his confession to invite Korean believers,and non-believers to take a similar step of faith. This led to further confession of theft and all sorts of sins by Korean believers, as well as restitution for their wrongs. These confessions and reconciliations brought renewed power to the Korean Church and it led to active and bold witnessing resulting in thousands turning to Christ.

Korean Church in Rural Area

Results of the 1903 Wonsan Revival

►Hardie’s ministry, which he previously confessed as being “fruitless,” was now producing an abundant harvest, with 10,000 Koreans turning to Christ during 1904, and the revival continued in waves through 1906.

 ►Samuel H. Moffet, a professor at Princeton Theological Seminary, stated that in 1906, in the city of Pyongyang alone, there were possibly well over 30,000 new converts.

Sources
The Flaming Tongue by J. Edwin Orr
Reconsidering Mary Culler White’s Visit to Wonsan in 1903 by Jung-Sook Lee
Korean Revivals by Mathew Backholer
Robert Jermain Thomas by Wikipedia

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