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"Christianity
helped the newcomers. It gave them great assurances."
by James Chong,
an elder at the Toronto Korean United Church,
the oldest Korean church in Canada
Life in Canada was difficult
for early Korean immigrants. Many were lonely and missed their
families back in their home country. Recalling their positive
experiences with Canadian missionaries in Korea, many Korean
Canadians sought affiliation with a Christian denomination. Many
were familiar with and eager to join The United Church of Canada.
For
many Korean immigrants, church came to represent not only a centre
for worship but also the heart of ethno-cultural life. The church
became a community centre and place of support for newcomers
to the country.
There are approximately 26
Korean-Canadian United Church ministers. Many are serving in
rural churches where the only ethnic minority person is in the
pulpit.
Korean Canadian ministers also
serve in ethnic majority congregations across Canada, and the
women of Korean United Church congregations are active in celebrating
women's ministry.
It is estimated that three-fourths
of Korean-Canadians have some tie to a church. Toronto alone,
home to Canada's largest Korean-Canadian population, has 150
Korean churches.
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