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David Yonggi Cho | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | (1936-02-14)14 February 1936 |
| Died | 14 September 2021(2021-09-14) (aged 85) Seoul, South Korea |
| Education | |
| Occupation | Evangelist |
| Spouse | Kim Sung Hae (Deceased) |
| Religion | Christianity (Pentecostal) |
Congregations served | Yoido Full Gospel Church |
| Title | Doctor (Honorary) |
| Korean name | |
| Hangul | 조용기 |
| Hanja | 趙鏞基 |
| RR | Jo Yonggi |
| MR | Cho Yonggi |
| Website | davidcho |
David Yonggi Cho (Korean: 조용기; 14 February 1936 – 14 September 2021 as Paul Yungi Cho) was a South KoreanPentecostal Pastor. He was the founder of theYoido Full Gospel Church (Assemblies of God), which he started in a tent with 5 people (including his future mother-in-lawChoi Ja-shil and her children as its first members), which eventually became the world's largest congregation, with a membership of 830,000 (as of 2007[update]).[1]
Cho was born on 14 February 1936, inUlju County, now part ofUlsan.[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 anAmericanarmy base near his school, and learnedEnglish from soldiers whom he befriended. He mastered English quickly, and became aninterpreter for the commander of the army base and the principal of his school.[3]
Raised initially as aBuddhist,[4] a visit from a Christian girl led Cho to convert toChristianity at the age of 17, after he was diagnosed withtuberculosis. He was miraculously healed, as witnessed by his testimony. Sensing God calling him to the ministry, Cho began working as an interpreter for the American evangelistKen Tize. In 1956, he received a scholarship to study theology atFull Gospel Bible College inSeoul. While there, he metChoi Ja-shil, who became his mother-in-law and a close ministerial associate. He graduated in March 1958.
Cho spent more than 44 years emphasizing the importance of cell group ministry, which he believed was the key tochurch growth, as well as team ministry.
In November 1976, Cho foundedChurch Growth International, an organization dedicated to teaching the principles of evangelism and church growth to pastors all over the world. In January 1986, he led the way in establishing theElim Welfare Town, a facility for the elderly, young, homeless, and unemployed. The latter would be given training and a choice of four occupations. In 1988, he founded newspaper company,Kukmin Ilbo. He was Chairman of theWorld Assemblies of God Fellowship from 1992 to 2000 and did not pursue another term, and had served as Chairman of theKorean Christian Leaders Association since November 1998. In February 1999, he began serving as Chairman of the Good People charity organization.[citation needed]
In 2008, Cho retired, withYoung Hoon Lee succeeding him as senior pastor.[5]
Cho died on 14 September 2021 at the age of 85 due to complications from a stroke.[6]
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In March 2011, Cho became a subject of controversy when he reportedly made comments suggesting that the2011 Tōhoku tsunami "could be a warning from God to Japan, which has become an increasingly materialistic, secular andidol-worshiping country."However, as the context of the interview was distorted, a text of apology was announced by The News Mission.[7]
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 theYoido Full Gospel Church's funds. A national broadcaster,MBC, released a documentary that claimed the money had been used to buy properties forBethesda University inAnaheim, California, United States, which Cho founded.[8]
In 2014, Cho was convicted of embezzling $12 million USD in church funds that he bought from his son Cho Jong-Un.[9]
