외형보다 '상생'…새로운교회의 '상가 입당'이 던지는 메시지 (이현지)ㅣCTS뉴스

[Anchor] A large church is garnering attention for purchasing and moving into an empty space within a large shopping complex in a stagnant commercial district, instead of buying its own land to build a building. The choice made by Saeroun Church—which has stepped into the heart of the world even while investing a substantial budget in remodeling—is imbued with a sincere desire to revitalize the local community. Reporter Lee Hyun-ji reports. [Reporter] A large shopping complex in Songpa-gu, Seoul. The interior of the shopping center, which had been stagnant, is finally coming alive with the arrival of over 5,000 church members. Movie theaters and fashion malls that had closed their doors as the commercial district slumped due to COVID-19 and the rise of the online market. Thousands of believers gather in those spots every Sunday, breathing much-needed vitality into the surrounding commercial district. [Sound of the scene] A new revival has begun! [Reporter] Typically, large churches purchase a standalone plot of land to construct a sanctuary, considering long-term asset expansion. However, Saeroun Church, which secured its own sanctuary 17 years after its founding, made a completely different choice. By purchasing a portion of a commercial building, they completed a sanctuary capable of accommodating 10,000 congregants. The site spans approximately 8,600 pyeong, with an exclusive area of ​​about 3,500 pyeong. It is an exceptional move, rarely seen in Korea, for a large church to move into the middle of a commercial complex. Considering long-term profitability, purchasing a commercial building and investing in complex remodeling is a somewhat inefficient choice. However, the church established its nest in the heart of the world with the sincere intention of revitalizing a stagnant local community. [Senior Pastor Han Hong / Saeroun Church] Since we do not operate a church cafe or restaurant but share space with all the cafes and restaurants in the neighborhood, the merchants have truly welcomed us with open arms. [Reporter] Saeroun Church announced that it is “fully opening its church space as a public good for local residents and the cultural community.” The rooftop 'Sky Garden,' overlooking downtown Seoul in all directions. "Duranno Bookstore," a book cafe promoting the motto "Contemplation over Searching." The plan is to strengthen faith education for the next generation by providing a variety of worship rooms for different age groups and community spaces where parents and children can naturally mingle. Various parts of the church are also utilized as multi-cultural spaces for musicals, classical performances, and outdoor weddings. The plan is to lower the church walls to get closer to local residents. [Senior Pastor Han Hong / Saeroun Church] Because we are a church that has entered the world, everything we do will be exposed to the local community. Therefore, if we treat local residents with excellent Christian etiquette, I believe it will serve as an opportunity to change the church's image and make it more welcoming. [Reporter] Following the news of the dedication thanksgiving service held on the 4th, a procession of congratulations from within and outside the Christian community followed. Key religious leaders, including Pastor Kim Jang-hwan of Far East Broadcasting, Pastor Lee Young-hoon of Yoido Full Gospel Church, and World Vision President Cho Myung-hwan, sent congratulatory messages, highly praising the missionary significance of dedicating a church to a large commercial complex. Rev. Ko Myung-jin of Suwon Central Baptist Church, who delivered the sermon at the Thanksgiving service, stated, "The true value of the church lies not in the outward splendor or scale of the building, but in pleasing God." [Rev. Ko Myung-jin / Suwon Central Baptist Church] "The latter glory of this sanctuary will be greater than its first glory. I believe this place will become a new sanctuary serving as an ark of salvation that revives parched souls and unredeemed souls." A New Church that chose coexistence within the world instead of worldly values. As an "aircraft carrier of the Gospel," the footsteps of those who pledge to "build up people and heal the pain of neighbors, rather than focusing on the splendor of the building," are drawing attention. This is Lee Hyun-ji from CTS News. #CTSNews #NewChurch #PastorHanHong #PastorKoMyungJin #GardenFive #CommunityCoexistence #MissionalChurch #CommercialBuildingChurch #ReporterLeeHyunji _________________________________ ⓒ 2026 All rights reserved by CTS Christian TV. Unauthorized reproduction, redistribution, and use (including AI learning) are prohibited. _________________________________ ▣ Subscribe to CTS News YouTube :    / @cts_news   ▣ CTS News ◇ PC : http://cts.tv/news ▣ Instagram :     / ctsnews_official ▣ Facebook :     / officialctsnews _________________________________ CTS Christian TV is operated through your val...