Grantee Directory

Korean churches have faced stagnation and decline as a result of multiple factors. Since 2010, strict immigration policies and reductions in Korean visas have led to a noticeable decline in students studying abroad and immigrants. The prolonged pandemic caused some members of the Korean immigrant community to doubt the necessity of churches, and congregants shifted to other churches or left altogether. These factors have resulted in the number of Korean immigrant churches plummeting, with reports suggesting that 130 Korean immigrant churches in L.A. alone had closed their doors before and after COVID-19. Additionally, Korean immigrant churches face unique cultural pressures. They are directly exposed to materialism, mechanization, rationalism, and extreme individualism on one hand. On the other hand, they grapple with issues prevalent in Korean society such as authoritarianism, saving face, competitiveness, a sense of comparison, and irrational decision-making structures and contradictions. Consequently, conflict and division are inevitable realities for Korean immigrant churches. The Rejuvenating Immigrant Congregations (RIC) program aims to address the problems facing Korean immigrant churches in crisis. Through conferences, seminars, research, and direct involvement, small- to medium-sized churches affiliated with the Korean church in America will be encouraged to participate in restoration, missions, and community service. The RIC program hopes to break down barriers of time and culture, bring hope and change, renew congregants, and enable churches to fulfill their original mission.