A History of Korean Congregation

The first worship service by the Korean congregation in the Cincinnati area was on December 5, 1971 at the Clifton United Methodist Church. Rev. Sang Baik Kim had mailed invitation letters to the Korean residents in the Cincinnati area on November 13, 1971. Five adults and four children attended the first service. In the same year, he helped form a Korean congregation in the Dayton area, later became the Korean United Methodist Church in Dayton.

In the beginning, Rev. Sang Baik Kim played a key role in recruiting new members and organizing the church activities. As the congregational membership grew, Rev. Kim decided to resign the Dayton position and dedicate his time to the Cincinnati congregation in November 1976. The Sunday attendance grew over 50 adults and the Fellowship Hall in the Clifton United Methodist Church became too crowded.

In February 1977, the Korean congregation moved to the main sanctuary of the Clifton United Methodist Church for its regular worship services. The membership quickly grew over 100 and the congregation needed a separate church building. In February 1978, the congregation submitted a grant/loan application to the Church Extension Service of the West Ohio Conference.

On January 29, 1979, the Korean congregation became a new charge in the West Ohio Conference with its official name of the "Korean United Methodist Church." With the capital fund raised by the congregation and with the loan and grant provided by the Conference, the Korean United Methodist Church purchased a church building formally owned by the Evangelical Methodist Church located near the west campus of the University of Cincinnati and had the worship service on October 28, 1979 in the new location.

The first monthly newsletter, "The Light", was first published in January 1986. The membership kept growing and by January 1989, the Sunday attendance was over 200 in addition to the Sunday school attendees of about 60. It was apparent that the congregation needed a bigger building to accommodate the growing membership. In February 1991, a church-relocation committee was formed to make a recommendation about the possible move. After some considerations, it was recommended to merge with the Madisonville United Methodist Church located on Madison Road. Following vote by both congregations in December 1992, two churches merged and became the Korean-Madisonville United Methodist Church.