2/24/13

2260 Philip Avenue

Posthumous (2015)

Capilano United Church
North Vancouver, B.C. Canada

Capilano United Church is nestled near the northern border of Pemberton Heights, the high residential bluff in the south western section of the District of North Vancouver.  North of the church is the Upper Levels Highway, the homes in Capilano Highlands, and then the peaks of Grouse Mountain. 

Sanctuary

"Capilano United Church was established as Capilano Congregation of the Presbyterian Church of Canada, and served by a student from the Presbyterian College in Vancouver, Westminster Hall. Services were held in the community schoolhouse until the construction of the Capilano Union Church in 1925. It was formally instituted as a United Church in 1927 and in 1938 became a part of the North Lonsdale-Capilano Pastoral Charge. In 1957 the charge was divided and Capilano United Church became a charge on its own. A Christian Education Building, to house an active Sunday school program, was added to church in 1961..." (Link 1.)

In the sanctuary, the cross below the round stained glass window and the baptismal font were both made by Joe Lightheart, an early member of the congregation.  He cut the inlay pieces for the cross with an old Singer treadle sewing machine with needle replaced by a saw blade. The communion table was a donation from a different congregant. (REF.)

The round stained glass window is also a cross. It was designed in the 1990's by congregation  member Doug Bentley.  Its symbolism also includes references to the North Shore mountains and trees. (REF.) The colors pink, yellow, blue and green echo those on the top sections of the side windows.  the original round window also included these colors, but was made up of eight pie shaped pieces.

All the triple side windows include the pink, green, yellow, and blue colors along the square panels of the top frame. However, the square panels of the bottom frames are different on the north and south sides of the sanctuary.  The south facing windows are opaque to diffuse the sunlight. (REF.) The north facing windows are clear allowing the congregation to be inspired by the trees and mountain view.

Clear Glass North Windows of Sanctuary

The west wall of the narthex is floor to ceiling colored glass.  It is shown in the interior photo below as well as on the exterior wall in the top photo. 

West Wall of Sanctuary Narthex 

(See left exterior side of church in top photo.)

"According to the little history that was written up about the church, with information taken from the church archives, on March 25, 1925, the congregation voted to build the church building at a cost of $2,000...  The church building was opened and was filled to capacity with over 200 people on October 1, 1925..." (REF.) The actual building of the church was done by members of the congregation.  The land for the church was donated by B.C. Electric. The church site at this time was near the end of the B.C. Electric Tram line.  The narthex addition on the west side of the church seems to have been built in the 1950's.  The church entrance was changed to the south side of the building.  At some point the original church was lifted and a basement added.

Thank you: To office help Dianna Wilson for a tour of the church.
Reference:   E mails from Board Chair Sandi McIntosh Kocaba with references
                 from her mother Gerry McIntosh and her mother's "little church
                 history book".
Photos: Taken in 2013 by SW. Link 1: http://www.capilanounited.ca/
Link 1: http://memorybc.ca/capilano-united-church-north-vancouver-b-c-fonds;rad

Note: Spring 2015 the church was bought by  North Vancouver District and will
            be used as a Community Center.

Prayer

God, be with persecuted Christians throughout the world. Amen (SW.)

                                                                                                       February 17, 2013

                                                         1400 Sutherland Avenue

Posthumous

Evangelical Free Church

North Vancouver, B.C.

The Evangelical Free Church was the original building on the corner of Sutherland Ave. and East 14th Street.  It can be seen as the right, lower building in the photo above.  According to the City Directories at the North Vancouver Archives The North Vancouver Evangelical Free Church first met in the home of its pastor the Rev. Emil G. Axene at 1416 Sutherland Ave. in 1949.  In  1952 a separate building  is listed for The North Vancouver Evangelical Church.  It is listed as being on the east side of the 1400 block of Sutherland Ave.  The minister was Rev. E. G. Axene. 

1960 Fire Insurance Map

In 1984 the North Shore Christian Centre purchased the property and The Evangelical Free Church building was used as its sanctuary.  Work bees of volunteers from the congregation then added the higher section of the building pictured on the north side of the building.  This area in now includes the church office,  and the hall to the sanctuary.   The Prayer Room is the old sanctuary that was the original Evangelical Free Church.  

                                   Prayer Room of North Shore Christian Centre

                                 Original Sanctuary of Evangelical Free Church

+++

"The Evangelical Free Church of Canada (EFCC) is an association of autonomous and interdependent evangelical Christian congregations in Canada." (Link 2.)

Note: For more about the church at 1400 Sutherland Avenue

                 see Blog Post at 12/4/11.

Photos: Taken in 2011 by SW.

                 Top photo in Y2K Project on file at the North Vancouver Archives.
Link1: http://northshorechristiancentre.com/
Link 2: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evangelical_Free_Church_of_Canada

Prayer

God, be with the persecuted Christians through out the world. Amen

Evangelical Free Church

1400 Sutherland Ave.

North Vancouver, B.C.

Appendix

City Directory-1942-E. 13th and 14th intersection

                                          Bush here

                               1945-no listing on  1400 Sutherland Ave.

                                          no listing of any Axene

                               1949-1416 Sutherland Ave.

                                          Rev. Emil G. Axene (Rosa O.)-es New House

                                                          pastor NV Evangelical Free Church

                                                          at 1416 Sutherland Ave.
                              1950-(same as 1949)
                              1951-Rev. E. Axene-es New House
                              1952-es Evangelical Free Church
                                         1416 Rev. E. G. Axene-es New House
                              1954-es Evangelical Free Church
                                         1416 Rev. E. G. Axene
                              1958-1400 block Sutherland Ave.
                                        es Evangelical Free Church
                                         Rev. C. W. McGee pastor
                              1972-Evangelical Free Church
                                         Rev. Chas Sinclair pastor
                              1982-Evangelical Free Church
                                          Rev. G. Kayser pastor
                                       
Building Permit Book-no entry

1960 Fire Insurance Map

Research at the North Vancouver Archives by Suzanne Wilson-2011

                                                                                                                                        2/10/13

Main Terminal, Mezzanine

Meditation Room

Meditation Room

Sea-Tac Airport

Tacoma, Washington

Sea-Tac International Airport "...was constructed by the Port of Seattle in 1944 to serve civilians of the region, after the U.S. military took control of Boeing Field for use in World War II. The Port received $1 million from the Civil Aeronautics Administration to build the airport, and $100,000 from the City of Tacoma." (Link 3.)  This airport included a chapel.

1944 Sea-Tac Airport 

(Google Images)

Over the years the original 1944 building has deteriorated.  Much of it is condemned and not available to the public.  This is true of the chapel.  There have been numerous additions to the airport so that now the original building is mainly engulfed in new airport facilities and snail shell like parking pavilions. Since the chapel is no longer available for use a new meditation room has been built on the Mezzanine Floor in the new Main Terminal. (See top photo.)  

Sign on Mezzanine Floor of Main Terminal

A single Meditation Room sign hangs in front of it.  On the wall to the left of the sign is a plain door that leads to the old 1944 airport chapel that is no longer in use.  The Meditation Room itself sits like an island in a widening of the hall between this door and the Lost and Found.  Its floor to ceiling glass front reveals a panel of hues of red, yellow, pink, purple, and white decorative circles, "Rondo Capriccioso" by Jennifer Lew and Richard Proctor, dedicated August 1, 1973.  

Front Wall Mural of Meditation Room

Past this paneled wall is a room fronted by a lighted photo of mountains, sky, and water, "Lake Wenatchee" by Johsel Namkung, January 1986. (Link 4.)

Interior of Meditation Room

Narrow floor to ceiling windows frame the front and sides of the room.  These six windows are covered with screens: "Weaving" by Gloria E. Crouse, dedicated August 1, 1973.  Chairs are provided for those who come to worship or meditate. 

Donated Macrame Window Screen

On the left front wall is a door to the chaplain's office.  Numerous volunteer chaplains under the leadership of Executive chaplain, John K. Oas are available for worship services, support, and prayer as well as offering a speakers bureau.  They assist not only travelers, but also the staff of the airport.

+++

From the Seattle Times Archives, 1992.

"At Sea-Tac, A Journey Of The Spirit, Too -- Chaplain Tends To Vast Airport's Travelers, Workers

By Charles Aweeka

John Oas is no fly-by-night chaplain.

"For 18 years, Chaplain John, as he calls himself, has been a mainstay at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. He's the director of Sea-Tac Ministries, a nonprofit corporation that assists airport workers and travelers.

"He was 26 when he arrived in 1974 from Westwood Christian Assembly Church in White Center, the youngest airport chaplain in the world, according to an international chaplain's association to which he belongs.

"In an age of airport expansion and record-setting passenger levels, Oas refers to himself and his associate chaplains as "industrial chaplains," and with good reason. Almost 20,000 people work in Sea-Tac airport businesses - an average of 6,000 employees at any one time in 24 hours. There will be about 18 million airport passengers this year.

"Airline workers may be upset because their jobs are in jeopardy; travelers may be seething because departure times were changed at the last minute or because of complications with a bargain flight to a tropical paradise. On top of that, perhaps no other public facility in the greater Seattle area is as busy this time of the year.

""Suddenly the airport's not friendly," Oas says.

"THE MEDITATION ROOM

"Each Sunday morning, Oas, an ordained minister, leads a Protestant service in the Meditation Room on the second floor of the terminal. It's a sparsely furnished space with 36 padded chairs facing a podium. Covering the wall behind the podium is a black-and-white photo of waves pounding a deserted beach. Off to one side, there's a ready supply of Old and New Testament Bibles.

"Typically, half a dozen people show up, plus an organist, although tour groups can boost attendance to 25 or so. The most was about 45 at the inaugural service. Occasionally it's just one person.

"Having finished with his service on a Sunday, Oas relaxes in one of the chairs. He tells two women who enter that there's nobody available to conduct the Catholic service. The Catholic chaplain resigned in October.

"We provide ministry to everyone and anything," says Oas, who wears a chain with a gold cross around his neck and a Port of Seattle identification badge with his picture. "I don't have a church - this is my parish. My parish is everything from the traditional to the nontraditional."

"Oas said he works mostly with airport employees, while Sea-Tac Ministries volunteers assist travelers.

"He believes his task is to bring faith to a segment of the population that, because of their jobs and unusual work schedules, doesn't fit into a Sunday come-to-meeting setting.

"Oas, also a chaplain for both the Seattle and Port of Seattle police departments, has helped provide safe havens for women fleeing abusive husbands, assisted stranded passengers, comforted people stricken by grief, counseled one on one and headed study groups on chemical dependency and family issues.

"You're brought in maybe when a secretary starts crying at her desk - maybe her teenager has run away," says Oas, who also performs baptisms and up to 40 marriages a year - a few of them at the airport, including one last fall of an Alaska Airlines employee.

"But there are limits even for an organization like Sea-Tac Ministries, which relies on individual contributions and donations from churches and Christian organizations for its existence. It's not possible to meet every request for help.

"Someone asks us for food or lodging on a weekly basis and they supposedly have nothing," Oas says. "We have to discern very carefully who we can help."

"He believes the long-term goal of Sea-Tac Ministries is to serve not only the airport but also the greater SeaTac area, including the nearby Pacific Highway South hotel-motel strip and Southcenter Mall.

"The organization has a board of directors headed by Tim Kimsey, deputy chief of the Port of Seattle police, and also is involved in emergency planning at the airport." (Link 1.)

"SOLACE FOR SURVIVORS

"About 70 volunteers who have passed background checks and take mandatory training every six months are on a list to assist with survivors and relatives in case of a crash at the airport.

"Like other volunteers at Sea-Tac Ministries, Howard Johnson, a retired Boeing engineer, wears gray slacks and a blue blazer. His chaplaincy insignia, a triangle enclosing a golden circle and a white cross, covers the pocket of his jacket.

"One incident stands out among all others for Johnson, who works four-hour shifts at the airport on Tuesday and Friday and is on call other times.

"During the Christmas holidays several years ago, Johnson was called to an airport bar to try and reason with a medical-equipment salesman from the East Coast. Cocktail waitresses were concerned because of the man's heavy drinking.

"At first, the man told Johnson he didn't need him. But then he confided to Johnson that he had received a call from home saying that his daughter was critically ill from an unknown cause.

"He was afraid to go home to face it," Johnson recalls, "because there had been two deaths and two near-deaths in his family that year, and he had had a heart attack five months earlier."

"Finally, after talking further with Johnson, the man decided he should fly home. Johnson helped him buy his ticket and make other arrangements.

" "I know God sent you to me," the man said. Johnson never heard from him again.

" "We are available for spiritual issues - we also want to be their friends," said Oas, whose wife Kathleen also is a volunteer. "If people want to talk to somebody we want to talk to them . . . we want to be somebody they can trust." " (Link 1.)

Thank you: To Ilene A. McCune, Associate Chaplain for information about the
                 Airport Chapel and Meditation Room, 2013.
Photos: Taken in 2013 by SW.
Link 1: http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=19921231&slug=1532867
Link 2: http://www.nccac.us/SeattleTakoma.htm
Link 3: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seattle%E2%80%93Tacoma_International_Airport
Link 4: http://www.woodsidebrasethgallery.com/artists/johsel-namkung/

(Note: In the fall of 2016 I was at SEATAC Airport and noticed that the chapel 
              was no longer there.  I asked an employee about it.  She said it hadn't 
              been there for about a year because of remodeling of the airport.  But
              she said she thought it would be relocated when the remodeling was 
              complete.)

                                                                                   February 3, 2013

185 East Keith Road-2013

North Shore Bethel Christian 
             Mennonite Brethren Church
North Vancouver, B.C. Canada

"North Shore Bethel Christian Mennonite Brethren (MB) Church held its first meeting in Sutherland Bible Chapel on 19th Street in North Vancouver in September 1997 as an expansion from Bethel Chinese Christian MB Church in Vancouver.

630 East 19th Street

Sutherland Bible Chapel

2000

"The church began with 20 members from the Vancouver church, with Alan Choi serving as pastor. The church officially organized in January 1999 and joined the British Columbia Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches in May the same year (the 1998 BC MB Conference report stated that the congregation had joined the conference in 1998, but that must have been an error). By the end of 2001 it had about 70 people attending the Chinese worship service, 20 attending the English worship service, and another 20 attending children’s worship.

"In February 2001, the church moved its meeting place to Capilano United Church on Philip Avenue with both Chinese and English worship services.

2260 Philip Avenue

Capilano United Church

2013

"On 4 January 2008 the congregation purchased the 83 year-old First Church of Christ, Scientist building on East Keith Road, and held their first service there on 9 March 2008. (Link 1.)

Sanctuary-2013

North Side of Sanctuary-2013

The sanctuary is  on the upper floor with large simple rectangular paned windows.  The chancel is at the east end with a single lecture in the center. The cross is on the front wall to the north of the chancel.  The ceiling is outlined in large squares. 

Sanctuary Ceiling-2013

The pews are set at an angle to the center aisle.  Glass panels are set in the upper sections of the double doors leading to the entrance narthex.  Offices have been added to the downstairs fellowship hall where the kitchen has been maintained.

+++

"The North American Mennonite Brethren (MB) church is changing, developing into a new community and beginning a shift in composition that makes it look much different than it did 148 years ago when it first began. 

"Founded in southern Russia in 1860, the MB church comprised almost entirely German-speaking Mennonites from South Russia (the Ukraine)—known as Russian Mennonites—who, 60 years earlier, had emigrated from the Vistula Delta (modern-day Poland). Some of the first changes in composition occurred shortly after the church was formed. Lutherans and Baptists began to join the church around the time of the first North American immigration in the 1870s...

"The following two migrations of Mennonites from Russia to North America in the 1920s and 1940s did little to change the composition of the MB church... For political reasons, the language of worship gradually moved from German to English.

"A significant influence occurred with the post-Vietnam War influx of refugees from Southeast Asia, which turned the MB church’s face of refugee assistance from post-Second World War German-speaking Mennonites toward these newcomers...

"Today, the MB church in Canada worships in around 20 different languages. Nineteen Chinese congregations, mostly in B.C., are rapidly expanding and worship in either Mandarin or Cantonese...

"We view the world through the eyes of Jesus, who came to unite us to God through him. Our declaration as MB Christians is that we are a new people in a new relationship with each other and a common mission to build a new community under the lordship of Christ to which all are freely invited." (Link 2.) 

Note: For more about the 83 year old First Church of Christ Scientist building
see Blog Post for January 27, 2013.
Thank you: To members of the congregation for sharing information
about the church.
Photos: Year 2000 photo from project Your House/Our Home by SW. Other photos taken in 2013 by SW.
Link 1: http://www.gameo.org/encyclopedia/contents/north_shore_bethel_christian
Link 2:http://www.mbconf.ca/home/about_us/our_story/

                                                                                                              January 27, 2013

185 East Keith Road-2000

Posthumous
First Church of Christ Scientist
North Vancouver, B.C. Canada

"Beautifully sited as a backdrop to the east end of Victoria Park, (in the center of the City of North Vancouver) this elegant structure employs classical elements in a picturesque fashion.  This design is distinguished by the tall proportions of the entry columns, the narrow windows and the engaged corner pilasters.  Architects Honeyman and Curtis paid particular attention to the fine detailing around the entry and the wooden trim around the windows.  Despite its modest size, this building has a great presence due to its location and the character of its design.

146 East 3rd Street (REF 2.)

"In 1912 a small group of Christian Scientists joined to form a Christian Science Society on the North Shore.  They met and held services in a rented house at 1428 Chesterfield Avenue for about one year, and then rented another house at 146 E. 3rd Street.  Toward the end of 1915 the Society moved to 800 Lonsdale Ave.

"In 1923 a property overlooking Victoria Park East was purchased for $600.  In 1925 money was raised, borrowed and financed, some of it from the Trustees of the Mother Church Under the Will of Mary Baker Eddy.  Tenders were invited from various builders, and the lowest bid of $6,980 from Steward & Coltart of Vancouver was accepted.

Front Elevation 

(1925 Building Plan-REF 2.)

"In June 1925 the Society's name changed to First Church of Christ, Scientists, North Vancouver.  The building was completed, and on July 30, 1925 the branch moved into its new location.  The church was dedicated on Sunday, September 8, 1928." (REF 1.)

Side Elevation

(1925 Building Plan-REF 2.)

The sanctuary of the First Church of Christ was on the first floor with large simple rectangular paned windows and the chancel on the east end.  A curved chancel communion rail separated the chancel from the nave. (This was removed when the church was bought by the North Shore Bethel Christian MB Church.)  Some pieces of the chancel furniture are in use in other parts of the sanctuary of the present North Shore Bethel Christian MB Church.

Sanctuary of the Church-2013

North Side Window-2013

On the lower floor of the church was a large social hall with a kitchen.

+++

"Christian Science is a system of religious thought and practice developed by Mary Baker Eddy (1821–1910), based on her reading of the Bible and personal experience, and described in her book Science and Health (1875). The Bible and Science and Health are the central texts of The First Church of Christ, Scientist, which Eddy founded in 1879 in Lynn, Massachusetts. A 1936 census counted nearly 270,000 adherents in the United States; as of 2010 there were believed to be under 100,000 worldwide.

"Christian Scientists believe that spiritual reality is the only reality and that the material world – including sickness and death – is an illusion.  They do not have an anthropomorphic conception of God, or believe in conventional notions of heaven and hell. They define Christ as the divine ideal of man and see Jesus not as a deity, but as Christ's highest human manifestation....

"...in recent years the church has sought to present Christian Science healing as a supplement to conventional medicine, rather than as a replacement for it. 

Side Entrance to Lower Floor "Reading Room"

"The Christian Science Publishing Society publishes a number of periodicals, includingThe Christian Science Monitor, a news magazine that has won several Pulitzer prizes." (Link 2.)  These publications were available at the "Reading Room" in the lower floor of the  First Church of Christ Scientist.

"On 4 January 2008 the congregation (of North Shore Bethel Christian MB Church) purchased the 83 year-old First Church of Christ, Scientist building on East Keith Road, and held their first service there on 9 March 2008." (Link 1.) (See Blog Post February 3, 2013.)

Note: Architects Honeyman and Curtis also designed the 1909 St. John's 
            Anglican Church in North Vancouver. (Link 3.) (See blog Post 9/16/12.)
Photos: Top photo taken in 2000 by SW as part of Year 2000 Photography

                       Project, Your House/Our Home and on file at the North Vancouver
                       Archives.  Other photos taken in 2013 by SW.
Reference 1: Sacred Sites Tour Booklet, 2005, "First Church of Christ Scientist-
                      1925 185 Keith Road East" by Joalyne Percey (CNV).
Reference 2. City of North Vancouver Heritage Inventory 1994, page 38 and 39. Link 1: http://www.gameo.org/encyclopedia/contents/north_shore_bethel_christian
Link 2: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_Science
Link 3: http://www.dictionaryofarchitectsincanada.org/architects/view/1522

Prayer

God, be with persecuted Christians throughout the world. Amen (SW.)

                                                                              January 20, 2013

132 East 12th Street, 1968

(North Vancouver Archives Photo #3917)

Posthumous
Foursquare Gospel Lighthouse
North  Vancouver, B.C. Canada

"The early 20th century evangelist was a pioneer of women in religion.  Having experienced a profound religious conversion at age 17, Aimee began preaching across the United States and later, the world.  In 1918, she established her base in Los Angeles, California, where in 1923, the 5,300 seat Angeles temple was dedicated and became the center of her revival, healing and benevolent ministries.  She was the first woman to own and operate a Christian radio station.  Her sermons were the first to incorporate the contemporary communications of that day into her preaching of the Gospel.  From Angelus Temple she performed and extensive social ministry, providing hot meals for more than 1.5 million people during the Great Depression.  She summarized her message into four major points known as “The Foursquare Gospel,” and founded a denomination called The Foursquare Church.

"A graduate of L.I.F.E. Bible College in Los Angeles,  Anna D. Britton moved to Vancouver, B.C. in 1927, established L.I.F.E. Bible College of Canada in 1928 and grew a small group of believers into a congregation (Kingsway Foursquare Church) of nearly 1,000.  Her vision prompted her to extend the Foursquare Gospel to the three western provinces of Canada over which she served as Supervisor for many years." (Link.)   

Foursquare Gospel Lighthouse

(1930 Fire Insurance Map)

The 1930 North Vancouver Fire Insurance Map gives evidence that the Foursquare Gospel Lighthouse was the resident in the British Israel Association building in the 100 block of East 12th Street.  The 1931 and 1934 City Directories list the address of the North Vancouver Tabernacle  as being 130 East 12th Street.  The British Israel Association is also noted in parentheses  at this address.  After these dates  there is no listing in the City Directories  of the Foursquare Gospel Tabernacle being in North Vancouver. 

According to the North Vancouver City Building Permit Book, British Israel was given a permit to build an "Assembly Hall" at 132 East 12th Street in 1926. The City Directory documents and 1930 Fire Insurance Map seem to indicate that this building was used by the Foursquare Gospel Lighthouse at least from 1930 to 1934.  This would be at the time that Anna Britton moved from Los Angeles to Vancouver and brought with her the Foursquare Gospel. (See Note.) 

The 100 block of East 12th Street in the City of North Vancouver was the site of several now Posthumous Churches.  The First Baptist Church was at 161 East 12th Street, 1912-1967 (See Blog Post 10/28/12.) St. Andrew's Presbyterian was at 121 East 12th Street, 1933-1955. (See Blog Post 2/13/11.)  The Jehovah Witness Hall was at 121 East 12th Street, 1955-1976. (See Blog Post 2/13/11.)   This building then became the Black Sheep Restaurant and was demolished in the year 2000 to make way for a small apartment building.

Note: The Kingsway Foursquare Gospel Church could not give confirmation of
            this information.
Photo: North Vancouver Archives Photo #3917.

Link : http://www.foursquare.ca/index.php/2007072018/About-Us/history.html

Prayer

God, be with the persecuted Christians through out the world. Amen

Young Nak Presbyterian Church 
Seoul, Korea

"To Church, To Church"

"Yes, two churches in one day. First Jennifer B. and I took the subway to the Presbyterian church.   The European type church held about 1500 worshipers.  It featured stained glass windows, spiral staircases to the balcony, and a choir of 100. 

"We were late for the 10 am English service; we waited at the "foreigner's door" during the first prayer. Then the usher seated us in a special roped off section for "foreigners". We listed to the translation on earphones and put our collection in a velvet bag. In other buildings the total congregation of 10,000 watched the service on TV or attended Bible Classes.

"After the Presbyterian service a man we met on the street led us to the Catholic church.  The 12 o'clock service that we thought would be in English was in Korean.  The church and singing was magestic and beautiful.  We took communion in the aisle and circled the pews to place our offering in an urn type basket on the floor.  The heaters under the pews warmed our feet." (See Reference.)

"Young Nak (YN) Presbyterian Church was founded on December 2, 1945 by 1992 Templeton Prize recipient, Kyung-Chik Han. Inaugurated by twenty-seven refugees from Soviet occupied Korea, Young Nak steadily increased in membership as more refugees sought religious freedom below the 38th parallel.[1] On March 24, 1949, ground was broken for a new facility to replace the building and tent that had become too small for the growing congregation.[2] By the time the new church building was completed in May 1950, membership had increased to over 4,000.[3] By 1992, when Rev. Han was awarded the Templeton Prize for Progress in Religion, membership had grown to 60,000 (making it, at that time, the largest Presbyterian congregation in the world), excluding 500 sister churches planted by members of the original congregation.[4] 

"In 1998, under the auspices of Rev. Han, who at the time was a Pastor Emeritus, Young Nak gained an English language ministry, International Worship in English, which was founded by an American missionary to Korea, Bill Majors. For his efforts, Majors was made an Honorary Citizen of Seoul in 2005.[5] Presently the senior pastor of YN is Rev. Chul Shin Lee (1997-present)." (See Link 1.)

Photo: Origin unknown.

Link 1:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Young_Nak_Presbyterian_Church
Link 2: http://www.rjkoehler.com/2007/07/30/young-nak-presbyterian-church/ (See this link for a photo essay.)
Reference: From the "Seoul Star" a newsletter written by Suzanne Wilson for family and friends during her six week trip to Seoul, Korea in January and February 1996. Suzanne was visiting her daughter who was teaching English.  Jennifer B. was her daughter's roommate and fellow ESL teacher. 

Prayer

God, be with the persecuted Christians through out the world. Amen