A Word from the Chancellor
Welcome to “Berit Theological Seminary.”
The word Berit is a Hebrew word which means ‘covenant’ or ‘promise.’ It is our hope that you will attain the eternal truth of God’s promises at this institution.
As we conserve the legitimacy of the Bible, we aim to become the heart of globalization in spreading the gospel to every corner of the world.
BTS will be the lamp of the Word in this darkening world through concentrated study and development of the mysterious and profound Word that is centered on the history of redemption. BTS strives through the Word of redemptive history to cultivate the global leaders as a whole person by equipping them with spirituality, intelligence, and virtue, so that they can boldly lead in the mission field using their practical wisdom.
Berit is a wonderful school founded for the purpose of teaching, training, and developing Church Leaders for the Ministry with the motto, ‘Only Jesus, Only Scripture,’ following the legacy of the founder Dr. Abraham Park. Students choose “BERIT” for many reasons, one of many being the depth and content of each lecture, study, and research class.
If God called you and directed you providentially to apply for Berit Theological Seminary, you made the right choice. I believe you will find that Berit Seminary is a great institution where you can attain the Great Christian Education and preparation you are seeking.
On behalf of the Berit Staff, allow me to assure you, it is our prayer that God will use this school to powerfully prepare you for the work He has called you to in the ministry.
Gratefully,
Dr. Philip Lee
President
A Word from the President
Welcome to “Berit Theological Seminary.”
Dr. Jabez Park
President
Greetings from Former President
My dear friends, oh how our God and Father loves you! At Berit will find that Love and find that we love you, too!
Welcome to Berit Theological Seminary and Graduate School!
The staff of BTS collectively work to affirm that every student’s seminary experience is a foundationally sound process of growth in the faith towards every student’s spiritual transformation. We believe that the Word and the spiritual elements of the faith are at the very center of the man if God’s journey towards a relationship with the Triune God.
We have gone to great depts to ensure that every Degree Program at BTS delves deeply into the fullness of knowledge and wisdom hidden within the 66 books of the Old and New Testaments bound in every believer’s Bible. We believe that each semester is designed to enhance one’s study of the Word of God and its message surrounding the work of the Trinity, and God’s work in the completion of His plan in the administration of redemptive history.
We believe that learning is inseparable from the work of growing in Christ, and one’s being conformed more and more to God’s image and likeness, even unto the manifestation of His glory, as the children of God, in every minister and theologian’s daily life!
We are living in extremely exciting days, and at BTS we believe that God is hastening His work in the fulfillment of His plan, right before our eyes. BTS students will continually be blessed by the challenging yet fulfilling hours they will spend in study. We know that the work of every religious leader is rigorous. Today, perhaps more than ever, much is being required of both teachers and leaders.
Candidates, because we believe your calling is from God, we pray that you will hearken to God’s Word, His Spirit and His voice, to the various invitations you will discover in every class.
As the Chief Executive Officer and representative of all Berit Theological Seminary’s staff, I agree with our renowned founder, Dr. Abraham Park, our President, Dr. Philip Lee, Our Dean of Academics, Dr. Warren Gage, along with every professor, in their promise that you will find every help you will need, in any of our degree programs.
May the joy and peace of our Father and His Son Jesus Christ, abound in your life, heart, ministry, and faith!
In the sacred and precious name of Our Lord Jesus Christ, Amen!
Dr. John McCurley D.Min.
Chief Executive Officer
Founder
Dr. Rev. Abraham Park
Pastor Abraham Park’s life and ministry
Pyungkang Cheil Church, founded by Rev. Park, has grown to become one of the largest churches in the world. It has over 70,000 church members in over 300 churches established around the world.
In addition, Rev. Park has published eleven books that explain God’s redemptive history throughout the Bible and four books on the modern history of Korea that were officially adopted as required reading by soldiers in the Ministry of National Defense. Dr. Rev. Park was called to heaven on December 17, 2014, at 3:00 pm.
Rev. Abraham Park was born in Sariwon, Hwanghae Province in 1928. After the liberation from Japan, he could not tolerate the repression of Christians by the Communist Party and migrated to southern Korea. In 1948, he joined the national defense guard and participated in the Korean War. He got a gunshot in the leg and retired as a disabled veteran. He became a minister, giving hope to the people who had suffered from the oppressive rule of Japanese colonial life and the Korean War.
In 1958, he began his ministry as an assistant evangelist at Dongmaasan Methodist Church in Korea. He later became a Presbyterian, starting a church congregation from his house in the early 1960s. From those humble beginnings, he and his church members built a church for the first time in 1969. Located in Seoul, the church was named “Zion Mountain Handol (meaning ‘one stone’) Church.” The name of the church held a symbolic meaning, reflecting the state of the church at the time. Keeping with this theme, as the congregation began to grow and undergo great change, so did the name. In November 1971 the name changed to “Ilseok Church,” meaning “One Stone Church.” In July 1977 the church was renamed “Daesung Church,” meaning “Big Voice Church.” In November 1991 a new church site was purchased, a 46-acre plot of land in southern Seoul. This became Pyungkang Cheil Church, the current location of the church, which has continued to grow in size alongside Rev. Park’s growing congregation.
New ministry paradigm centered on the Word of God
Rev. Park’s knowledge and understanding of faith that guided his ministry were not acquired through theological training, but a training common around the time of the first generation church – he read the Bible. Uncommon, however, was the intensity, deliberation, and devotion by which he studied. He read the Bible during the day and prayed at night inside a cave on Mt. Jiri for 3 years and 6 months and 7 days.
This passion for the Bible translated into his unprecedented ability to charismatically narrate and give meaning to stories from the book of Genesis to the book of Revelation. Reading the Bible more than 1,800 times over his lifetime, he emphasized his belief that the Bible was the living Word of God and absolutely inerrant. He refused to have people and personalities be the focus of the ministry. Instead, his “ministry of the Word” philosophy focused first and foremost on the Word of God. In line with this philosophy, Rev. Park emphasized the importance of the church as the “Body of the Lord,” regarding service and devotion to the church as indispensable.
Great pastoral fruit
The seeds of the church were planted based on faith in the teachings of Jesus and his ultimate sacrifice on the cross. Even in his eighties, while fighting a debilitating illness, Rev. Park still had the determination to focus all his energy on communicating this message, editing, and publishing the nine books of the History of Redemption Series.
The profound and lasting impact the nine books of the History of Redemption series have had on understanding the meaning and significance of God’s word in The Bible cannot be understated. The History of Redemption Series has been translated into 18 languages and seminars have been held all over the world based on the series.
The History of Redemption Series is recognized as one of the most influential Christian books, even receiving praise in the Muslim world by Pastor Anwar Fazal in Pakistan.
A common practice of large churches in Korea is to pass ownership of the church, through inheritance, to family members. Rev. Park, however, felt that the church belongs not to one single person, but to God and all those who follow in His footsteps. Because of this philosophy, Rev. Park did not bequeath the church to his sons. In addition, as a sign of respect, he called the pastors with whom he had taught and trained not his associate pastors, but his co-workers. Rev. Park also set an example for churches in Korea by considering all his pastors his successors, spreading the responsibility for the future success of the church equally among them and not to one individual. All the churches built by Pyungkang Cheil Church will inherit the accomplishments of Rev. Park’s exemplary life. The many believers who have grown up in the church have become the fruit cultivated from Rev. Park’s caring tending of those initial seeds. From these fruits come believers who fervently continue the work that Rev. Park started, sharing the passion for God’s love and his message of redemption throughout history.
Education
Bachelor of Business Administration from Kookmin University, Korea in February 1973
Master of Divinity from General Seminary, Korea in December 1984
Recognition and Awards
Honorary Doctor of Theology from Knox Theological Seminary, U.S.A., October 2012
Honorary Doctorate Ph.D. from Trinity Theological College and Seminary (American Trinity University, U.S.A.), November 2011.
Honorary Doctor of Ministry from Lael College and Graduate School, U.S.A, June 1997
Honorary Doctor of Theology from Faith Theological Seminary, U.S.A, February 1995
President of the Korean Presbyterian Church (joint remuneration), September 1992
Peace Service Award from Los Angeles City Council, U.S.A., March 1992
Presidential Prize from Korean President Kim Youngsam, August 1997
Prime Minister Award from Korean Prime Minister Kim Jongpil, December 18, 1998
Presidential Award from Korean President Kim Daejung, December 2001