By Byeong
Although the principles of PACE (Lay Pastors Ministry) are universal, the reasons churches embrace this ministry differ from country to country. Understanding these differences helps us appreciate how God works through the same ministry in different cultural settings.
The United States
In the United States, many churches had grown very large. While there were certainly many smaller churches, Dr. Melvin Steinbron developed Lay Pastors Ministry in a congregation of more than 2,000 members. It became obvious that one senior pastor and a few staff members could not provide personal care for everyone. The traditional church structure was no longer sufficient for such a large congregation.
At the same time, American churches had devoted much of their energy to evangelism for several decades. Bringing people into the church was no longer the greatest challenge. The greater need was to care for new believers, help them become established in their faith, and prevent them from quietly slipping out the “back door.”
During this period, many parachurch organizations emerged to support local churches. Lay Pastors Ministry was one of these ministries, providing a practical solution for personal pastoral care. It also encouraged churches to rediscover the biblical importance of lay people. In this sense, it became not only a caring ministry but also a significant lay ministry movement.
South Korea
When PACE and Lay Pastors Ministry came to Korea, Korean Christianity had already celebrated nearly one hundred years of history. During that century, churches had experienced remarkable growth and had developed many ministries, especially evangelism.
However, by the 1990s, church growth had begun to slow, and many churches experienced numerical decline. Both pastors and lay members realized that something was missing. They were searching for the next stage of church development.
When Korean churches encountered PACE, they immediately recognized its value. It addressed one of the church’s greatest needs—effective pastoral care combined with lay involvement. Korean churches adopted PACE not only as a caring ministry but also as a strategy for healthier church growth.
At the same time, many lay believers had matured spiritually and desired greater opportunities to serve. PACE provided them with meaningful ministry, allowing them to use their gifts, grow in spiritual maturity, and experience the joy of serving others. As a result, both pastors and lay people found renewed purpose through this ministry.
Nagaland, India
The situation in Nagaland, India, is quite different.
Many people live with economic hardship and deeply appreciate practical expressions of Christian love. Therefore, the core principle of PACE—“love with skin on”—fits naturally into their culture and meets genuine human needs.
Although Christianity has existed in Nagaland for nearly one hundred years, much like Korea, the concept of lay ministry had received very little attention. Church life was centered almost entirely on pastors. Many believers assumed that the role of lay members was simply the “Three Ps”—Presence, Prayer, and Pay: attend church, pray, and give offerings.
Churces were also strongly influenced by denominational structures. Denominational headquarters exercised significant authority over local churches and pastors. This hierarchical system left little room for developing lay leadership or encouraging local ministry initiatives.
When pastors and church leaders first heard the biblical teaching on Lay Ministry, Lay Pastors Ministry, and PACE through our training, many were genuinely surprised. They expressed deep gratitude because their eyes were opened to a new biblical paradigm. They recognized that every believer is called to ministry and that pastoral care is the responsibility of the whole Body of Christ, not only the ordained clergy.
For many church leaders in Nagaland, this understanding represents nothing less than a Second Reformation. It is transforming their understanding of the church, ministry, and discipleship.
For this reason, I believe that PACE International Seminary (PIS) will play a vital role in advancing this movement throughout the churches of Nagaland. By equipping pastors and lay leaders together, PIS can help establish a new generation of churches where every believer is prepared to serve according to God’s calling.
Conclusion
Although the reasons for adopting PACE differ from country to country, the ministry meets a common biblical need. In the United States, it addressed the challenge of caring for large congregations. In Korea, it provided a new direction for churches seeking healthy growth and greater lay involvement. In Nagaland, it introduced a biblical vision of lay ministry and personal pastoral care that had rarely been emphasized before.
Different countries have different needs, but the same biblical principles apply. Wherever believers are equipped to care for one another in Christ’s name, the church becomes healthier, stronger, and more faithful to its mission.