The Sam-ae Church was founded on September 17, 2006 to meet one of the six conditions suggested by the bereaved family of Rev. Pai Minsoo who donated the Sam-ae Technical Institute of Agriculture to Yonsei University. The six conditions are as follows: 1) to foster a rural leadership based on the Sam-ae Spirit; 2) to establish Pai Minsoo Memorial Library; 3) to extend the classrooms of the Sam-ae Technical Institute of Agriculture; 4) to found Pai Minsoo Interdenominational Memorial Church; 5) to maintain the graveyard of Rev. Pai Minsoo; 6) to administer the existing educational programs by the Sam-ae Technical Institute of Agriculture.
The Sam-ae Church is one of the two interdenominational churches of Yonsei University. The church has been growing since its establishment through the interaction between the Sam-ae Spirit initiated by the late Rev. Pai Minsoo and the Christian identity of Yonsei University. The first senior pastor of the church is Rev. Jeong Se Park, succeeded by the present senior pastor, Rev. Chong Hun Jeong. Both of them serve as chaplains in the office of chaplaincy at Yonsei University. As of September 2011, the church has approximately 100 adult members in the congregation and around 20 kids in the Sunday School. It became financially independent since 2010, the fouth year after its establishment.
The Sam-ae Church carries its mission on the basis of its four vision statements; 1) to promote ecumenism in the faith community as “one, holy, universal, and apostolic church”; 2) to provide a democratic and reformed model for the churches in Korea; 3) to reinterpret and implant theSam-ae Spirit of Rev. Pai Minsoo in the context of the current Korean society; 4) to actively support the campus mission at Yonsei University.
The Sam-ae church is striving to embody the Sam-ae spirit of Rev. Pai Minsoo represented by the ensuing three loves; 1) “the love of God” - to restore the relationship with God and to deepen it; 2) “the love of rural community” - to love our neighbors in areas suffering from poverty; 3) “the love of labor”- to design and develop a variety of practical activities participated by all the members of the church to serve people.
The Same-ae Church is different from other existing churches in that it emphasizes on building up its relationship with the following four communities to fulfill its mission; 1) the local community of the church; 2) the United Graduate School of Theology at Yonsei University, which runs the Pai Minsoo Memorial Lecture and the Sam-ae Special Doctoral Program; 3) the head office of Yonsei University which is inseparable in the establishment of Sam-ae church; 4) the Korean Church in general beyond any particular denomination and local churches for the promotion of ecumenism.