Terminal Tuberculosis at Age Seventeen
Yonggi Cho, born into a Buddhist family in Ulju County, South Korea, faced a life-altering challenge at the young age of 17. Diagnosed with terminal tuberculosis, doctors gave him only a few months to live. Desperate and on the brink of despair, Cho reached out in a prayer to a God he barely knew, asking for help and promising to dedicate his life to spreading the story of this divine intervention if he was healed.
The Turning Point with Jesus
The turning point came when a Christian schoolgirl visited him, sharing the message of Jesus and God's love. Although initially resistant, Cho was touched by her compassion and decided to embrace Christianity, even as a dying wish. As he read the Bible she gifted him, he encountered Jesus and prayed fervently for healing. In his words, "Mr. Jesus, if you are truly son of God why don't you prove on me. I'm a young man 17 years old too young to die... if you would ever touch and heal me then I'll become your servant."
Miraculous Healing from Tuberculosis
Miraculously, within six months, Cho was healed. The doctors confirmed the disappearance of the spot on his lung, and Cho attributed this to Jesus' intervention, marking the beginning of his faith journey. Feeling a strong call to ministry, Cho became an interpreter for an American evangelist and later pursued theological education in Seoul.
Building a Global Ministry Legacy
In 1958, alongside Choi Ja-shil, he founded the Yoido Full Gospel Church, starting with just five members in a humble living room. The church grew exponentially, reaching over 700,000 members by 1993, largely due to Cho's emphasis on cell group ministry, prayer, and evangelism. He believed in the power of the Holy Spirit to guide and provide vision, often stating, "The man don't make the vision; the vision makes the man."
Throughout his ministry, Cho emphasized prayer's transformative power, advocating for fasting and prayer as tools for changing one's destiny. Despite facing controversies later in life, including a conviction for embezzlement, Cho maintained his faith, claiming a clear conscience before God.
Yonggi Cho's life is a testament to Jesus' healing power and the impact of a life dedicated to sharing faith with others. His legacy continues to inspire many around the world.
