Christian Literature Center (CLC Korea)

Overview

The Christian Literature Center is a literature mission organization that treats the publication and distribution of Christian books as a form of mission. It is the Korean branch of CLC, an international mission organization founded in England. It operates as an incorporated association and publishes theological studies and devotional books under the name "CLC." CLC Korea describes itself as a literature mission organization that publishes books of Puritan evangelical theology and faith.

Founding and History

CLC International

CLC International began on November 1, 1941, when Ken and Bessie Adams rented a small space in Colchester, England, and opened The Evangelical Publishing House. It began as an independently operated body affiliated with WEC (now WEC International), the mission organization founded by C. T. Studd. According to CLC's own account, while engaged in evangelism Adams noticed that the publications of groups such as the Jehovah's Witnesses had already spread widely, and this prompted him to distribute evangelical literature. Its original English name was Christian Literature Crusade, but it is now known by names such as CLC International. Its international headquarters is reported to be in the United Kingdom, and it conducts bookstore and publishing ministries in more than forty countries.

CLC Korea

According to CLC International sources, CLC Korea began in 1975. In Korea the organization uses the English name Christian Literature Center. Its president is the Rev. Park Young-ho, whom CLC International identifies as its director for Korea. The official website lists an address in Bangbae-dong, Seocho District, Seoul, while recent publishing records give an address in Dongdaemun District, Seoul. According to CLC International, CLC Korea once lost more than thirty years of accumulated record files because of an equipment failure. It reportedly reorganized its work systems afterward and published its backlog of manuscripts.

Principal Activities

• Publishing: CLC Korea publishes books in biblical theology, church history, missiology, pastoral ministry, and general Christian reading, as well as picture books for children. Examples include a Korean translation of Craig Van Gelder's The Essence of the Church (translated by Choi Dong-kyu, 2015) and Lee Ho-woo's A History of the World Christian Church (2021). It has also published a book on missiology that presents side by side the views of evangelical, Reformed, Roman Catholic, and Eastern Orthodox missiologists.
• Distribution: It supplies books through online sales and wholesale.
• Other ministries: CLC International sources indicate that, in addition to publishing, CLC Korea is engaged in ministries through a CLC memorial church and a theological seminary.
• Corporate purposes: The purposes of incorporation disclosed in corporate records include publishing books of Puritan Reformed and orthodox conservative theology and faith; publishing books critical of communist atheism and radical theology; establishing Christian libraries; and sending missionaries through a literature mission training center.

Organization

CLC Korea is not a denomination or a federation of denominations but a mission organization engaged in publishing and distribution. It operates as one of the national branches within the CLC International network.

Assessment

CLC International reports that in October 2019 the South Korean government department responsible for publishing presented an award to President Park Young-ho in recognition of CLC Korea's publishing ministry. The bestsellers CLC Korea highlights include a devotional book on the meaning of the gospel and an overview of the history of Israel.