Doctrinal Awareness and Faith Practice among the Next Generation of Korean Churches

This study was conducted as part of the 120th Anniversary Project of Korean Adventist Mission, aiming to comprehensively assess the doctrinal awareness and faith practices of the next generation(children, adolescents, and young adults) within the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Korea. It also seeks to explore the church’s roles and practical strategies to foster their spiritual and holistic growth. An online survey was administered to a nationwide sample of 536 children, adolescents, and young adults affiliated with Adventist churches. The questionnaire consisted of three domains: demographic information, doctrinal understanding, and faith practice, designed with consideration of the developmental stages and cognitive capacities of each age group. The data were analyzed using SPSS 25.0, employing descriptive statistics, independent samples t-tests, one-way ANOVA, and Scheffé post hoc analysis. The findings revealed, first, that while core doctrines related to Adventist identity received high levels of agreement, more distinct doctrines such as the denial of the immortal soul after death, the pre-Advent judgment, and the prophetic role of Ellen G. White showed relatively lower agreement. Second, significant generational differences were observed in participation in public worship and church activities. Moreover, despite relatively high levels of doctrinal understanding, respondents demonstrated lower levels of faith practice and values, indicating a gap between doctrinal acceptance and lived faith. These results underscore the necessity for the church to establish a systematic support strategy that promotes not only doctrinal knowledge but also practical, relationship- centered faith formation among the next generation.