From Australia to South Korea: Thousands Respond to the Gospel

To a world stumbling in the darkness of confusion and sin, the unchanging light of the Gospel still cuts through, saving the lost and opening the eyes of the spiritually blind. In recent weeks, Dr. Michael Youssef journeyed from Australia to South Korea—two nations on opposite ends of the Pacific, both hungry for hope. And in both places, God moved in power.

“I Will Never Forget the Sound of the Chairs . . .”

For Dr. Youssef, the stop in Wollongong, Australia, was more than a ministry opportunity; it was a homecoming. It was in Australia that Dr. Youssef attended seminary, met his wife Elizabeth, and was ordained into ministry—a season in which God began preparing him for the global Gospel work that would eventually lead to the founding of Leading The Way.

“I had the privilege of preaching to 3,600 at the basketball stadium just outside of Sydney, only a few yards from the cathedral where I was ordained 50 years ago,” Dr. Youssef said. “What a sacred privilege it was to proclaim the unchanging Gospel to this spiritually hungry crowd in a city that holds such deep meaning for me and my family.”

Across three events on March 28-29, 2025, at Leading The Way‘s Hope for the Illawarra Evangelistic Celebration, approximately 7,800 people gathered, culminating in a packed venue of 3,600 people on the final evening at the WIN Entertainment Centre—thousands of souls drawn by the Spirit to hear an uncompromising message of Truth. With the event streamed globally and translated into Arabic for viewers across the Middle East through Leading The Way‘s KINGDOM SAT TV channel, the Gospel message extended far beyond the arena.

Across the three-part event, 1,000 people—over half of them youth—responded to the Gospel invitation in a nation where nearly 40 percent of the population claims no religion. One attendee described the moment with awe: “I will never forget the sound of the chairs flicking as youth in droves stood in response on Friday night.”

Stories poured in—of teenagers coming to Christ, of international students singing “I Have Decided to Follow Jesus” for the first time, of husbands and daughters finally surrendering their lives to the Lord.

“We didn’t know where our teenage daughter was spiritually,” one family shared. “Tonight, she stood up and walked up to the front on her own to say yes to Jesus.”

“Wow. That’s the only way to describe the last few days,” said local pastor and Hope for the Illawarra emcee Joel Deacon. “We’ve seen so many people respond to the Gospel, and the churches are more united than ever—standing together in a way that’s both powerful and unexplainable. The Gospel of Jesus is truly good news.”

Chris Makin, Director of Leading The Way Australia, captured the moment: “This sense of unity has not happened before. Australia is post-Christian. We don’t have a culture of going to church. But this Celebration is perfectly timed. There is a desire among the body of Christ to reach those who don’t know Jesus. Leading The Way has been a strong catalyst in this movement for unification.”

Changing World, Unchanging Gospel

Dr. Youssef knows the stakes. “We are seeing cultural shifts worldwide as we have never seen before, even just in my lifetime. Australia is no exception,” he said. “People desperately need the hope in Christ. The need for the uncompromising Truth of Jesus Christ has never been greater.”

From Australia, Dr. Youssef traveled on to South Korea. Over the course of several days, he preached to thousands—from one of the world’s largest churches, Yoido Full Gospel Church, to a battalion of soldiers near one of the most closed regimes on earth, and from leaders at the Far East Broadcasting Company (FEBC) to students at ShinHan University.

The culmination came at Nonsan Army Training Center, where thousands of South Korean soldiers made decisions for Christ following Dr. Youssef’s Gospel message!

At FEBC headquarters in Seoul, Dr. Youssef addressed believers during a national prayer meeting. With South Korea facing political upheaval and widespread anxiety, his message from Proverbs 18:10 struck a chord: “The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous man runs into it and is safe.”

His words were captured in headlines across Korean media. “The world is currently engulfed in fear and worry,” he proclaimed. “But no matter how unstable and gloomy the world may be, we are safe because we can find refuge in God, who is a strong fortress.”

Dr. Youssef also stood at the demilitarized zone (DMZ) between South and North Korea. It was a solemn moment. “Today, I stood at freedom’s frontier,” he said. “May we never forget—freedom is costly, and Christ alone makes us truly free.”

The Power of the Gospel

From Wollongong to Seoul, thousands came to hear the Gospel, and thousands responded. Young people, soldiers, students, and skeptics were transformed—not by persuasive words, but by the power of the Holy Spirit through the proclamation of God’s Word. We give God the glory for the doors He is opening, that we might walk through them and proclaim the Good News of Jesus “while it is [still] day” (John 9:4, ESV).

As Dr. Youssef returns home, please join him in prayer: “May this spark become a sweeping revival—calling nations to repentance, returning to the authority of God’s Word, and awakening hearts to the Lordship of Jesus Christ.”