Midway Church was planted by Hyunji and Dongsoo, a couple who have been faithfully serving as missionaries at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) city campus.
“We felt called to serve first-generation young migrants and international students by going to the places where they actually live, study, and work,” says Dongsoo, “that’s why we wanted to plant Midway Church in the area between the city, where many international students live and study, and the North Shore, where young first-generation migrant families are building a neighbourhood church to support them.”
They began “God People”, a Tuesday night gathering where they shared Korean food and hospitality. This grew into a thriving Christian community, where 30–40 students gather each week. Many international students have joined this community and begun exploring faith. Some have even returned to serve on the team after they graduated, creating a beautiful cycle of mission and leadership.
As K-culture and K-food have gained popularity, the community has naturally become more diverse, welcoming students from all backgrounds. The ministry has expanded from being solely in Korean to being in both Korean and English. Many non-Christian and non-English-speaking student have explored faith through the group in recent years.
In 2025, Hyunji and Dongsoo began to feel called by God to plant a church for international students. Embracing both a Korean neighbourhood church model and a Simple Church model. They went through the GEN1K Discernment Process and launched a unique “dual system” church – the first of its kind in our movement.
“Over the past ten years of campus ministry,” says Hyunji, “we have seen young couples emerge as one of its precious fruits. I came to envision a model in which these young families, as a mature generation, help carry the mission to young adults in the city, while those young adults in turn grow into healthy members of a local church. With that vision in mind, I wanted to plant Midway Neighbourhood Church and Simple Church.”
On Sunday 22 March, Midway Church held its launching worship service at Cross Nest, gathering youth, young adults, families and supporters. The bilingual service reflected the heart of this new community: diverse, welcoming, and rooted in God’s mission.
Midway Church is a powerful reminder that simple hospitality and faithful presence can grow into something far greater – God’s transforming work among the nations.
Simple Churches are designed to be informal and flexible – they’re responsive to the community they’re planted in. Are you curious about what form “church” could take in your neighbourhood? Or what a Simple Church might look like in your context? Join us for Simple Church Foundations on 01 July to find out more and connect with our team!
