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Korean National Plan exceeds its goals

 
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2:30 P.M. ET Oct. 5, 2011



Bishop Mary Ann Swenson (bread) and the Rev. Paul H. Chang (chalice) lead the Communion at the end of the United Methodist Council on Korean-American Ministries annual meeting Aug. 29-31 in Los Angeles. UMNS photos by Jacob Lee.
Bishop Mary Ann Swenson (bread) and the Rev. Paul H. Chang (chalice) lead the Communion at the end of the United Methodist Council on Korean-American Ministries annual meeting Aug. 29-31 in Los Angeles. UMNS photos by Jacob Lee.
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In the last four years, 16 new Korean-speaking congregations, seven new English-speaking Korean-American campus ministries and a thriving small-group ministry of 80 members with an average age of 25 have been planted through the Korean-American National Plan.

The council of the Korean-American plan at its recent annual gathering in Los Angeles recognized its successes in exceeding its goals as it pledged its continued support for the plan’s direction. Because of Hurricane Irene, the president of the council, Bishop Jeremiah Park, was not able to attend the meeting, and Bishop Mary Ann Swenson of the California-Pacific Annual (regional) Conference led the last full council meeting of the quadrennium.

In 2000, The United Methodist General Conference, the denomination’s top lawmaking body, established the Korean-American National Plan to strengthen Korean ministries within and outside the church. As of 2009, the number of Koreans in The United Methodist Church stood at 40,912. There are 291 congregations with Korean members and 13 multi-ethnic congregations in which the majority is Korean.

“The Korean-American National Plan has done the great fruitful ministry during this quadrennium, and we should let our UMC brothers and sisters know about this as the hopeful message and encouragement of our future denomination,” said the Rev. Timothy Ahn, the senior pastor of Arcola Korean United Methodist Church in Paramus, N.J., and the representative from the National Caucus of Korean United Methodists.



Rev. Paul H. Chang, executive director, listens intently during the council meeting.
Rev. Paul H. Chang, executive director, listens intently during the council meeting.
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“Many people are so amazed by the ways that Koreans practice their faith and the participation of church activities – weekday sunrise services, Friday or Wednesday night worship service, many small group activities, etc. That’s the reason Korean churches have many vital congregations,” said the Rev. James Kim, president of the National Association of Pastors Serving in Cross-cultural Appointment.

Journey Community Church

One small-group ministry, the Journey Community Church in the Northern Illinois Conference, was a joint project of two established churches.

“We were given an opportunity to share the vision of a new church that will specifically focus on reaching people who currently are not in church and make the church experience relevant to that demographic. The average age of one who attends our Sunday worship service or small group is 25 years old,” said the Rev. Daniel Park of Journey Community Church.

“The culture of our church may be defined as: young people, loving hospitality, relevant teaching. These are the top three reasons first-time guests come back and eventually stay in our community,” said Park, who shares the leadership of the church with his wife, the Rev. Isaiah Park.

The Korean National Plan developed a partnership with the Northern Illinois conference and with two congregations – South Suburban Chicago Korean United Methodist Church in Flossmoor and Chicago First Korean United Methodist Church in Wheeling – to start the new church. Bishop Hee-Soo Jung appointed Daniel Park to the new church, which now has 80 members with an average attendance of 50 per week and 10 small groups.

Making a difference

Bishop Park of the New York Annual Conference, and the president of the Korean National Plan, observed that the plan’s vision is “to integrate Wesleyan tradition and Korean spirituality to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.

“Korean United Methodists believe that they can make a positive difference in the life and ministry of The United Methodist Church as well as in their own community through the plan,” the bishop said. “For example, the Wesleyan tradition of practicing the means of grace and the Korean spirituality of a disciplined faith journey can be a powerful mix for our common witness as United Methodists.”

The Korean-American National Plan exceeded its goal of developing 12 new Korean-language faith communities and seven new English-language ministries by 2012.

The Rev. Paul Chang, executive director of the United Methodist Council on Korean-American Ministries, told the council that the plan – in partnership with annual conferences, jurisdictional Korean mission directors/superintendents and local Korean congregations:

  • “Successfully implemented” a $1 million matching fund campaign
  • Began 16 new Korean-speaking congregations
  • Started seven new English-speaking Korean-American/campus ministries

“It was definitely a great teamwork with many different churches and superintendents and annual conferences,” Chang said. “I greatly appreciated their hard work and willingness to support the planting of new Korean congregations.”

Growth for the whole church

Chang reminded the council of its vision statement “to integrate Wesleyan tradition and Korean spirituality to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.

“It’s a simple logic,” he said. “The growth of Korean-American United Methodist churches means growth for the whole UMC! I believe that small-group ministry is the effective method of our church growth in this day.”



Bishop Mary Ann Swenson leads a session of the council meeting.
Bishop Mary Ann Swenson leads a session of the council meeting.
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Bishop Park called the plan’s creation of a resource for training for small-group leaders “an exciting new development of the plan in this quadrennium.”

“This curriculum will be offered also to non-Korean speaking churches,” Park said. “The Korean National Plan is a serious and committed response to the Call to Action of The United Methodist Church."

The Korean National Plan published “Longing to Meet You: Small Group Ministry Leadership Training” and initiated extensive programs for pastors and laity that trained 250 pastors and 1,000 laity.

“We will continue our ministry to empower the Korean congregations,” Chang told the council. “The plan’s intention is that the Korean churches and ministries will be an active and integral part of the connectional life of The United Methodist Church, and will make important contributions to vitalize the life, mission and ministry of the entire denomination for the glory of God.”

*Lee is the Director of Korean Resources at United Methodist Communications.

News Media contact: Jacob Lee, 615-742-5470, or newsdesk@umcom.org

 

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