Today, after our 1 p.m. English Ministry service, there will be an ice cream party in my honor. For quite some time, whenever we did not have an English-speaking pastor, I stepped in to preach. Beginning next Sunday, however, Rev. Yohan Go will take full responsibility for our English ministry, which means I am no longer needed in that role. The party is a joyful celebration of that wonderful reality.
Starting in August, Rev. Go will serve as our Executive Pastor, and Rev. Juhee Lee will join our pastoral staff as an Associate Pastor. With these additions, our ministry team will finally be able to serve according to each person’s calling and strengths, rather than carrying multiple responsibilities at once. I am deeply grateful to Pastor Kiseong Shin, Rev. Sangjae Lee, Rev. Sujin Kang, who faithfully leads our children’s ministry, and Pastor Josh Yun, who serves our youth ministry, for their sacrificial service over these past years. I also want to express my sincere appreciation to the Pastoral Relations Committee, chaired by Elder Hyung-Moo Choi, for their faithful work in helping us fill these important ministry positions.
I am equally thankful for our Music Committee, led by Mr. Hyetaek Jang, for helping restore our choir ministry. My heartfelt thanks also go to our choir director, Kihyang Choi, John Kim, our accompanists Heesun Choi, Jinhyoung Kim, and Songyi Han, as well as every choir member who faithfully remained in their place. Rebuilding what has been broken is never easy, and their perseverance has been a tremendous blessing to our church.
Over the past several years, we have faced not only the challenges of the COVID pandemic but also the difficulties that followed our denominational separation. Yet God used those difficult seasons to draw us back to prayer and to His Word.
We recently published Honeycomb, a devotional and Bible memory resource for children, with the hope of helping families once again become the primary place of faith formation. Last week we also introduced our Daily Meditation Cards, and many members have already begun participating in daily Scripture meditation. Beginning in August, our Wednesday worship service will be held in the morning, allowing us to gather in the evening for Scripture meditation groups. Along with our existing QT (Quiet Time) groups, every member of our pastoral staff will also lead a QT group.
Looking back, I realize that the success of ministry is not measured by how long I remain indispensable. Perhaps true success is when God raises up others so that I am no longer needed in certain roles.
Today’s ice cream party is not about me. It is a celebration of what God has done. It is our way of giving thanks that God has restored our church, raised up faithful servants, and is leading us into a new season of ministry.
To God alone be the glory.