Key points:
- Signing a mission covenant with the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries, Korean United Methodists pledged to support 140 missionaries for at least the next three years, committing to “at least $100 per month, per missionary.”
- The covenant was signed at the 2024 Convocation of the Korean Association of The United Methodist Church, held Oct. 7-10 in Los Angeles.
- Long known as prayerful and mission-minded, Korean American churches have played an essential role in the four mission initiatives of Global Ministries (Cambodia, Laos, Mongolia and Vietnam), as well as Russia and Africa.
The Korean Association of The United Methodist Church and the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries signed a mission covenant that reaffirms Korean United Methodists’ commitment to supporting global missionaries financially for at least the next three years.
During an Oct. 9 ceremony at Los Angeles Korean United Methodist Church, Korean American United Methodists pledged to uphold the proposal made by the executive leaders of the Korean Association during General Conference this year to support 140 global missionaries, including the 16 missionaries who were newly commissioned at the legislative assembly on May 2.
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The mission covenant states that the association will “support financially at least $100 per month, per missionary, for at least three years.” That represents a financial gift totaling more than $500,000.
The covenant was signed during the 2024 Convocation of the Korean Association of The United Methodist Church, held Oct. 7-10 at Los Angeles United Methodist Church and the Hilton LAX Airport Hotel. With the theme “Surrender to Grace,” more than 300 people, including 211 clergy and 60 laity, participated in the gathering.
Acknowledging the tough times his congregation has faced, the Rev. Eugene Han, Christ United Methodist Church in Honolulu, said his members have decided to become a missional congregation.
“To be an evangelistic and missional church, we need a vision,” Han said. “We (Christ Church) are going through a difficult time, but we have declared a vision: to fulfill God’s dream, to run with God’s dreams. Christ United Methodist Church will support 100 missionaries and 100 churches worldwide in the next 10 years.
“Let’s not keep building fences; instead, deepen the wells. I believe God’s grace will work in the Korean American church. I pray and expect God to give us the grace of revival to rebuild The United Methodist Church, to glorify God, to save souls and to be a church and denomination with the power to evangelize and fulfill God’s mission.”
The mission covenant was signed by the Rev. Chang Min Lee, representing the Korean Association of The United Methodist Church, and Roland Fernandes, top executive of the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries.
“This is an exciting example of collaborative partnership in mission by a group of churches and an example for other groups of churches to follow,” Fernandes said. “The denomination faces a significant challenge, including several years of disaffiliation, COVID and other challenges in church and society with tightening budgets. Yet, I feel very uplifted and excited. This sustained commitment provides me with a great sense of hope for the future of our church in mission.
“This commitment demonstrates that God is still using The United Methodist Church as God’s mission, and we can look forward to what God will do in us and through us when we say ‘yes’ to God’s call to mission.”
Lee emphasized that every Korean United Methodist is indebted to the Gospel. He mentioned missionaries to Korea such as Robert Maclay, Henry Appenzeller and many more who dedicated their lives to mission, planting churches, establishing schools and building hospitals. He also noted that The United Methodist Church has been instrumental in welcoming Korean immigrants, providing places for their worship and growing the Korean American church.
“The Korean church owes a great deal to American missionaries who taught us about God’s grace and love through our Lord Jesus Christ,” Lee said. “I think it’s time for us to give back to United Methodist missionaries worldwide the grace and love we have received with Korean passion for missions and spirituality. I am so grateful that we can repay that debt.”
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Korean American churches have long been known as prayerful and mission-minded. They have played an essential role in the four mission initiatives of Global Ministries — Cambodia, Laos, Mongolia and Vietnam — and other mission fields worldwide, including Russia and Africa.
The Korean Association of The United Methodist Church represents all Korean American churches and Korean American clergy and lay representatives.
The 240 Korean American churches include 205 Korean-speaking and 35 English-speaking congregations, 230 Korean American clergy, 570 clergy serving cross-cultural/racial congregations, and 52 extended ministers such as bishops, district superintendents and staff of general church agencies. Korean clergy include 874 active clergy, more than 250 retired clergy and those newly ordained in annual conferences.
After the mission covenant was signed, Bishop Dottie Escobedo-Frank of the California-Pacific Conference invited participants to raise their hands in blessing.
“God, you have pulled together an agency that’s doing work around the world,” she prayed. “It needs all kinds of resources to do the work of your grace in your mercy, and a people who see the need and are willing to give because they have received, and so they have given again and again and again. So, bless this covenant and draw them to each other, let them have strength from each other, return all the resources in all the places that are needed, and keep this covenant unbroken forever.”
The Korean Association announced that the offering during the gathering would support Global Ministries missionaries. In addition to Korean churches, the Korean Association of United Women in Faith and the National Association of Korean American United Methodist Pastors Serving Cross-Racial/Cultural Appointments also pledged to support the 140 missionaries.
Kim is director of Korean and Asian news at United Methodist Communications. Contact him at 615-742-5470 or [email protected]. To read more United Methodist news, subscribe to the free UM News Digests.
