ROCHESTER HILLS, MI – When it comes to talking about my Christian pilgrimage, first, I would like to mention my parents. This is because my parents made a vow to God when I was born. They wanted me to become a pastor when I grew up. Even though I appreciate my parents now, I was disappointed about their vow. I didn’t believe in God until I was a high school student. I just went to church with my parents.
I had a significant, amazing experience when I was a freshman in high school. I attended a youth group retreat at church. The pastor at the retreat challenged us by saying that God has a plan for us. In the course of time, I really wanted to meet God. I prayed with my whole mind. After a while, I could remember the Bible verses from Job 23: 9-10 “When he is at work in the north, I do not see him; when he turns to the south, I catch no glimpse of him. But he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold.” I recognized that God wants to test me in my earthly life. When I found God’s amazing plan for me, I confessed my sins and received my Salvation.
After I came back from the retreat, I joined the high school Campus Crusade for Christ. In C.C.C, I studied the Bible. What’s more, I was the director of C.C.C choir and a Bible study group leader. When I was a senior in high school, I decided to enter seminary. I attended Korea Baptist Theological Seminary. At the seminary, I was very interested in Christian Counseling. I recognized that even though Christians have faith, they also have a lot of emotional and mental problems. In addition, I found that God has given me the spiritual gift of counseling. Thus, I attended a Christian Counseling class at the seminary. In Christian Counseling class, I decided that I wanted to become a counselor.
After graduating from the seminary, I prayed for the opportunity to study and minister in the US because I was eager to study seriously and deeply. God opened the door for me to study at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. I could learn not only Biblical Counseling, but also could deeply study theology at Southeastern. After I had completed both Masters of Divinity and Masters of Theology courses at Southeastern, I prayed for the opportunity to minister in my country. God allowed me to return to South Korea where I served as an associate Pastor at Samho Baptist Church and then the Church of Dream, South Korea. At the start of my ministry, I was not very skilled in any administrative or practical processes. But through the years, experience has refined my abilities. After finishing from the ministry in my country, God gave me a chance to become the Senior Pastor of Korean First Baptist Church at Rochester Hills, Michigan. We were excited to come to America and serve.
My entire ministry began with a vision and vow from my parents.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
My deepest passion is to lead people to accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. To fulfill my goal and my passion, I teach the Word of God and help people gain spiritual maturity to impact the world of God. As the Senior Pastor of the Korean First Baptist Church, I will love, care, equip, and teach people with discipleship training and evangelistic preaching so that they can expand the Kingdom of God through their lives.