wfn.org | Igniting Ministry trains Korean-American churches

["NewsDesk" <NewsDesk@UMCOM.ORG>]

Feb. 20, 2003  News media contact: Kathy Gilbert7(615)742-54707Nashville,
Tenn.	10-35-71B{096}

A UMNS Report
By the Rev. Sang Yean Cho*

Representatives from Korean-American United Methodist churches in the
California-Pacific Annual Conference participated in the first Korean
Igniting Ministry training in early February.

Television and newspaper advertisements were developed in Korean and released
last year in Los Angeles, Chicago and New York, said the Rev. Steve
Horswill-Johnson, executive with Igniting Ministry, based in Nashville, Tenn.

"Whenever I watch TV advertising for the United Methodist Church in Korean by
Korean Television Network, I am proud of and feel connected with my
denomination," said the Rev. Woong-Min Kim, pastor of Wilshire United
Methodist Church and chairperson of the Korean caucus in the
California-Pacific Annual Conference. "I appreciate United Methodist
Communications for this meaningful and great project." 

More than 50 lay leaders and clergy from the Los Angeles area participated in
the training, held Feb. 2 at Wilshire United Methodist Church in Los Angeles.

"It was a rewarding experience to have attended the Igniting Ministry
presentation," said Richard Kim, a member of the Glendale Korean United
Methodist Church and the Pasadena District Team in the California-Pacific
Annual Conference.

"The training was wonderful and a graceful shock to me and church members,"
said the Rev. Young Han Kang of the First Korean United Methodist Church of
Mid-City, Calif.  "It reminded us of our responsibility for evangelism and
welcoming with fresh ideas." He said he wished more Korean churches had been
at the training.

"This was too short. Why don't you plan a two- or three-day retreat for this
training?" asked the Rev. Jin Mo Koo of Garden Grove (Calif.) First Korean
United Methodist Church. "I believe that it will help a lot of Korean
churches." 

The United Methodist Council on Korean American Ministries sponsored the
training. Other Korean training events will be held March 1-2 in New York and
New Jersey, and in mid-May in Chicago. 

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*Cho is the editor of United Methodists in Service, the Korean-language news
service for United Methodist Communications.

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United Methodist News Service
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