Multiply Summer 08 In this issue... Ministry to State offers great opportunities for churches to partner in spreading the Gospel First and second generation Koreans adjust to life in North America Grace Presbyterian in Dover, Delaware reaches out to community MNA Leadership and Ministry Preparation (LAMP) equips men to grow in their faith Ministry to State Advancing the Gospel in Austin, Texas Korean Ministries Reaching the Next Generation LAMP Preparing and Equipping Church Planters
Korean American Churches Carrying the Torch from One Generation to the Next First generation Korean churches have a fervent faith, says MNA Korean Ministries Coordinator Henry Koh. They are missions minded, prayer oriented and Scripture centered. The second generation is culturally more American. First generation Koreans, born in Korea and living in the US, usually participate in Korean language churches; second generation Korean Americans, born in the US, are more comfortable in English language churches. These differences often make it a challenge to share vision and purpose. However, a growing number of pastors of both generations see the potential for reaching their communities with the Gospel through planting multiethnic churches. This past January, Korean American PCA pastors gathered for encouragement and ministry equipping at the 9th annual English Ministry Pastors Conference, hosted by Korean Central Presbyterian in Vienna VA. Emmanuel Presbyterian in Philadelphia PA, served by Henry Koh prior to joining MNA staff, led in establishing two English speaking churches, Renewal Presbyterian and City Line Presbyterian. Paul Kim is pastor of Renewal, which sprang from Emmanuel s longstanding English speaking ministry. While the generational transition is challenging, Paul is hopeful. We re energetic, enthusiastic, but young, says Paul. Second generation Korean Americans are usually strong in relational ministry, but weak in ecclesiology. Our view of church is individualistic and consumer driven It s all about me. We grew up in English speaking Sunday schools, youth groups and college ministries but didn t participate in the congregational life of the Korean church. We re learning how to be a church. Renewal s session has found much needed guidance and support in their presbytery. Paul continues to respect the Korean language church. Henry Koh (left) was the church planter for Emmanuel; Emmanuel planted Renewal, led by Paul Kim (center); both sponsored City Line, led by Steve Kim. We ve been greatly blessed and encouraged by our parent church. It s my hope that second generation churches will always have a respectful relationship with our Korean parent churches. In April 2004, Emmanuel and Renewal began City Line, a multiethnic congregation. Church Planter Steve Kim says that relationships are key in building multiethnic congregations. Second generation Korean Americans live between two cultures. This gives us flexibility interacting and identifying with people from different cultures. God brought us to this point so that we can help to expand His Kingdom as we reach multiethnic America. The second generation can serve broadly and provide leadership on varied ethnic fronts, Henry Koh says. It s the responsibility of the first generation to equip and send out second generation leaders. He compares the US to fourth century Rome. Rome was the most diverse, multiethnic nation at the time. Paul intended to go east, Hank Hahm and Caleb Lee, staff members for Korean Central s (Vienna VA) English Ministry. but God called him west to Corinth, then to Athens and finally to Rome. By preaching the Word of God in Rome, Paul was reaching the world through Rome. I believe God sent the Korean people to the Rome of the twenty-first century. Through America, the world will be evangelized. For information about MNA Korean Ministries, visit http://www.pca-mna.org/korean.
Leadership & Ministry Preparation (LAMP) Preparing & Equipping A New Generation of church Church planters Planters Every Saturday morning, five men gather at Alexandria Presbyterian Church (APC) in the Washington DC area to participate in Leadership and Ministry Preparation (LAMP), an MNA program for training church leaders. Led by APC s Pastor Tom Holliday, the men represent different ages, backgrounds and ethnicities. LAMP training is helping me become more grounded in the truths we espouse; I m also getting just as much out of the interaction with the other founded LAMP in 1997. A partnership with MNA began in 2002 as MNA recognized that LAMP offers seminary level training for future PCA pastors and is especially effective for church planters. For men who are called to ministry, but who find the traditional seminary route impractical, LAMP is an alternative means of pursuing a theological education. Students do most of the coursework on their own time and attend interactive, mentor guided classes led by pastors at their Front: Raymond Pierre, Sainvil Dorsainvil and Chimene Dorsainvil Back: Vilokchy, Princy and Saindeley Dorsainvil with Josue Jean-Baptiste Tom Holliday, Carlos Maldonado, Matt Brown, and Chris Joyce, Alexandria Presbyterian Church students, says Chris Joyce, a ruling elder and the church staff administrator. God used different pathways to bring us to the program, and we each bring a different perspective to the discussion. It s a lot of growth and learning, and a lot of fun. Chris was a CFO at AT&T International. When he retired, LAMP opened the way for him to complete his theology degree without uprooting his family to attend seminary. Chris says that APC was attracted to LAMP because of its flexibility. LAMP raises men up, trains and equips them through the local church and keeps them as participating members of that community and church. local church once a week. Currently, there are18 LAMP learning sites across the US, with over 135 students enrolled in the program. LAMP opens doors for leaders from a wide variety of backgrounds. Pablo Toledo pastors Prince of Peace, a Hispanic church that meets at Christ Covenant. LAMP is the best program for church planters, says Sainvil Dorsainvil, pastor of a Haitian congregation meeting at Covenant Church in Naples FL. You re training to do ministry, and you re also getting hands-on experience in your own church at the same time. It allows you and your family to stay involved in your own community. So when you begin to plant a church, you ve already had valuable ministry experience. Without knowing anyone in Naples, Sainvil and his family moved there in May 2006. Every morning I claimed the promise that God made to Abraham when he told him that he would become a great nation. By the end of the year, there were over 70 people attending the worship service. It s been growing ever since. Brian Kelso, pastor at Christ Covenant in Southwest Ranches FL (Miami area), Timothy Torres, Thomas Munoz, Joe Nestor, Brian Kelso, Joey Nay, and Jordan Lorow
Church planting is a desire that God gives you, Pablo says, comparing it to the desire to start a family. Through God s providence, He makes it happen. You may not be the best father in the beginning, but through Christ you become one in all aspects, as He equips you more and more. I m convinced that God is at work in us calling people to Himself. Pablo Toledo (left) with members of Prince of Peace, Southwest Ranches FL Every time someone comes to Christ I remember that it s just the beginning for this person s life in Christ he or she could be the next missionary or whatever God intends. Pablo says that LAMP provided him with real-life, on-the-job training. You re able to practice what you learn in the classroom right away, with people you re already ministering to in your local church, family and neighbors. Steve Lantz, Carol Spangler and Jean Steinford, Christ Church, Pembroke Pines FL Steve Lantz is currently leading a church revitalization effort at Christ Church in Pembroke Pines FL. I came to Christ in 1996, and I was doing a lot of ministry, he says. People said to me, OK Steve, you have to make a decision. Either you leave town and go to seminary and give up your ministry for 3 to 4 years, and come back equipped and effective. Or you ll do mediocre ministry the rest of your life. But why should I leave? he asks. God has put me with these people, and I have to leave just to get a degree? So I decided, OK, fine then I just won t be ordained, I won t be a pastor. I ll continue doing my ministry as a layman. I just want to be part of the Kingdom. When Steve found out about LAMP, he knew he had found the solution. The first few courses examine a call to ministry, Steve explains. God is more concerned with preparing a man rather than a message. Before you take a single academic class, you examine your heart to find out if this is where you re supposed to be. My training taught me how to really shepherd people. LAMP helps you become a husband, a father, a pastor. But it doesn t neglect the academic either. Steve describes how LAMP training made him the right fit for his current position. Christ Church is a small church that was considering closing its doors. Things weren t going very well; they had gone without a pastor for 9 months; and they didn t have the money to hire a full time pastor. I was licensed to preach and I was looking for an opportunity to preach. LAMP is a non traditional seminary for non traditional people, Steve says. Everything I have dealt with in the church was covered in LAMP. I had the same examination as any other seminary grad. From what I have experienced, LAMP is an excellent way to be trained practically and theologically. I wouldn t be filling the need here at Christ Church if it wasn t for LAMP, he concludes. If I had to go to a brick and mortar seminary, I wouldn t be here. For more information about LAMP, visit http://www.pca-mna.org/lamp or http://www.lampseminary.org. MNA Gatherings MNA Hispanic American Ministries Convocation June 9 10, 2008 Cristo Rey Presbyterian Church MNA English as a Second Language Teacher Training at the PCA 36th General Assembly June 9 10, 2008 Hyatt Regency Reunion Blvd. MNA Meal Events at the PCA 36th General Assembly June 10 13, 2008 Hyatt Regency Convention Center MNA North America Church Planting and Church Renewal Seminar July 21 25, 2008 Reformed Theological Seminary Orlando FL Network of Portuguese Speaking Churches Gathering Aug. 29 Sept. 1, 2008 Stroudsburg PA Developing Church Planting Networks October 7 8, 2008 Park Cities Presbyterian Church Christian Community Development Association Conference October 22 26, 2008 PCA Lunch Gathering on Thursday, October 23 Hyatt Regency-James Knight Center Miami FL Details at www.pca-mna.org.
In my line of work, I see men and women elected to high positions, driving Jaguars and living in the best neighborhoods, says Greg Davidson, Executive Clerk to the Governor of Texas. But in their souls, many are just as impoverished as those standing in soup lines at local shelters. Greg felt a call to ministry about 20 years ago, when he first began working in state government. When Christ called us to take care of the poor, He included the poor in spirit, he says. Like others who are called to the foreign mission field, it captured my mind that this should be a place where the Gospel is proclaimed and lives changed, he continues. Even in the middle of a downtown metropolitan Greg Davidson & TX Secretary of State Phil Wilson American city, it is still a fertile mission field. Many of these people are living the luxury life, but lack any real life meaning or values. Two years ago, assisted by MNA Ministry to State Director Chuck Garriott, Greg helped form Texas Capitol Fellowship (TCF). TCF holds monthly CrossPointe Church staff members: Larry Megason, Jerry Rahm, Marie Dahlmann, Paul Dionne Ministry to State offers an exciting opportunity for churches to partner with MNA in extending the Gospel to a new frontier, an arena in which Christ s church can profoundly impact our city, state and nation. We are very excited to have Greg as part of our ministry team. - Jerry Rahm, pastor of CrossPointe Church fellowship meetings, attended by about 100 government agency people. A guest speaker gives an inspirational talk, Greg explains. People are invited to come enjoy a free lunch. During that meeting, we give a strong invitation to small groups. Speakers have included local pastors, the assistant to Corrie Ten Boom, Olympic gold medalist Josh Davis, a former Muslim, and country western singer Larry Gatlin. It s not a strictly PCA event, Greg continues. This is for any believer who is interested in affecting this environment for Christ. Greg is bivocational, continuing to work in the governor s office but also ordained as Assistant Pastor of CrossPointe Church. He began the ministry while still a layman. Remaining in government work was a priority for him, since his ministry depends on those relationships. People on the inside helped to establish credibility and made facilities available for ministry; Secretary of State Phil Wilson has been a key leader in advancing this ministry. Ministry to State in Texas is currently being nurtured by the South Texas Presbytery and CrossPointe Church, where Jerry Rahm is senior pastor. Our hope for the future, Jerry says, is to grow the ministry so that all of the PCA congregations in Texas can participate. MNA Ministry to State seeks to advance the Gospel by providing support, prayer and encouragement to believers in government positions, and encouraging them to reach out to the unchurched. Developing a new ministry requires someone to lead the work, support from local PCA churches, and key contacts among government personnel to make personal connections. For more information, contact Chuck Garriott at cgarriott@pcanet.org or visit http://www.pca-mna.org/ministrytostate/.
Reaching our Neighbors Dover, Deleware Ten years ago, Jonathan Seda had a new insight while standing on a busy Mexican street with the traffic roaring by. Jonathan, a missionary kid, grew up in Cuba and Venezuela and felt right at home in the vibrant Latin culture. Here were all of these people and buses and cars and bicycles going by, and it was as if I had gone back to my childhood, he says. The thought suddenly struck me: What am I doing as the pastor of an all white church Grace Presbyterian in Dover, Delaware? Later, Jonathan attended a Promise Keepers convention emphasizing racial reconciliation. Then he was asked to be on a panel at Delaware State University (a school close to Raymond Bernal, Jonathan Seda, & Kenny Foster the church whose student body is mostly African American), to discuss The End of Racism by Dinesh D Souza. There were only a few white faces in that packed auditorium, he recalls, and there I was to talk about racism. I had to say that as a pastor, I really had nothing to offer, because 11 o clock on Sunday morning is still the most segregated hour in America. I was really convicted by this. God used these events to shake me up and put me on a trajectory. Over the following years, Grace Presbyterian s session prayed and struggled over the issue, and self-admittedly made a lot of mistakes along the way. But God s call remained certain. The session came to the place where the elders unanimously embraced the vision of becoming a church that would reach its neighborhood across the lines of race and class. Jonathan became involved with Mosaix Global Network, an organization that helps enlist, equip and establish multiethnic churches across America. Their leadership Raquel and Raymond Burnal with Dale Seda and a visitor gave us a series of recommendations to help in outreach to our community. We needed more diverse leadership, says Jonathan. The session called Kenny Foster, an African American pastor who was working with Randy Nabors at New City Fellowship in Chattanooga TN, to be Pastor of Community Outreach. It has been fantastic to have him here, says Jonathan. The two pastors rotate preaching and worship responsibilities, so that both of them lead in each Sunday service. As a further outreach, the church has recently begun an after school program for at-risk 1st-4th graders, with an initial goal of enrolling 35 children from the community. For three years, Jonathan s wife Dale has directed an ESL program that has served about 100 students from about 20 countries each year. There were two things that kept me going, Jonathan says. I m absolutely convinced of the biblical mandate that the local church is called to demonstrate the power of the Gospel, to unite people across lines of race and class. I m also very stubborn, he laughs. Jonathan urges other churches to take even small steps to seek God s direction for their own communities ministering among the various people groups and needs of the community in which their church is located. For more information about Mosaix Global Network, visit http://www.mosaix.info. See information about Grace Presbyterian at http://gracedover.com. MNA serves PCA churches and presbyteries as they advance God s Kingdom in North America by planting, growing, and multiplying biblically healthy churches through the development of intentional evangelism and outreach ministries. For a list of MNA staff, visit our website at www.pca-mna.org. Material in Multiply may be reproduced with permission. Address comments to: Fred Marsh, Managing Editor/Photographer.Writing and design provided by Big Bridge, Asheville, NC (www.thebigbridge.com). Multiply is published by MNA. 1700 North Brown Rd. Suite 101 Lawrenceville, GA 30043 P: 678.825.1200 F: 678-825.1201 mna@pcanet.org www.pca-mna.org