by Mary Beth Coudal

Rev. Joong Urn Kim, (center) senior pastor of the First United Methodist Church of Flushing, gives a check for $100,000 to Rev. Sam Dixon, deputy general secretary of the Evangelization and Church Growth (ECG) unit of the international mission agency while Jong Sung Kim, church executive with ECG, stands by. Image by: Mary Beth Coudal Source: Evangelization and Church Growth

The First United Methodist Church of Flushing, Queens, the largest Korean United Methodist church in the United States, has 1,700 in worship on Sunday morning. Their largeness in numbers is matched only by their largess for mission.

On November 16, 2005, The Rev. Joong Urn Kim, senior pastor of the First United Methodist Church, gave the second and final installment of a $130,000 gift to the General Board of Global Ministries to build the church in Kazakhstan.

The money will be used to purchase and convert a two-story house into a mission center in Almaty, the country’s former capital. On the first floor, 60 people can gather for worship.

The First United Methodist Church chose to connect directly with the mission agency, because, “Partnering with the General Board of Global Ministries and doing ministry, we know this work will be done,” said Rev. Kim.

The funds were raised to celebrate the Korean congregation’s 30-year anniversary in the 194-year old church. Kim, upon his return from a mission trip to Kazakhstan in 2003, realized that a gift for this emerging, Central Asian church made more sense than an expensive party for the congregation.

“We have helped the congregation find the joy in giving, instead of receiving. For what is real joy? Once you experience giving, you are encouraged to keep giving,” said Kim.

“ In our church people are experiencing God’s love and God’s guidance. As immigrants, they themselves have experienced difficult situations. They believe God provides. And so they provide,” said Rev. Wooyoung Park, associate pastor of First United Methodist Church of Flushing.

The Central Asia United Methodist Mission is fairly new, begun two years ago. Currently there are six United Methodist congregations, three of which are in Kazakhstan, a predominantly Muslim country. The Rev. Hans Växby, the presiding bishop of The United Methodist Church of Russia, oversees the central Asian churches.

	See Also... Topic: Christian love |  Communities |  Donations |  Evangelization |  GBGM programs |  International affairs |  United Methodist Church |  Partners/partnerships |  Methodism |  Geographic Region: Kazakhstan |  North Eastern U.S. |  United States |  Source: GBGM Mission News
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View Listing of Missionaries Currently Working in: Kazakhstan    United States |

Date posted: Nov 18, 2005