Published by the Queens Federation of Churches
Seeing Visions, Dreaming Dreams
New Facility Exemplifies Congregation's Expansive Mission View

May 24, 2007
by Jerry Van Marter

EDMONDS, WA – Elder William Kang leads visitors through the sprawling expanse of his congregation's new building, pointing out how each space will be used when the facility is completed later this summer.

"This will be the library...this room will be for the women's group...this room will be for the nursery," he says, strolling through largely unfinished spaces in the 36,000-square-foot "Vision Dream Center" of the United Presbyterian Church of Seattle – formerly Korean United Presbyterian Church – at the southern end of North Puget Sound Presbytery in this Seattle suburb.

"Of course, we change our minds several times each week," Kang chuckles.

The Vision Dream Center (the name is taken from Acts 2:17) is the culmination of the 400-member congregation's expansive goal to be a resource not just for the area's growing Korean population, but for the entire presbytery and region.

"Seattle is the second most popular immigration point in the United States," says North Puget Sound Presbytery executive Corey Schlosser-Hall. "With all of these folk coming into the Pacific Northwest, this congregation is looking far down the road to the next generations."

The Rev. John Park, who served as the congregation's pastor from 1981 until his retirement in 1997, says the Vision Dream Center "is not just for the church, but for everybody – Koreans and Caucasians, all races and ethnicities in the community."

"That's why we changed our name from Korean United Presbyterian to United Presbyterian of Seattle," adds the Rev. Philip Jang, the church's pastor since last September.

The Vision Dream Center – which was first envisioned in 2002 and entered its construction phase last July – is geared toward young people. It includes a 9,000-square-foot gymnasium and a variety of classrooms and meeting spaces, all high-tech equipped.

"Our vision is for younger generations," says Kang, the project's supervisor. "We are growing and need more space for younger generations. Most of our members are still first generation Korean immigrants, but the second generation is growing fast. There are many good colleges in the area, which attracts many young people. Evangelism of these second generation young people is a big part of our dream."

Jang adds: "For Koreans, particularly immigrants, and for most other immigrant people, a place is so important – culturally, spiritually, physically – this Vision Dream Center has really stimulated my vision for ministry here."

And several months before the Vision Dream Center is scheduled for completion, conversations are already going on about how it can be a resource to the wider church. "Seven churches in this part of the presbytery are talking about greater collaboration," Schlosser-Hall says. "United Presbyterian has been integral to those talks and they would like the Vision Dream Center to be a resource for many activities."

Since its founding in 1979, United Presbyterian Church of Seattle has demonstrated an expansive sense of mission. "We have started many other Korean churches in the Northwest," Park says.

The congregation's outreach has even extended to Cuba.

In the 1920s, after Japan occupied Korea, two groups of 1,000 Korean guest workers each emigrated to Hawaii and the Yucatan peninsula of Mexico to work in the cane fields. After three years, 300 of the Mexico group moved on to Cuba, where the current fifth generation Korean-Cuban community now numbers close to 1,000.

In 2004, the late Jaramillo Lim, president of the Korean-Cuban association on the island, became a Christian and was baptized at United Presbyterian Church and commissioned as a missionary to the Korean-Cuban community in Cuba. Before his death last year, Lim quietly organized four house churches in Cuba.

United Presbyterian's evangelistic outreach to the Korean-Cuban community in Cuba continues through the person who converted Lim. On the 20th anniversary of the congregation's founding in 2000, the church commissioned Deacon Lee as a full-time missionary to Cuba ... with a twist.

"Deacon Lee teaches Korean language," says Park. "He's not allowed to teach Bible, but the Cuban government allows him to use the Bible to teach Korean. There's a big incentive in Cuba to learn Korean because there are so many Korean business interests in the country."

In 2005, United Presbyterian also sponsored the construction of a monument in Matanzas, Cuba, honoring the Korean settlement in Cuba.

"We Presbyterians like to talk about ‘networking,'" Schlosser-Hall notes. "All you have to do is look at our Korean Presbyterians and you will learn all you need to know."

Presbyterian News Service

 

 


Queens Federation of Churches
http://www.QueensChurches.org/
Last Updated May 26, 2007