Battle Cry of a Korean-American Adventist
I am 38, and the last time I remember having exposure to English Compass was when I was about 13. I was attending Mountain View Korean SDA church for a year, at the time. I could tell my 8th grade self was not Compass’s target audience, yet I distinctly remember curiously picking up one of the magazines strewn across the church pews after lunch on a Sabbath afternoon and thinking, “Hmm. So, there is a wider community of people—who are like me—out there.”
Even though some of us may take it for granted, the spread of Korean SDA churches in the United States is a phenomenon. Go to any major metropolitan area in the US, and you are likely to find one of our congregations. Do the Japanese, or Chinese SDAs within the US have this heritage? In my mind, the greatest testament is that Korean-American Adventists have not just one, but two campmeetings each summer. I am hard pressed to think of another East Asian-American ethnic group amongst Adventists in the US that has a spread that is greater than us.
Perhaps the reason for this phenomenon is some combination of the general religious fervor that Koreans are infamous for, that we are highly social, and that we historically have an uber ethnic/cultural identity (which has withstood colonization attempts for centuries). One of my sam-chun’s favorite explanations is that God has especially destined Korea to be the Gospel “saltshaker” especially for our East Asian brethren—therefore, obviously we would grow and flourish wherever we are planted.
Or, maybe we should attribute the phenomenon to our parents’ strong first-generation immigrant mentality, channeling itself into incredible church planting faith. Of course, a cynic would argue instead that church, for a Korean SDA, is a country club, so it is part and parcel that our parents would gravitate towards a platform that allows them to show off how well they, and especially their children, are living the American dream.
Whatever the combination of factors, what we know and can be grateful for is that my generation of Korean-American Adventists are blessed to be the inheritors of this network of churches that our immigrant parents built with their blood, sweat, and tears (sometimes literally).
And sadly, as most of us know, that same network of Korean SDA churches is starting to crumble. For the past year, I have visited Korean church after Korean church, from this coast to that coast, and I am hearing whimpers that unless something drastically changes (especially with post first generation English Ministry retention), our small-to-mid Korean congregations will disappear within about 25 years, especially due to the slowing trickle of immigration from the motherland. Loma Linda, Spencerville, and Collegedale will all probably be fine in the future, but what about the rest of us? I hate to write it, but what is projected is pretty much doom and gloom.
And you know what—maybe that is actually ok? Maybe this is just the natural progression for an ethnic minority church? As the lustre of the American dream fades in the Korean consciousness, many of the first generation are even emigrating back to South Korea (my parents certainly did). That, and sure, it may not be the most comfortable for us to be without our weekly Korean Sabbath lunches, but most of us in the post first generation speak English like a native, so why not fully transition into American society by ditching the Korean church?
Besides, some even argue that we should see the impending death of Korean SDA churches ultimately as a success story in assimilation. “Transcend culture”, they say. “Korean” is our background, but push forward towards a new vision abuzz with words such as “multicultural”, and “diversity”—with “Christianity” as our new culture. This sort of messaging is definitely on trend these days. And why not? If you know where to look, one can certainly make a strong Biblical argument for Christianity as a culture taking precedence over anyone’s ethnic identity.
This leads me to the crux of this entire disquisition: Why should consecrated, English-speaking but ethnically Korean Adventists rally to sustain our Korean churches in America? There has got to be a better reason than just, “We’ve been born into it, so why not?” Alternatively, surely it cannot be that we just wish to preserve the subculture of ethnically Korean but English-speaking Adventism, right? I mean, isn’t that myopic?
One time, a certain Conference president encouraged the leaders of a certain Korean church that the church’s modus operandi was to minister to the Koreans in the area. I felt jilted when I heard this—why limit our ministry to just the Koreans in the area? Cannot God use even KM members to minister to non-Koreans?
Let’s be practical and think this through for a moment: the mission of the Adventist church is to make disciples. Well, most of the people I interact with on a daily basis are not ethnically Korean. Let’s say that, best case scenario, everyone I interacted with on a daily basis saw the light, became Adventist, and became a disciple at church. If every other single member of my congregation also had everyone they interact with on a daily basis follow them to church and become Christ’s disciple, statistically there would be more non-Koreans than Koreans in our church. If that happened, would we still be considered a “Korean” church?
What I am getting at is this: what is the great reason, what is the root, what is the vision, that would make the sustaining of our Korean churches worth fighting and even dying for?
This is a burden upon my heart. I sincerely believe we, ethnically Korean but English speaking Adventists, collectively need to have an existential reckoning, do some real soul-searching, have some vigorous discussions, but most importantly, seek God’s will regarding a sustainable vision.
Practically, for now, what is God’s ideal vision for a thriving, flourishing, replicable English Ministry at ALL our Korean churches? A vision that works in tandem with the KM? I have heard rumbles in the past that the future for us should be the “international church” model, akin to the now obsolete German-American SDA churches. Is that really our endgame? I’m familiar with two of those former German-American churches—one in Chicago, one in New York.
Perhaps it is likely that our churches may be sealed in the same fate of obsolescence like the German churches, but, whilst we still have life and daylight, should not we still try to figure ourselves out, and start a revival movement? A quiet revolution? Together, as long as we have a clear vision from God, we could harness the resources that we already have inherited and do some real good. Why not do our part to make a real dent in society for God?
Proverbs 29:18 says, “Where there is no vision, the people perish”. I’ll get personal. Thus far, I have been an English Ministry pastor at Korean churches for about 8 years total. After my last stint, I almost vowed I would never work at a Korean church again. Not because of the conflicting experiences, mind you, but because I just did not see the Korean church model as sustainable, and I definitely did not see an attractive vision specific to Korean-American Adventism. Imagine my reaction, then, when God made it very clear that I will be starting at yet another Korean church in about two months.
Because of where I am at in my ministerial journey, I am increasingly in need of this greater vision. I thirst for it. If I am going to be at this for the next 7, 8, 9 who knows, 15 years—I desire a vision that is worth fighting and even dying for.
As most of you already can tell, I’m a nobody, especially in the eyes of the world. I do not have great talents or intellect, I do not come from great wealth, nor do I have the weight of a reputation to be able to command attention within Adventism. I have not even gone to seminary. So, it seems silly that little old me would lift up a trumpet and sound a battle cry.
But, what else am I to do, when God’s desires are so plain upon my heart? So, lift I shall. On this platform, I am shouting at the top of my lungs: let’s do something for God, all ye ethnically Korean, English-speaking Adventists! What exactly will it be? How will we do it? I don’t know. But I know God shall lead us. Let us organize, use our brains and our brawn. For a start, just get in contact with me. It is high time that we vision cast. It is high time that we start moving, while it is yet day.
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Philip Kim is second-generation Korean-American who has recently dedicated his life towards building an Acts 2:44-style of community, true education (including country living and medical missionary training), and music ministry. He is also slated to serve as the English Ministry pastor for the North Bay Korean Adventist Company in February of 2025. He can be reached at philipflute@gmail.com.