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When do you wish to have a worship service here?
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Chapter 30 - When do you wish to have a worship service here?
I worked at an electronics company when I arrived in San Jose. I had stayed at a friend’s house until I had found a job and moved into an apartment’s complex. In San Jose an apartment was not rentable if I didn’t have a job credential or any way to prove my financial status. I wished to attend an American church since I was in United States after all. A church was nearby our house, called Valley Bible Church. I couldn’t quite swallow the entire sermon in English, but at least there was some progress with the important points being shown on a screen projector. I had joined a bible study group for minor ethnic groups to make friends. I and my wife had also brought some of our friends from workplace into this bible study group as well. Mr. Dan and Mr. King Anderson were some of the memorable people. Dan was working with San Jose Mercury, while Mr. Anderson was working on some charity foundation called City Team Ministries. Mr. Dan always had invited our family during Thanksgiving holiday to pass on their happiness. Mr. Anderson used to work as an engineer before he decided to join a charity work. San Jose had a lot of immigrated Vietnamese and Cambodians refugees because of the war.
To help those refugees the Valley Bible Church, the two brothers in Christ mentioned before were sent off to a nearby church in downtown San Jose. I had learned many things during that time. I felt that sending the brothers in Christ to a different church felt new. It was fresher and newer feeling then all the other churches I had attended. They had offered me something while being sent out. They wanted me to serve and lead the Korean bible study group. I had service in the church I had moved to, called Crossroad Bible Church, and after had a small service there and a bible study.
I went to that church and many months had passed, and because the church was growing rapidly so one of the pastors decided to split off from the main church to start a new church in different area with some of the members. The church was dividing not because of a feud but to expand the good news was something new, a church choosing to stay small. I thank God for giving me an opportunity to show me such example as well as the church itself. This experience I had during this time had given me more boost in knowledge. The pastor who had split during this time was working with ethnic minor groups so I decided to follow as well. An American church was rented, and the Korean service had a classroom to have service and worship. Several members brought their children with them. I had received few complains and warnings from the schools, because some of the children would play around and mess around with the school tools. But having a rentable church is not easy. I haven’t paid any rent fees or any building use fee so I was concerned. I needed a solution. I always had supported the City Team Ministries, and being friends with Mr. Anderson I had asked them to help and find a new church.
Good news came around one day. Covenant Church‘s pastor in East San Jose wanted to meet with me. I went there with excited heart. The Pastor greeted me nicely. After showing around the building he asked “When do you wish to have a worship service here?” and I said that “Since it is Easter Sunday next week how about that?”
To be honest, it was a very foolish answer. To rent out church in United States, the process was much more different compared to Korea. First I had to file a form and then have a vote of strict confidence from the church members. Even with a same denomination it would take about 2 months. Also before entering the building another file was needed to be signed. But I had said “next week.” The pastor said “Let’s do that,” and led me into a usable room. After getting a key I had entered the office alone the next day and to my surprise, desks and chairs were already prepared. The pastor didn’t tell me how much to pay for the rent which made me curious. I had asked “Don’t you have to have a vote of confidence and tell the members of your church? Also how much is the rent?” but he laughed and said that “there are members from your side that wants to worship. How can you make them wait?” After he said that he would call the members about this news. The rent was “It’s a new church so let’s talk about that after.” So I had started a Sunday worship service that Easter Sunday.
A few months later the pastor had moved to Michigan to serve a new church. I regret that I didn’t know the name of the pastor. After he left Pastor Roy had intermittently taken charge of the church. Even after this the American church treated us like brothers and sisters. During Easter Sunday we had joint worship and in a year at least 2~3 times we had volleyballs or softball tournaments and had shared food and fellowship. We called our church San Jose Korean Bible Church. The name was chosen this way because our first church was Bible Church. I wanted to keep the DNA of the church. This was my first planted church. It was originally a non-denominational church but later changed to a Presbyterian church.
One thing I’m thankful is that none of the members of the church or pastor of the American Church had suggested of joining their denomination.
With this writing, I give thanks the pastor who allowed me to use the church and all the members. I cannot also forget about not introducing Mr. Anderson introducing me to the church. I had learned that in America introducing someone new is important. Also taking in new members like brothers and sisters without delay and with direct authorization to join, showing the true way to live as Christians. Passing the culture, and race it was like the first church in Antioch. I can only give thanks.
(January 2011)
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Epilogue 
When do you wish to have a worship service here?