Korean Community Presbyterian Church of Atlanta held a ceremony on Sunday for the ordination of one of its youth pastors, John Park.
"I commit to carry on the ministry that has been given to me in obedience to Christ, and to follow Jesus in my daily life, loving my neighbors and promoting peace, unity, and purity within the church," said Park in his ordination vows.
The ceremony consisted of praise and worship, a time for prayer, a sermon preached by Dr. Kevin Park, an associate dean at Columbia Theological Seminary, a word of commendation for the ordained pastor, the ordination vows, words of encouragement, and musical performances, among others.
"Moses confesses that he will not act before God," said Dr. Kevin Park during his sermon.
"This is referring to walking with God. Let us learn what it means to be intimate with God through Moses," Dr. Park continued. "Just as God exists in a relationship in the trinity, it's important to have intimacy and good relationship with our Lord."
"It's difficult for the Korean immigrant church to raise up the EM [English ministry]," said Rev. Hyun Sung Cho of Canaan Korean Presbyterian Church in Atlanta, who gave a word of encouragement at the ceremony. "And it's even more difficult to raise up an ordained pastor in a bigger church. But I congratulate you on this ordination. I hope you will continue to support Pastor Park and pray for him. I hope that you will not look at him through a first generation Korean's perspective, but that you will always pray for him in the Holy Spirit. And I hope that you will partner with himso that he would be a pastor that invests in and nurtures the next generation in the faith."
Park moved to the U.S. from South Korea in high school, and studied Christian education in college. Thereafter, he ministered in Florida and Virginia, and received an M.Div. from Columbia Theological Seminary.
