I remember John Chung casually asking me if I would be willing to take the EM eldership position around seven years ago. That was when I was suffering from severe body pain. I recall saying that I would consider it when I got better.
A few years before that, I happened to see the list of the elder candidates. John was not on the list and so I called Reverend Chung and suggested that he should be on the list. John gracefully accepted the eldership and he and James became the first elders of EM. Of course, they both did an excellent job.
My body pain gradually subsided. When Edward Kim and others approached me again if I am willing to be an elder candidate, many thoughts came to my mind. I felt I lacked technical and managerial skills to help lead the congregation. I never worked after I got married. So I feared that that my communication skills had deteriorated.
But then I remembered that, when I served as a Board of Manager of St. Timothy’s many years ago, I participated in many crucial decisions that changed and molded the ESM ministry. Team ministry is one of the good examples that stood out in my mind.
I believed that church ministry is shaped by a combination of the hard work of ministry team and important decisions made by the session. However, when I looked back at our EM ministry, I felt it was God who led us. I saw the guiding hands of the Holy Spirit.
So I began to believe that what is important in leadership is not technical or communication skills but a willing and humble heart to serve and to be led by the Holy Spirit.
I still feel inadequate and I struggle with preparing prayers and sending out e-mails. But, with God’s help and with the help of my family, I am glad that I can serve the EM ministry as an elder.
– Kris Jun
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