With “Transformation - Shining Christian Lives to the World” as the theme, more than 100 Christian families from around North America gathered June 28 to July 1, for a Korean-language Coffee Break conference, held at the Pacific Palms Conference Resort in City of Industry, California. Special programs were offered for children and youth, and leadership workshops were also offered at Beautiful Church in nearby Rowland Heights.
Coffee Break, a ministry of the Christian Reformed Church in North America, is an evangelistic Bible study program for small groups. It has a global presence in Korea, Indonesia, and Kenya and missionaries to other countries are also being trained to replicate Coffee Break groups.
Eun Sil Pak, a deaconess and director of Korean Coffee Break Ministries, said “Coffee Break is … life changing,” and provides many ways to grow. “It is an inductive method, and it is sharing lives in the Word and a Bible study of building up with local churches.”
“[It has] small group Bible study materials for cell groups and Sunday schools as well as adult Bible study.” This conference, held every two years, is offered so that “all participants may experience changing lives with warm hearts, not only the intellectual knowledge of the Word,” Pak said.
A participant and leader, Mrs. Yoon Cho, said, “it was a great awakening time with the discovery of the Word and exciting praise times to the Lord of my life, including all my family members.”
Rev. Chunkil Yang, a former CRC pastor, of Pilgrim Church in New Jersey, delivered theme lectures on Titus and Philemon; Rev. Tong Park, former Korean ministry director of Home Missions and joint representative of Korean Coffee Break in North America, preached introductions on those books; and Rev. Jinjoon Noh, a pastor of One Way Church, preached three morning services, while Rev. Won Hwan Yoon, advisor for Korean Coffee Break ministries and pastor of Phoenix (Ariz.) Korean Presbyterian Church, led a special lecture titled ‘Church, Be a revolution agent!”
A closing service was delivered by Rev. Charles Kim, Korean ministry coordinator for Home Missions, now part of the new agency Resonate Global Mission.
About the Author
Jonathan Kim is a CRC pastor of Ye-Eun Presbyterian Church in Los Angeles, California. He writes news for The Banner and lives in North Hills, California.
