Announcing Pastor Byron Chae as Mission Canada EM Editor-in-Chief and Liaison Between EM and KM

Pastor Byron Chae

There is no doubt that Korean immigrant churches face unique challenges. I have wrestled with many of them personally, and at times I have questioned whether the Korean immigrant church model is truly sustainable. Perhaps I am not the only one asking these questions. Yet over time, I came to realize that many of our questions about how to do church only led to more uncertainty. The deeper issue is not simply how to do church, but what the local church is. I believe this is especially important in the context of Korean immigrant churches, where the realities of KM and EM often shape ministry in significant ways. We must begin with a biblical and ecclesiological understanding of the local church and then ask how ministry should be shaped in light of that understanding. Whether the challenge involves language, educational ministry, or generational differences, a merely pragmatic approach often produces only more pragmatism. I love the local church, and I believe it must be healthy and orderly. Out of that conviction, I hope this space can help address the unique challenges facing Korean immigrant churches through an ecclesiological framework. My prayer is that it would encourage healthier churches, raise up qualified workers for God’s redemptive mission, and foster deeper understanding and unity between Korean-speaking and English-speaking congregations. I am grateful for the group of godly pastors who share this same burden for biblically ordered and healthy churches, as well as a desire for greater collaboration between KM and EM. In this, I am reminded of Psalm 133:1: “Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity!”

May we labour to strengthen local churches and help them mature in biblical order and maturity.