Meander through the streets, and it’s easy to believe you are in Seoul. Signs in bold Korean script fill the storefronts. Strains of various conversations filter through the air, in a language almost musical in tone. The pungent aroma of baek kimchi, a traditional dish made with white cabbage, wafts out of a storefront restaurant – a shikdang in Korean.
But you aren’t in Seoul. You’re in Fullerton, walking among a large portion of Orange County’s 55,000 Korean Americans.
Beside you walks Charles Kim, a Korean American who came to the United States when he was 11. Charles and Sam Park are co-pastors of La Mirada’s Dream Church of Orange County, a new congregation that has set its heart on reaching the tens of thousands of lost Korean Americans in northern Orange County.
Charles and Sam work without salary, leading a congregation that launched in February 2007 with just four families. The work hasn’t been easy. Charles and Sam canvassed 90 churches in the area before First Baptist Church in La Mirada opened its doors to them.
“We are reaching out to first generation Korean Americans and also to ‘1.5 generation’,” explains Charles. “Sam is a first-generation, and I am a 1.5 – sort of a bridge generation. I am kind of half way. I came here when I was 11.”
A year after he arrived in the U.S., he began attending church with his sister, who had accepted Christ. A year later, as an eighth grader, he opened his heart to the Lord as well. The rest of the family eventually accepted Christ.
It’s a pattern he sees repeated in many Korean-American families – and a strategy they are pursuing to reach other Korean Americans for Christ.
“What we see is that one family member becomes a Christian and the Gospel reaches through that one person into the whole family – and not only the immediate family but also back in Korea as well,” Charles says. “It is fascinating how the Gospel spreads out like that. We are excited to see it happening!”
Each weekend, Dream Church conducts worship services followed by a time of fellowship. Like their Christian counterparts 6,000 miles away in Fullerton’s sister city, Yongin, the mature believers gather daily for morning prayers – an extended time before the Lord that can run for hours.
Their heart’s desire is reflected in the name of the congregation.
First-generation Korean Americans came to America with a dream of a better life, of new opportunity, Charles says. They dream of bringing their families to join them.
“We want to give Korean Americans a vision and a dream, and there is a Korean word that sounds like the English word ‘dream’ but it means “give,” he says. “We want to give our dreams to God and we want to provide a dream to lost souls.”
Easy access to jobs in Los Angeles means the population of Korean Americans in northern Orange County will continue to grow. Many, if not most of them come from a Buddhist or spiritualist background, Many have no religious conviction. Spiritually, it’s a dry land in desperate need of water.
Having a ministry partnership with California Southern Baptist churches – and vital resources through the California Mission Offering – makes a difference for a young congregation like Grace Community.
“We want to mobilize our people to reach out to non-Christians wherever they are,” Charles says. “We need to raise up workers to go out into the harvest and bring people into God’s kingdom. Northern Orange County is a gathering place for Koreans and there are a lot of people to reach out to.
“These people are thirsty for spiritual things. Please pray that doors will be opened for us to meet thirsty souls and have opportunities to talk with them about Christ.”
"Bright Hope for Dark Days" is the theme for the 2008 California Mission Offering. The statewide goal for this year's offering is $500,000 with $184,000 designated for starting new churches in the Golden State.
Fresno, California 93710
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