The study found that a large number of Korean youth and young adults are leaving first-generation churches in a silent exodus. While some leave to join other ethnic churches or predominantly White congregations, many have stopped participating in the church altogether. The Korean community wants to develop new models of ministry to meet the needs of the next generation, primarily in Northern Illinois, Boston, New York, New Jersey, and Los Angeles. In many cases, these ministries need to be in new or existing bilingual or English-speaking congregations. Korean churches in the United States began as mission churches.
Korean immigrants continue to arrive in the United States.
Small congregations still need nurture in order to become self-sustaining. The vision of the Task Force on Korean American Ministries is that the Korean American church will become an integral part of The United Methodist Church and participate fully in its life. The Rev. Changsoo Lee and a parishioner at Wilshire United Methodist Church in Los Angeles, California. Used by Permission.