In April 2001, I was appointed by the first Korean-American bishop, Hae-Jong Kim, to plant a new Korean-American church in the Greater Pittsburgh area. This ministry was intended to serve Korean immigrants, second-generation Korean Americans, and intercultural families. Before my …
Faith Friends ministry gives those with memory loss recreation and relationship, offers caregivers respite
Living with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease can be an isolating experience for those with the diagnosis and for their caregivers—often family members who love and walk beside them each day. Doctors and social workers provide indispensable care, but they cannot …
IGNITE inspires renewed youth activity at Teaneck UMC
EPA & GNJ are blessed with lots of opportunities for youth to experience community, test out the waters of faith, and grow closer to their connection to God. In countless church basements, fellowship halls and youth rooms across both conferences …
Cultivate internships: A win-win for young leaders & churches
In a season when young leaders are craving meaningful spiritual experiences and churches are seeking ways to engage young people, an opportunity like Cultivate is a win-win for everyone involved. Cultivate is a summer internship program that gives students a …
ATTENTION ALL LAITY… It’s Conference Lay Leader Nomination time!
FROM: Conference Board of Lay Ministry As you may be aware, William Thompson is concluding his first term as Lay Leader of the Annual Conference. While Bill is willing to serve another term and The Book of Discipline 2020/2024 allows …
Embracing Curiosity with Alyssa Ruch, Director of Pathway Bridges
Pathway Bridges, a Lilly grant-funded program, has been equipping churches to bridge the gap between the church and the community since 2022. New cohorts launched in the spring and fall of 2025. Three years in, there’s still an aura of …
The Foundation for Evangelism Laity Awards
Call for Nominations The Eastern Pennsylvania Annual Conference is now accepting nominations for The Foundation for Evangelism Laity Award, formerly the Denman Award. This award honors laity with exceptional evangelistic ministries that bring people into a life- transforming relationship with …
Interview with Rev. Dr. Sang Choi, Interim Associate Superintendent
Late last summer, Rev. Choi joined the team here in EPA as an Associate Superintendent. In December, we sat down to chat about life in ministry and the parts of his job that bring him the most life and joy. …
East Stroudsburg UMC plants seeds of faith through service
It is Monday afternoon, the sidewalks are lined with snow, and the temperature is well below freezing in East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania. But inside East Stroudsburg United Methodist Church, the gymnasium is bustling with warmth. Tables are lined with fresh groceries, …
Capital campaigns with a twist: Lancaster First turns fundraising strength into mission
When churchgoers hear the words “capital campaign,” fundraisers for large building projects likely come to mind – replacing a leaky roof, broken boiler or constructing a new education building. Lancaster First United Methodist Church is no stranger to capital …