Dear Church Family,
What Is the Church? Rediscovering Our Calling Together
As we enter June, it’s hard to believe—but true—that it’s already been almost a year since my family moved to Wisconsin. This milestone has given me space to pause and reflect.
Over the years, I’ve followed God’s call through many different places and types of ministry. I’ve planted churches, served in both small and large congregations, in rural and urban communities, and worked across cultural and racial boundaries. Every new context brought its own joys and challenges. But through it all, one question has stayed with me:
What is the Church, really? And who are we called to be as the Church today?
This question still shapes my prayer life and my ministry. I don’t have all the answers—but I believe it’s a question we’re all called to keep asking, together. Especially now.
We live in a world that’s changing faster than ever. Social, cultural, political, and even spiritual shifts can leave us feeling unsteady. The pandemic has left deep emotional and relational marks. Many face economic hardship. Political division has even made its way into churches, making us reactive and unsure. We feel the tension. We long for stability, meaning, and direction. In this season, I believe God is calling us back to the heart of our faith, and back to the heart of the Church’s calling. We don’t need to chase every new trend. But we do need:
● Wisdom to read the world we live in,
● Courage to resist simply going along with the flow, and
● Discernment to follow Jesus faithfully and humbly in our time.
June offers us a powerful opportunity to do just that.
In the Christian calendar, June is filled with deep theological meaning. The first weeks of the month take us through three important Sundays:
● Ascension Sunday (June 1)– when we remember Jesus’ return to heaven and His ongoing reign as Lord,
● Pentecost (June 8) – when the Holy Spirit was poured out and the Church was born,
● Trinity Sunday (June 15) – when we reflect on the mystery of the Triune God and our identity as God’s people.
These are not just dates to mark. They are invitations to reflect deeply on what it means to be the Church. The lectionary readings this month lead us to ask:
Who are we, not just as individuals, but as a community? What is our purpose in the world?
This summer, I hope we will reflect on these questions together. What does it mean to live, not just for ourselves, but as the people of God—gathered, shaped, and sent?
During June and July, I also plan to take some time for personal rest and retreat—some vacation days with my family, retreat to learn and space to reflect on the past year. Rest, for me, is more than taking a break. It’s stepping back to see more clearly. It’s listening again for God’s voice—away from the noise of schedules, expectations, and demands.
I ask for your prayers during this season—that God would use this time to renew my spirit, restore my strength, and deepen my sense of call. And I pray the same for you.
May this summer be a time of quiet renewal and spiritual refreshment. May the Holy Spirit breathe new life into your soul. And may we, as the Church, keep becoming the people God calls us to be—not by our own strength, but by the Holy Spirit.
With gratitude and peace,
Jinkyoung