TG Convocation on August 6-9, 2008 (Wed-Sat)
TransGeneration (TG) Ministry is proud to be holding its 27th Annual Convocation on August 6-9, 2008 (Wed-Sat) in Ann Arbor, Michigan. It will be hosted by Pastor Steve Khang and Living Grace Ministry, the English Ministry of KUMC of Ann Arbor (Senior Pastor Isaac Y. Shin). Our keynote speaker is Rev. Dr. Douglas M. Strong (M.Div., PhD., Princeton Theological Seminary), and worship times will be led by a team comprising praise team members from different EM ministries across the nation.

For detailed information, including airport and hotel information, or to register by mail, please open our registration form HERE.

To register by email, click on the link HERE. Fill in the PDF form, then click "SUBMIT BY EMAIL" at the top and follow instructions. Your registration fee can be submitted upon arrival by cash or check. Payment info is on the registration form in the previous link.

You will need the Adobe Reader program to open the files. Most computers will have it already installed. Should you need the program, please find it at Adobe's website HERE.

This year's theme is "Committing to Healthy Covenantal Relationships". We will explore issues and difficulties related to forming and keeping commitments in various areas of our lives such as work, ministry, marriage, etc., especially in today's commitment-phobic world. We will try to understand how the Biblical model of covenant-making is the basis of God's design for forming and keeping healthy commitments.

Our keynote speaker, Dr. Strong, is an ordained pastor in the UMC and Dean of the School of Theology and Professor of the History of Christianity at Seattle Pacific University. He taught church history for eighteen years at Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, D.C. and was also the Associate Dean for Church Relations. The author of numerous articles and books, Dr. Strong also is a past president of the Wesleyan Theological Society, a co-convener of the History of Methodism Working Group of the Oxford Institute of Methodist Theological Studies, and is on the Steering Committee of the Wesleyan Studies Group of the American Academy of Religion. He serves on the General Commission on Archives and History of the United Methodist Church. Previously, he served his denomination as the theological advisor to the Curriculum Review Committee of the United Methodist Publishing House. He also has led students on numerous trips to Russia, taught four times at the Theological Seminary of the Russian Methodist church, and served on that schoolʼs Board of Trustees. He is committed to intercultural learning as essential for students preparing to live out their Christian vocation in a global society.
** ** ** ** Information about last year's Convocation can be found below and photos of previous convocations are in our album (click the link at the top). For more information about TG Ministry, contact our president, Pastor Mark Kim, at president@tgministry.org

PAST NEWS:

TG Intern Testimonial

Brian Kim, a 2006 TG Intern, relates his experiences during his internship at Abundant Life Community of San Diego Korean United Methodist Church:

Early in 2006, as I was talking to my brother about my nonexistent summer plans, he told me to consider ministry opportunities. I thought about it for a second and then again realized my sad financial status as a student. But as I prayed about it, I realized that God was opening up my heart. The following day, Pastor Mark of Morningside Ministry and current TG President, asked me to consider the TG Internship over the summer. He explained to me that it was a pastoral internship where I would get to experience different pastoral duties. As someone who felt a calling into ministry, but was unsure of what direction God wanted to take him, I applied.

The internship began in Washington DC with the orientation. There I met my fellow interns along with Pastor Eumin, our beloved Internship Coordinator. It was during this time that we got to meet different people who were involved with the program along with an overview of our various roles. We also got to spend time worshipping together and just talking about many different things. On top of that we got to taste the fine cuisine of the DC area, perhaps eating more than was healthy. As we heard lectures, went through Bible studies and devotionals, my heart was slowly warming to the internship.

I was placed in Los Angeles at Community Church on Holliston under Pastor Sam Park. During my time there I got to experience many different aspects of ministry. I got to experience their children’s ministry, youth ministry, college ministry, small group ministry, children’s ministry, outreach ministry along with the administrative side of all these different ministries. And though I was only officially serving under one pastor, the different pastors that were a part of CCH, along with the members of the congregation, served as my mentors.

Through my experiences on this internship, I learned a lot. I came to the internship as someone who has already had a wealth of experience serving in different ministries. But I was never challenged as much as I was during this internship. I found myself out of my comfort zone for much of the time and more than anything, I found myself without excuses. I was in a place I had never been before without any familiar faces I could depend on. I also had none of the familiar meetings, small groups and events that I depended on before. During this time I was able to learn what it meant to depend on God alone. For the first time, I felt like I was able to take my faith seriously. I sought after God passionately in prayer and scripture and really waited upon Him to speak to me.

As I think back to my time during the internship, I can see in hindsight how God has used those experiences in my current ministry setting. I am also confident as I move forward in ministry, that my experiences during this internship will prove invaluable.

New Executive Team Organized
During the Friday plenary session of our 2007 TG Convocation, our new Executive Team for TG Ministry was nominated and elected to its two-year term. Pics and bios of the new team can be found on our Staff page. We pray God's blessing of love and wisdom be upon them, and ask for your prayers on their behalf.

TG Convocation on August 1-4, 2007 (Wed-Sat)

TG (Trans-Generation) Ministry’s 26th Annual Convocation was held on August 1-4, 2007 at Arcola KUMC in Paramus, NJ. It was hosted by Trinity Christian Fellowship, the EM ministry of Arcola KUMC, now called Arcola Covenant Community.

The 2007 Convocation was a Spirit-filled gathering of clergy and laity from across the nation. Our hearts were stirred by powerful times of worship led by Pastor Matthew Na, lead pastor of Arcola Covenant Community, and a praise band comprising members from different local churches.

Our souls were challenged by transforming messages from our keynote speaker, Reverend Dr. Minho Song, senior pastor of Young Nak Presbyterian Church of Toronto. As a former EM pastor at Young Nak Presbyterian Church of Toronto, a professor at Tyndale Seminary for seven years, and OMF missionary and professor in the Philippines for four years, Dr. Song was well equipped to speak to a 2nd generation Korean-American audience about God’s heart for world missions. Among other topics, he spoke about the church’s need to fulfill all three of its identities – as the Bride of Christ, as the Body of Christ, as the People of God – but many churches fulfill only the first two. If the image of the church is as a hospital, then its purpose is to heal sick people and make them a pure bride of Christ. If the image of the church is as a family, then its purpose is to proclaim both the unity and universality of the body of Christ. But the church’s tendency is to stop there and not fulfill its third identity. If the image of the church is as a sent people, as an apostolic group, then its purpose is to be sent into the world as the people of God. Or, as Dr. Song would later put it, “Mission is not an option. It’s a part of the church’s DNA.”

A variety of seminars also were offered as times of connection, learning and growth: seminars on fostering better communication between 1st and 2nd generation clergy and on effective preaching by Dr. Song, a seminar on connecting to God’s mission in the UMC using resources such as the GBGM by Pastors Evelyn and Terence Eberle, a seminar on the heart of missions by Pastor Arnold Oh, a seminar examining the soul of Christian servant leadership by Pastor JP Hong, a seminar on cross-cultural understandings of ministry by Pastor Eumin Kim, and a training seminar for new pastors by Pastor Mark Kim.

At the plenary session, held every two years during the Convocation, it was decided that TG's Board would be dissolved and that the Executive Team be empowered to create a new governing structure for approval by the 2009 plenary session. Under the proposed structure, TG’s Convocation and Internship program would be considered two out of four or five ministries, all different in focus but equal in standing, and guided by an overseeing council. Other ministries include a possible connection with Youth Initiative, and the start of a College Initiative.

As always, the highlight of our 2007 Convocation was the banquet on Friday evening. It was a time to celebrate TG’s continuing mission to empower, equip, and serve local congregations in the development of English Ministries. Participants were able to foster relationships, support one another and develop a common sense of mission. The banquet closed with a free lesson in salsa dancing provided by two wonderful, local instructors. Needless to say, everyone enjoyed the time tremendously!

All in all, it was a wonderful, God-centered time of spiritual growth and fellowship. Our thanks go to Pastor Matthew Na and the members of Arcola Covenant Community as gracious hosts, and to Rev. Myung Hoon Ahn, senior pastor of Arcola KUMC, and the rest of Arcola KUMC’s congregation for their tremendous support. We look forward to next year’s Convocation held on Aug. 6-9, 2008 and hosted by Living Grace Ministry (KUMC of Ann Arbor) in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Our keynote speaker is Dr. Douglas Strong and the theme will be on committing to healthy covenantal relationships. Until then, to God alone be the glory!
** ** ** ** Photos of previous convocations can be found in our album. For more information about TG Ministry, contact our president, Pastor Mark Kim, at president@tgministry.org

Rev. Dr. Minho Song and TG Exec Team