Korean Presbyterian uses Ezra 3 project to grow

 

By Catherine Ferguson SNJM

Kevin Lee, a member of the Korean Presbyterian Church of Spokane, speaks supportively about the opportunity the church's Ezra 3 project grant is giving the church on this 50th anniversary of the church's foundation.

"The Ezra 3 project gives us a chance to build a more sustainable church and as a businessman I support this," Kevin said.

"When I heard about Ezra 3, I signed us up and now am doing something I am passionate about—mentoring youth and young people to become leaders in society through our Book Club and the Running Club," he commented.

The money for their Ezra 3 project was part of $800,000 the Presbytery of the Inland Northwest received from the Lilly Foundation to help assess how the buildings of churches with declining congregations could become an asset to help a community flourish.

The church was founded about 1976 by the Rev. Joseph Doh. It originated from home gatherings and Bible studies held by early Korean families in the area.

The congregation later moved into its current building on East Pacific Avenue in 1991.

It holds its services in Korean with English translation for the non-Korean speakers who are often the spouses of Koreans they met during the war. Committed to Korean culture, it houses the Korean Language School, which teaches students to speak, read and write the language and helps them express the culture.

Its current pastor is the Rev. Eun-Bae Moon.

After the Korean Presbyterian Church decided to participate in the Ezra 3 Project, the pastor put together a design team who followed an educational program, Rooted Good's "Good Futures Accelerator." They met with the other four churches in their cohort five times during the year to share ideas and at the end of that year applied for $10,000 seed money to implement the project staffed by Kevin as a volunteer.

"The project is still in its first year and follows the school calendar, so we are not meeting in the summer. We will start again when school begins." Kevin explained.

"We started small with a weekly Reading and Writing Club," he said. "We're working within the resources we currently have, and our focus is on building something sustainable and meaningful before expanding further."

The Book Club has two age-group classes which meet on Fridays at 5 p.m. One is for grades one to three, and the second, for grades four to six. The students pay a small fee to participate and together they read, write and discuss what they are reading, similar to what might happen in a learning center.

Because the church is small—with around 50 active parishioners—outreach to encourage enrollment is a particular challenge.

A Running Club meets on Saturday mornings and is for the families of the grade school children and the kids themselves.

"What I like about the project is that it is not a handout but a step in regenerating the church and using our existing property to turn things around," said Kevin.

Through the project, he participates in an activity that meets several objectives that are important to him: 1) It serves the community. 2) He contributes as a community member and as a Korean community member. 3) It is goal driven.

"Our hope is that this will eventually grow into a program that provides educational support, mentorship and leadership development opportunities for the youth where young people can learn from both Korean and Western values and traditions," Kevin said. "We believe there is a unique opportunity to help students develop a strong sense of identity, character and service by drawing from the strengths of both cultures.

"Ultimately, our goal is not just academic enrichment but mentorship," he explained. "We want to help raise young people who are equipped to lead, serve, and make a positive impact in their schools, workplaces and communities."

As a first-generation Korean who moved back and forth between Korea and the United States as a young person, Kevin brings elements of both cultures to his mentoring of the young people he works with.

He was born in Korea and lived there until he was seven. Then, because his father worked for Korean Airlines, the family moved to Los Angeles for several years before moving back. He finished middle school in Korea in what he describes as a very traditional setting with its pressure for academic success.

"I was an above average student, and I learned a strong work ethic. Growing up my family emphasized academic success, and I'm grateful for that foundation," said Kevin.

"As I grew older, I learned that achievement isn't everything. Strong character, the way you support and inspire others and our ability to lead and bring people together matter more than individual accomplishment," he pointed out. "Even the greatest individual achievement can't match what a group of people can accomplish when they work together toward a common purpose."

After finishing middle school in Korea, the family moved back to the Bellevue, Washington, area and Kevin attended Newport High School there. Later they moved to Beaverton, Ore., where he finished high school and went on to Portland State University and then to the University of Washington.

After graduation, Kevin began his career at Cerner, a major provider of electronic health record technology. He spent 18 years there in roles spanning solution architecture and consulting leadership. His work took him across the U.S. and internationally, including to the United Kingdom, where he worked with health care organizations on complex technology and transformation initiatives.

When Oracle acquired Cerner in 2022, Kevin continued with the company and transitioned to his current role, serving as an account executive for Oracle Health, covering British Columbia.

The travel required for his work can make balancing time with his family and the church challenging.

"I try to manage my schedule so I can be here when I need to be," said Kevin, who, with his wife, Hannie, has three children—Aaron, 17, who aspires to be a doctor; Jenna, a junior at Gonzaga Prep, and Kaitlyn, seven, who attends a Spanish immersion school in Spokane Valley.

Drawing from his experience growing up between Korea and the United States, Kevin wants his children to understand the different cultures and perspectives firsthand.

When Aaron and Jenna were younger, they attended schools in rural communities where they encountered people from different backgrounds and gained an understanding of cultural differences, including the realities of racism and prejudice.

Kevin believes those experiences helped them develop perspective, empathy and a better understanding of the world beyond their own community. 

Having Kaitlyn in the Spanish immersion school gives her an experience of what it means to know different languages and experience different cultures firsthand, Kevin said.

His children also participate in the Ezra 3 project.

Kevin hopes the project, while it is about enhancing sustainability and growth, can help move the church from the status quo and allow people to experience it as a place where they can truly become strong Christian leaders in society.

For information, email klee80@gmail.com