About Pastor

As a testament of our faith, bring people to "Grace"

If people ask me whether I am conservative or liberal, I will answer them that I am spiritual. I grew up in a Korean protestant church in very fundamental, evangelical, and conservative circumstances and I studied in the US at the most liberal and academic oriented seminaries (Master of Divinity at Emory & PhD in the Old Testament at the Graduate Theological Union [UC Berkeley]). The way I reconcile these two extreme points of view is by acknowledging that all knowledge is contextual, but my experience and relationship with Jesus is absolute.

Before I came to serve at NCUMC, I had served at two Korean immigrant congregations as the EM pastor for 8 years and served at a local American congregation as a solo pastor for 3 years. Wherever I went (from Korea to Atlanta, from Atlanta to Berkeley, from Berkeley to Downieville, or from Downieville to San Jose), new circumstances presented great challenges. However, I understand now that it was God's way to train me.

I am happily married to my wife Hannah (she is the anchor in my life) and have three wonderful children Faith, Josephine, and Justin Jr.

Praise the Lord!

-Justin