I have known LPMI USA for about 15 years, probably even longer, although there have been periods when our contact was more frequent and other periods when it was less so. I have always appreciated their structure, ministry system, and especially their commitment to working at the national level in the United States.
One thing that has impressed me most is the commitment of their core team members. Many of them have continued working together for more than 30 years. They have provided significant training and resources to churches throughout the United States, especially in the areas of Lay Pastors Ministry and lay caregiving.
As we know, many American churches have traditionally focused strongly on clergy ministry. Most theological schools emphasize preparing and producing denominational clergy. In that environment, the concept of Lay Pastors Ministry was relatively new and different. LPMI USA has helped churches see that pastoral care is not only the responsibility of ordained pastors but can also be shared with trained laypeople.
As a leader of LPM Korea, I was able to continue developing Lay Pastors Ministry in Korean churches for many years partly because LPMI USA was there. They encouraged me, supported me, and sometimes challenged me. More importantly, I learned from their ministry style, approach, and organizational system. I adapted many of their ideas for the administration and development of LPM Korea.
In many ways, our ministry style became very similar to theirs. We are still close, and I am grateful for that relationship.
I would like to mention some of the LPMI USA core team members by name: Tom Corbell, Marie Parma, Else Rodland, Marianna Wiegmann, and others whose names I cannot remember at the moment. There were about ten people who formed the core group. What impressed me was that many of them have remained involved in the main structure for such a long time. Their commitment to the ministry has been remarkable.
Tom Corbell, Else Rodland, and Marie Parma visited Korea for our conferences. They came to encourage Korean churches, Lay Pastors, and the staff of LPM Korea. We had wonderful times together. Seeing them in person made a strong impression on me. At the same time, when I visited their conferences in the United States, I was able to learn new things and think about how to adapt those ideas for Korean churches.
Unforgettable Experiences in America
My travels to LPMI USA have also given me some unforgettable experiences.
Whenever I traveled to an international conference in the United States, they often came to the airport to receive me. They would arrange a place for me to stay for several days, usually in the home of a host church family. I remember experiences in places such as Kentucky, Pennsylvania, St. Louis, and Alabama.
Those experiences were very meaningful to me. Instead of staying in a hotel, I stayed with an American Christian family. Through that experience, I could see real American family life, culture, attitudes, and ways of thinking. I could also see how Lay Pastors Ministry was actually lived out in the life of the church.
For me, this was another kind of education.
Whenever I traveled to LPMI USA, they prepared a home for me rather than simply arranging a hotel. I experienced hospitality personally, not just as a concept. Those relationships became part of my understanding of ministry.
Learning by Seeing
LPMI USA has worked at several levels—international, national, regional, and local churches. In many ways, I followed those same approaches and systems when developing LPM Korea.
Because I had seen their model with my own eyes, I could adapt it to Korean churches with confidence. I did not have to develop everything from the beginning. I had a model to observe, learn from, and modify according to the Korean context.
This was very helpful.
I often say that one of the best ways to learn ministry is to see it being done. LPMI USA gave me that opportunity. I could see the structure, the relationships, the training, the conferences, the networking, and the commitment of people who had been serving for many years. Then I could take what I learned and apply it in Korea.
The Network Newsletter and the Future
LPMI USA still publishes the Network Newsletter quarterly. This has been a useful resource for us, and the fact that they have continued publishing it for approximately 30 years is itself significant.
At the same time, I believe LPMI USA is now facing an important question about the future.
They have done very well for many years. Their ministry has a long history, experienced leaders, and a strong foundation. But, as the ministry becomes older, they also need to wrestle with the question, “What is the next stage?”
I believe one of their challenges today is developing more new network churches and strengthening networking throughout the United States. The ministry needs new generations of leaders, new churches, and new relationships that can carry the vision forward.
In other words, LPMI USA has a valuable history, but history alone is not enough for the future.
I am grateful for what LPMI USA has meant to me and to LPM Korea. They encouraged me, challenged me, modeled ministry for me, opened their homes to me, and gave me an example that I could adapt to another country.
In many ways, I learned LPM by watching them do it.
That is one of the great gifts LPMI USA has given me.