Come as you are…

Last Sunday, Pastor Heather and I kicked off the "Faith Values" class. This class is more than just a Bible study; it’s a time to discover who we are. Knowing our identity as a community is like having a spiritual compass that determines where we are heading and how we will stand in the world. Only when we clearly know who we are can we decide how to welcome the stranger and what kind of love to offer.

In this first class, eight newly joined members and recent visitors gathered. Pastor Heather asked them about their first impressions of our church and how they came to settle here. Hearing everyone's stories and journeys was such a joyful time.

Listening to their stories, I shared the memory of when I was first appointed to this church by the Oklahoma Conference. One day, out of the blue, I received a phone call from our then-District Superintendent, Rev. Connie (who is now retired and attending our Faith Bixby campus!), about my appointment, and we had a brief interview. After hanging up, I looked up Tulsa Faith's website and worship videos. Then, I turned to my wife and said, "They will probably reject me."

I simply accepted reality based on objective self-awareness. I thought, Why would such a large, wonderful church want to bring in an Asian pastor whose second language is English for a leadership role? Sending pastors like me, who have a different skin color and language, to struggling churches on the verge of closing was, in many ways, a bitter but expected reality of the denomination. I was always confident that wherever I served, I would do my absolute best and build good relationships, but I simply assumed the wall of reality would be too high.

During my Zoom interview with Pastor Heather, I experienced her incredible generosity and hospitality. However, deep down, I thought, This is just her being polite and nice to a stranger. At the end of the interview, Pastor Heather asked me to watch the "Faith Values" videos on our website and let her know if they aligned with my personal faith and beliefs.

After watching those four videos, I was amazed. I couldn't believe there was such a wonderful church with such a clear identity, actively applying the life Jesus demonstrated! In particular, the phrase "Come As You Are" left a deep impression on my heart. But at the same time, I told myself, That might apply to people looking for a church, but it probably won't apply to a pastor joining the leadership. I sent Pastor Heather a brief reflection on the videos, and then I told my wife again: "Let's not get our hopes up. I’d rather be sent to a church on the edge of a cliff that no other pastor wants to go to, and try to bring it back to life!"

About two weeks passed, and right as Faith was starting to fade from my memory, D.S. Rev. Connie called me back to let me know my appointment was confirmed. I was happy, but honestly, I still had a lingering suspicion that the church accepted me out of politeness and would probably ask for a different pastor after a year. With the mindset of "I'll just do my absolute best for this one year," I moved to Tulsa right through the middle of the pandemic.

When I first walked into my office, Randy came in and asked, "I'll patch up these nail holes on the wall soon. Is there a specific paint color you want?" I thought to myself, I might be leaving in a year anyway, let's not bother people. So I replied, "Thank you, but you don't have to do that. Just leave it as is." When Glen asked, "Do you have a computer for your office? If not, the church can provide one," I replied, "I'm fine. I'll just bring and use my personal computer." In my mind, I was always preparing to leave.

However, that journey at Faith, which began with such hesitations, has already surpassed four years. For the past four years, there hasn't been a single day where I haven't lived in your hospitality and love. Even when I stumble over my English, use the wrong pronunciation, or speak with awkward grammar, you have always embraced me with understanding and patience. I have been wanting to take this opportunity to share my heart: "Thank you so much."

You are proving with your lives that our church's value, "Come As You Are," is real. To accept a stranger who is different from you requires embracing a significant amount of discomfort. Yet, you willingly embrace that discomfort without a word of complaint, quietly following the way of life Jesus showed us.

The Scripture text for this Sunday's worship is 'The Walk to Emmaus' from Luke 24. Jesus approaches the disciples who are leaving Jerusalem in despair. He does not scold them for their lack of faith; instead, He accepts them exactly as they are in their frustration and listens to their lament to the very end. The disciples, still not recognizing that He is Jesus, urge this stranger they met on the road to stay with them as the day is ending. The disciples, too, accepted the discomfort and welcomed a stranger. This hospitality and acceptance led to the fellowship of the table where Jesus broke bread, and only then were their eyes opened to realize the "Resurrection" before returning to Jerusalem.

This Sunday, we will share the story of those who willingly embraced the discomfort of welcoming a stranger. As a community that believes in the resurrection, my hope is that we, too, will be a community that willingly embraces this joyful discomfort and welcomes people exactly as they are. Through that hospitality, as we break bread and share the table together, I pray that the power of the resurrection will melt deeply into our lives and be fully realized.

I am so incredibly happy and proud to be a part of your community. I earnestly pray that in the days ahead, countless strangers, those wandering because they do not yet know Jesus, and those who believe but are too crushed by life to experience the joy of the resurrection, can come here just as they are and share in this beautiful joy together.

- Pastor Seungrok