Our Children Will Participate in the Missions Rally

From the Pastor’s Desk (281)

We will hold the 2025 Missions Rally from January 31 to February 2, with Dr. and Mrs. Taeho Ko as our speakers. Dr. Ko moved to the U.S. in his teenage years, and Mrs. Ko, after spending a few years in Paraguay, also came to the U.S. as a teenager. They grew up in New York City, attended Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), earned degrees, and met each other there before getting married. After working for several years on the East Coast as engineers, they relocated to Houston for work.

The Kos and I have mutual acquaintances. Before their move to Houston, they reached out to me for advice on where to live and which church to attend. This is how I connected them to our Korean-speaking congregation (KSC).

During their time at the KSC, while Pastor Chai was the senior pastor, the Kos experienced remarkable spiritual growth. They actively served in various ministries, including the children’s ministry and the missions team. It was during this time of service that they felt God’s calling to quit their jobs, sell their home, and dedicate three years to missionary work in Nicaragua. Obeying this call with joy, they served in Nicaragua, focusing primarily on children’s education. They recognized that education and access to college were critical for breaking the cycle of poverty.

Since returning to the U.S. and resuming their careers as engineers in New Jersey, the Kos have continued to support the children they served in Nicaragua. They provide monthly financial aid, hold regular Zoom meetings, and make frequent in-person visits. Thanks to their dedication, several of the students they mentored have graduated from college and are now professionals—engineers, doctors, and teachers. The Kos’ hope and prayer is that these individuals will one day become missionaries, sharing Christ’s love with others just as the Kos did with them.

Dr. and Mrs. Ko are among the most humble, joyful, grateful, and generous people I have had the privilege of knowing. Spending time with them is always fun, life-giving and refreshing. I am thrilled that they will be our Missions Rally speakers for 2025. I believe their stories will bless, encourage, and inspire us, moving us to action.

We often hear from missionaries that they felt God’s calling as young as 5 or 6 years old, sitting beside their parents and listening to missionaries during church missions rallies. These stories remind us that children can understand the messages preached during “adult worship.” More importantly, the Holy Spirit works powerfully in the lives of our children, often planting seeds of faith and calling at an early age.

Therefore, starting next year, children in third grade and up will remain with their parents during the Missions Rally. They will sit beside you and are expected to remain seated without walking around or distracting others. Youth students will also join us and can either sit with their parents or in the designated area at the front. For children in second grade and below, childcare will be provided.

If you have any questions regarding the 2025 Missions Rally, please reach out to Danny Lee, our Missions Team leader.

Let’s pray together and ask God to do amazing things in our lives during the Missions Rally.

Your pastor,

Pastor Eric