Madison Korean Presbyterian Church
Preaching brotherhood and love
for others in action
Preaching brotherhood and love
for others in action
from the Presbyterian College and Theological Seminary. He has also been awarded an honorary doctorate
degree from the World Mission University. Our interview further revealed that Chun Hong has served in various
capacities in different parts of the United States. He served for three years as chaplain at Bosung girls’ high school
and as the pastor of the Korean Presbyterian church in Indianapolis for 12 years. In San Diego he worked in two
churches, the San Diego Korean church, where he served for 12 years and the San Diego Oriental Mission Church
where he preached for three years.
We discovered that the church has many global missionary programs that have seen it send a lot of its members
abroad to work as volunteers on humanitarian missions as well preaching crusades. In Wisconsin, the church
regularly raises money that is used to provide food and shelter for the homeless. It also has other community
based programs that see its members visit the sick in hospitals while others visit local jails to preach to the
inmates. Another event that the church does is that the church to hold welcomes parties for Korean students who
come to study at the University of Wisconsin. This program is done jointly with the Madison Sahlang church, the
Madison Immanuel Church and the Campus Community Church. Additionally there is a team in the church whose
special assignment is to receive Koreans who are new in the United States. Whenever they receive information
regarding a newcomer to Madison, they go out their way to fetch him from the airport and organize for his transport
and shopping requirements. After settling the person in, they then help the visitor to open a bank account as well
as make arrangements to get him a cell phone contract. All this is done free of charge and can be very useful
especially for those individuals who are not very conversant with the English language.
Madison Presbyterian stands apart amongst other Asian establishment within the city. It is the only church with the
highest student - worshipper ratio than any other church within Madison. To be exact, 75 out every 153 worshippers
are students who have found a home of worship at Madison. It is also a fairly big church considering the size of the
city itself and may even be compared to other Korean churches found in big cities such as New York and Chicago.
It is worth pointing that whereas most other Asian churches rent premise from the more established American
churches, Madison Presbyterian is the only Asian church in Madison that owns the land it stands on while also
supporting and financing its own programs and operations.
We found out from the pastor that the church detests conflicts especially those that relate to financing and policy
making. One of the worshippers we interviewed, a lady named Won Hee, revealed that whenever there is a conflict
about decisions to be made in the church, the pastor prefers to adjourn such meetings to allow the members to
cool down and reflect deeply on the issues involved. After much reflecting, consideration and prayer, the members
under the guidance of the pastor often come up with an amicable resolution that is acceptable to all the parties.
Another of my interview subjects, a 21 year old student named Wan Kim told me that she has been attending
services at the church for the last four years. She first joined the church when she came to America as an exchange
student from South Korea. The church took care of all her needs, providing some information to reduce the cost of
attending the school as well as accommodation. With the help of the church, she managed to complete her
undergraduate degree and even enrolled for a Masters degree, with the help of the church members to receive
information. She is one of the members of the youth group at the church and plays a vital role in the conversion of
young people and bringing them to Christ.
Conclusion
In conclusion, we found that there is unity in churches found in smaller communities where people know and
regard each other as brothers. The fellowship in such churches is amazingly profound and the feeling of
brotherhood is such as cannot be found in churches in the big cities. It is even more pronounced for those who are
far from home and helps them acclimatize and adapt to their new surroundings. It goes without saying therefore
that one’s spiritual experience is not complete until they have attended the Madison Presbyterian church in
Wisconsin.
Kyubok Choi and Jung Hun Kim are students at UW-Madison. They wrote this piece for Asian Wisconzine, as a
project for an Asian American Studies course, under Asst. Prof. Jan Miyasaki.
degree from the World Mission University. Our interview further revealed that Chun Hong has served in various
capacities in different parts of the United States. He served for three years as chaplain at Bosung girls’ high school
and as the pastor of the Korean Presbyterian church in Indianapolis for 12 years. In San Diego he worked in two
churches, the San Diego Korean church, where he served for 12 years and the San Diego Oriental Mission Church
where he preached for three years.
We discovered that the church has many global missionary programs that have seen it send a lot of its members
abroad to work as volunteers on humanitarian missions as well preaching crusades. In Wisconsin, the church
regularly raises money that is used to provide food and shelter for the homeless. It also has other community
based programs that see its members visit the sick in hospitals while others visit local jails to preach to the
inmates. Another event that the church does is that the church to hold welcomes parties for Korean students who
come to study at the University of Wisconsin. This program is done jointly with the Madison Sahlang church, the
Madison Immanuel Church and the Campus Community Church. Additionally there is a team in the church whose
special assignment is to receive Koreans who are new in the United States. Whenever they receive information
regarding a newcomer to Madison, they go out their way to fetch him from the airport and organize for his transport
and shopping requirements. After settling the person in, they then help the visitor to open a bank account as well
as make arrangements to get him a cell phone contract. All this is done free of charge and can be very useful
especially for those individuals who are not very conversant with the English language.
Madison Presbyterian stands apart amongst other Asian establishment within the city. It is the only church with the
highest student - worshipper ratio than any other church within Madison. To be exact, 75 out every 153 worshippers
are students who have found a home of worship at Madison. It is also a fairly big church considering the size of the
city itself and may even be compared to other Korean churches found in big cities such as New York and Chicago.
It is worth pointing that whereas most other Asian churches rent premise from the more established American
churches, Madison Presbyterian is the only Asian church in Madison that owns the land it stands on while also
supporting and financing its own programs and operations.
We found out from the pastor that the church detests conflicts especially those that relate to financing and policy
making. One of the worshippers we interviewed, a lady named Won Hee, revealed that whenever there is a conflict
about decisions to be made in the church, the pastor prefers to adjourn such meetings to allow the members to
cool down and reflect deeply on the issues involved. After much reflecting, consideration and prayer, the members
under the guidance of the pastor often come up with an amicable resolution that is acceptable to all the parties.
Another of my interview subjects, a 21 year old student named Wan Kim told me that she has been attending
services at the church for the last four years. She first joined the church when she came to America as an exchange
student from South Korea. The church took care of all her needs, providing some information to reduce the cost of
attending the school as well as accommodation. With the help of the church, she managed to complete her
undergraduate degree and even enrolled for a Masters degree, with the help of the church members to receive
information. She is one of the members of the youth group at the church and plays a vital role in the conversion of
young people and bringing them to Christ.
Conclusion
In conclusion, we found that there is unity in churches found in smaller communities where people know and
regard each other as brothers. The fellowship in such churches is amazingly profound and the feeling of
brotherhood is such as cannot be found in churches in the big cities. It is even more pronounced for those who are
far from home and helps them acclimatize and adapt to their new surroundings. It goes without saying therefore
that one’s spiritual experience is not complete until they have attended the Madison Presbyterian church in
Wisconsin.
Kyubok Choi and Jung Hun Kim are students at UW-Madison. They wrote this piece for Asian Wisconzine, as a
project for an Asian American Studies course, under Asst. Prof. Jan Miyasaki.
(L-R) Authors Kyubok Choi, Jung Hun Kim
By Kyubok Choi and Jung Hun Kim
The Presbyterian Church traces its roots in the Middle
East where it was founded. Its earliest churches
consisted mainly of Jews who had come to know of the
love of Jesus Christ and had accepted him as their
personal savior. The church’s name was coined from
the word “presbyteros” which in Greek means elder.
Gradually the church expanded and spread from the
Middle East to other parts of the world in the 4th century.
In the United States, the church was brought from
Europe by Scottish and Irish preachers and is today the
mainstream Christian church of the protestant
denomination. The church as we know it today was
founded in 1983 when two churches, the Presbyterian
church and the United Presbyterian Church were
merged after a protracted attempt by both churches to
impose their presence in all the states. Its
headquarters in the United tates are located in
The Presbyterian Church traces its roots in the Middle
East where it was founded. Its earliest churches
consisted mainly of Jews who had come to know of the
love of Jesus Christ and had accepted him as their
personal savior. The church’s name was coined from
the word “presbyteros” which in Greek means elder.
Gradually the church expanded and spread from the
Middle East to other parts of the world in the 4th century.
In the United States, the church was brought from
Europe by Scottish and Irish preachers and is today the
mainstream Christian church of the protestant
denomination. The church as we know it today was
founded in 1983 when two churches, the Presbyterian
church and the United Presbyterian Church were
merged after a protracted attempt by both churches to
impose their presence in all the states. Its
headquarters in the United tates are located in
| From Left-Jung Hun Kim, Chun-Man Hong (pastor), Won-hee Kim (long time member of the church) |
Louisville Kentucky. The church boasts of more than two-and-a-half million members and shares very progressively
modern views on matters relating to church doctrines, the economy, the environment and morality.
Madison Presbyterian Church
The Madison Presbyterian church was founded in 1971. In the early days the congregation had no home of its own,
and conducted its services at First United Methodist church. In August 1980, the church went a step further to join the
Presbyterian Church of the United States of America. It was later able to purchase enough land to facilitate the
modern views on matters relating to church doctrines, the economy, the environment and morality.
Madison Presbyterian Church
The Madison Presbyterian church was founded in 1971. In the early days the congregation had no home of its own,
and conducted its services at First United Methodist church. In August 1980, the church went a step further to join the
Presbyterian Church of the United States of America. It was later able to purchase enough land to facilitate the
construction of its own church on 6909 Colony
drive Madison WI 53717. It conducted its first
fellowship service in this new church on January
6th 1994 and has grown in leaps and bounds with
new converts joining the church every year.
Because of its location and its origins, the
congregation is predominantly Asian, particularly of
Korean origin.
We got an opportunity to interview the pastor of the
church and some of the worshippers to find more
about this church and the industry. We found out
that the church is headed by Chun-man-Hong, an
American of Korean extraction. Hong told me that
he holds a Bachelor of Science degree in liberal
arts from the Seoul University. Additionally he holds
a certificate of theology from the Methodist
University of Korea as well as a Master of Divinity
drive Madison WI 53717. It conducted its first
fellowship service in this new church on January
6th 1994 and has grown in leaps and bounds with
new converts joining the church every year.
Because of its location and its origins, the
congregation is predominantly Asian, particularly of
Korean origin.
We got an opportunity to interview the pastor of the
church and some of the worshippers to find more
about this church and the industry. We found out
that the church is headed by Chun-man-Hong, an
American of Korean extraction. Hong told me that
he holds a Bachelor of Science degree in liberal
arts from the Seoul University. Additionally he holds
a certificate of theology from the Methodist
University of Korea as well as a Master of Divinity