For Calvary Korean United Methodist Church in East Brunswick, 2025 is a year of celebration, vision, and revival. The church got its start fifty years ago as a church plant at a time when the Korean population in Central New Jersey was still small. While driving through East Brunswick, a North Jersey pastor—who served a community of Koreans commuting into Manhattan—heard God’s voice, saying that this was the place God had prepared. Thankfully, that pastor listened.
To this day, Calvary Korean UMC makes a practice of listening carefully to how God is calling them into the future. When senior pastor Rev. Jung Ung Moon was appointed to the church in 2022, the congregation was at a pivotal moment keenly feeling the weight of both the COVID-19 pandemic and denominational division. The church —once the fastest-growing Korean UMC in the United States— had seen a significant drop in weekly worship attendance, from 1000 to 300 people.
In this time of uncertainty, Rev. Moon led church leaders in prayerful discernment about what to do next. Again, God spoke, directing them to Jesus’ vision: “Go into all the world and proclaim the good news to the whole creation,” (Mark 16:15). While Calvary Korean had been blessed with great facilities and, for much of its history, large numbers in worship and successful programs, leaders now sensed a distinct call to a new focus: mission.
With continued prayer, a concrete vision began to take shape. First, United Methodism’s strong connectionalism aligned with the renewed mission focus, affirming the UMC as the church’s denominational home. Second, the number “300” —the average weekly attendance at the time—gained a new meaning. The Holy Spirit made a connection for Rev. Moon between 300 worshipers and Gideon’s 300-man army (Judges 7) who, though far fewer in number than Gideon’s original troops, were just the people God used to deliver the Israelites from the Midianites. For Rev. Moon, the army metaphor also describes how each part of the church is trained to do its part and work together as a team.
From there, leaders discerned a goal: to have three hundred members participate in mission. Incredibly, that goal was achieved just a year later, in 2023. Again, leaders turned to God in prayer. Rev. Moon and his team considered shifting their focus toward growing worship attendance, perhaps with the goal of 500, 800, or even 1000 worshipers. But when they prayed, they sensed God telling them this idea was grounded more in a desire for personal accomplishment than in pursuit of God’s vision for them. Once again, God put the number “300” before them as central to their ongoing vision.
Now, the goal of “300 mission” – the shorthand Calvary Korean uses to name their vision – is to build and support 300 churches and missionaries in three key ways: 1) through church planting, 2) by supporting missionaries and 3) by supporting small churches. 
Already, the church has planted eight new churches in Cuba, the Dominican Republic, and Mexico, supports ten Global Ministries missionaries, and helps a number of smaller congregations. And although increasing church membership is not the focal point of the church’s vision, it has certainly been a fruit of renewed commitment to God’s mission: approximately 600 in now gather for worship each week.
With all its history, holy listening, and hope, Calvary Korean certainly has much to celebrate in 2025. But, as Rev. Moon says, “This is the 50th year but it is also the first year for God’s vision,” recalling the abiding truth that, as Christians, we worship a God who is always doing a new thing.
Each month this year, the church has marked its anniversary in special ways, including a three-day revival featuring guest preachers on the theme, “We find our vision in the Bible,” and an anniversary kickoff worship service in February. The climax of the celebrations, though, are just around the corner this month with four events that highlight the church’s hospitality, worship life, culture:
- Sunday, September 21, 11am: Homecoming Sunday Worship
This service will welcome new families and those who have been away from church for a while. During the service, the church will hold a book dedication ceremony on its history. Special music will include a cello performance and a song by the Joo Sarang Ensemble. - Saturday, September 27, 9am-3pm: Korean Bazaar
The second event will be a Korean Bazaar, open to the whole community. Clothing, Korean food, and household goods will be sold, and proceeds will go toward serving the church and local community. A special highlight will be performances by the Korean music and worship group “Deullio” at 10 AM, 12 PM, and 2 PM, sharing Korean culture and Christian faith. - Sunday, September 28: Special Worship Service feat. Korean-style Music
Korean-style instruments will join together in praise of God. - Wednesday, October 1 – Thursday, October 2: Korean United Methodist Pastors’ Conference
This gathering will bring together Korean pastors from across the U.S. for fellowship and ministry discussions. It is the largest gathering of Korean pastors in the United States, with about 200 clergy and lay leaders attending from across the nation. On Wednesday, October 1 at 7:00 PM, a special 50th Anniversary Celebration Service will be held in the main sanctuary. On the opening day, our Bishop Cynthia Moore-Koikoi will graciously deliver the welcome address.
For the past 50 years, Calvary Korean UMC has walked with the community as a place of faith and hope. Calvary Korean UMC warmly invites the Greater New Jersey United Methodist family to join them in these celebrations. In the word of Rev. Moon, “We confess that we have come this far only by God’s grace. In the years ahead, Calvary Church will continue to serve the community and the world with the Gospel and love of Christ.” Through these celebrations, the church seeks to remember God’s blessings and renew its vision for the future.