Editor's note: The Sierra Norte District in Quito, Ecuador, organized the South America (SAM) Region's first Korean Church of the Nazarene in February with about 20 attending the worship services. The congregation's pastor, Pastor Kan Joon Young, leads the congregation through Internet preaching from Seoúl, Korea, where he is a student at Korea Nazarene University. Engage takes a look at this fully self-supported church through the following interview with Rev. Hernan Puga, district superintendent in Quito, Rev. Kan Joon Young and several church members.

Engage:  Korean First Church of the Nazarene is a new congregation in Quito. What has brought these people to Ecuador?

Rev. Puga: Most church members said they came to Ecuador for their children's education and economic reasons.

Engage:  Is Quito also home to some other groups of nationalities besides Korean?

Rev. Puga: Many immigrants come from different parts of the world, especially from China, Perú, Colombia and countries in the Middle East.

Engage:  Where were they worshipping before they formed this congregation?  Were they Nazarenes already?

Rev. Puga: Most members attended at different denominations.  Only one of them belonged to the Church of the Nazarene in Korea. Some families started services in their homes.  After one and a half years they met  me.  After a process, the church was organized as the Tierra Hermosa ("Beautiful Land") Church of the Nazarene.

Engage: How was Pastor Kang Joon Young brought into leadership for this congregation?

Rev. Puga:  At the beginning he came as a pastor´s assistant to the Antioquia Church, ¨Yeo Yi Do.¨ He started to guide this church because Ecuador seemed atractive to him. He is working on his master's degree at the Korea Nazarene University.  While studying he must continue to live in Korea.

Engage:  Does he plan to move to Ecuador in the future?

Rev. Puga:  He would like to move right now, however he is obeying God´s will, step by step, to accomplish his ministerial education.

Engage: What is involved with leading a congregation long distance like this? How does he preach differently when preaching over the Internet? 

Rev. Puga:  Pastor Young said even though they faced several difficulties, the church has kept well because from the beginning,  they, pastor and members, started services in united agreement.  He preaches the sermon through video-conference using some programs like MNS.  Both sides are projected on the screen.



Pastor Kan Joon Young:  I thank the Lord who gives us protection.  I see all people at the church, meanwhile they see me preaching.  It is not a very comfortable way to preach--by Internet--as it would be in person. However, I praise the Lord I am able to serve Him in this way.  Through different messenger programs, or phone conferences, we are able to communicate with each other, discussing and making decisions about church concerns. It is not an easy task to lead a worship service by Internet.  This is why we celebrate them on the last week of my visits to Ecuador.  There are leaders who lead the congregation when I am not there; they communicate the news to me.  Despite the long distance, I participate in most events at the church.  With the exception of Sunday worship services, pre-assigned guides lead all other services.

Engage: For members of the congregation, what is it like to be led and hear preaching from a pastor located so far away? What do you think about utilizing the Internet for your services?

Sister Kim Mi Su: To have a service by Internet is a blessing.  When we have connection problems, I realize how much I need to worship the Lord.

Sister Kang Ji Seak: It is very clear that a worship service (in which the pastor is present in person)  is different to one done by Internet, but I enjoy it.  I enjoy and thank the Lord I can worship Him with expectation.

Brother Lee Jae Seak:  In our days, the worship service by Internet is very common in Korea.

Brother Oh Tea Jong: The worship service is not as complete and comfortable as it would be hearing a sermon in (person); however, I am very grateful because it is the way the Lord has given to us to do it.

Sister Byen Young Sun:  We grow spiritually because of the unity between the pastor and the faithful believers.

Sister Lee Dami:  At the beginning,  I was not able to adjust to the Internet system. But then, I learned to appreciate it more.

Engage: In what language do they worship?

Rev. Puga: The Korean language is the language spoken. This brings some difficulties since the children are born in Ecuador and attend local schools, so Spanish is their main and fluent language.

Engage: What traditions or worship customs have these members brought from home and incorporated into their services?

Rev. Puga: They have an open service with some strict customs, conservative, but at the same time flexible. They keep Korean customs: men are separated from women without affecting their relationship.


The newly organized church enjoys fellowship over a meal.

Engage: Are they trying to connect with other Korean churches in Korea in some way?

Rev. Puga: They are trying to connect with the Church of the Nazarene in Korea. Before now they did not have a dynamic relationship; however, they are planning some projects through the cooperation of many churches. Even though it is not an easy plan, they are projecting to organize short mission trips Ecuador-Korea-Ecuador.

Engage:  How will your church relate to the rest of the district, whose church members primarily speak Spanish?  And how will the other churches on the district relate to this new congregation?

Pastor Kan Joon Young:  As a pastor, I am not prepared with the (Spanish) language. In the future, after learning it, I will act as an active participant in the Church of the Nazarene in Ecuador, and I expect to be part of the district in the same way other churches are.  It is obvious that the Korean residents will be my priority.

Engage:  As leader of a newly organized church, what do you see as your mission in your community? As a church, how do you plan to make Christlike disciples in the nations?

Pastor Kan Joon Young: As a church in this world we know that our mission is to save souls. With this objective in mind, we will look for tasks God has called us to do. Mainly we will work among Korean residents in the community. I believe our responsibility is to serve to all people, and we want to start in Ecuador and Latinoamérica.

-- Rev. Hernán Puga is district superintendent in Quito, Ecuador, and pastor at the Monte Sinai Church. He is also the Ecuador, Colombia and Venezuela evangelism and JESUS Film coordinator, as well as the Ecuador Theological Seminary Board President. He often speaks at churches, schools, and universities, and conducts leadership training nationally and internationally. He is married to Nancy and they have two daughters: Valeria and Evelyn.