Much ink has already been spilled about the state and future of the Korean-American church, so I’ll skip the rehash of how we got here. (If you don’t know it, try a google search.) Or this article is a good primer. As an aside, this paragraph is a poignant and powerful reminder and rebuke for me: 

There is much blame put on the first-generation church, and much of it is deserved, but blame alone will not build new churches. You cannot build a church on the rock of what you are against. There are many young pastors who have tried. They may say that they are gospel-centered, but really their ethos and telos are to be unlike their first-generation counterparts.

-Dave Park, pastor of Mosaic Christian Fellowship in Northvale, NJ

Additionally, I’m tired of hearing and reading about complaints and blame disguised as thoughtful or reflective articles, as I am sure you are too. Instead of placing blame (plenty to go around, btw… not just the 1st generation), there is much work to be done. Young people in both 2nd and 3rd gen are facing issues right now; and for 2nd gen adults, life goes on while the blame game is still being played.

So far…

I’ve read numerous articles about the state and future of the Korean-American church. The conclusions (generally – I’m sure there are exceptions I’ve forgotten about) has been either been: 

1. Abandon ship. Stated much more elegantly, tactfully and gently than I am here, the ultimate conclusion is that there is no future, placing blame squarely on 1st Generation leaders and church.
2. Find a way forward. Find a way forward. Stated to encourage, embolden, and give hope for those who are sticking it out and trying to make it work. Unfortunately (and understandably), still short on practical advice and counsel.

I’m in the “find a way forward” camp, but have very little idea of how to start or what the final destination will look like.

So, What First?

The first step would be (obviously) to pray. I assume it is something that has been and is being prayed for, and I also assume that other articles make that assumption (being why it’s never mentioned), but I don’t think it would hurt to explicitly spell it out as the starting point. 

There are a lot of questions, issues, hurts and scars, so a lot to pray for:

• 1st Gen: For humility, understanding, and repentance for the way they’ve hurt (even unintentionally) 2nd Gen pastors, leaders and believers. 
• 2nd Gen: For humility, understanding, and repentance for the way we’ve reacted to the hurt inflicted upon us. For assuming the worst intentions of 1st gen pastors and leaders (even if it is true). I’m reminded of someone telling me: “Just because something is understandable doesn’t make it ok.”
• 3rd Gen: It’s the youngest generation that ends up with the shortest end of the stick as a result of this mess.
• For the future: Wisdom, discernment, humility, knowledge, and understanding. Mutually.

I have no answers. I, like everyone else, am trying to figure out the next steps with as much wisdom and discernment as I can. But what I do know is we must begin with prayer.