TG Convocation on August 5-8, 2009 (Wed-Sat)
TransGeneration (TG) Ministry is proud to be holding its 27th Annual Convocation on August 5-8, 2009 (Wed-Sat) in Atlanta, Georgia. It will be hosted by the English Ministry of Korean Church of Atlanta (Senior Pastor James Kim).

In addition, we are glad to be partnering with two new initiatives focusing on ministry for children and college students: Children's Ministry Initiative (CMI) and College Initiative (CI). CMI and CI will be launching their respective ministries with a preconference event on August 3-4 (Mon-Tue) at the same location. If you are involved in college ministry or children's ministry, please strongly consider attending this preconference event. Attendees of CI and CMI will have their TG Convocation registration costs waived.

This year's Convocation theme is "Deeper, Still." We will explore issues and difficulties related to developing spiritual and emotional intimacy and health in our relationship with God, with our family, with our church and our vocation. Central to our exploration will be a focus on Ephesians 3:16-19, that we may be strengthened with power through his Spirit in our inner being, so that Christ may dwell in our hearts through faith, that we may grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ.

Our keynote speaker will be Rev. Dr. Stephen Seamands, professor of Christian Doctrine at Asbury Theological Seminary and an ordained elder in the Kentucky Annual Conference of the UMC with 13 years of pastoral experience. We will also be offering a number of seminars revolving around different aspects of nurturing intimacy with God and in our relationships.

Registration forms are available HERE.
Note: You'll need Adobe Reader to view the file.

Online registration is available HERE.

About Our Speaker
Dr. Seamands was the 2005-2006 recipient of the Excellence in Teaching and Learning Award at Asbury Seminary. His book, Ministry in the Image of God: The Trinitarian Shape of Christian Service (InterVarsity Press, 2005), received the 2006 Christianity Today  Award of Merit for books in the area of church and pastoral leadership.

In addition to teaching and working with seminary students, Dr. Seamands is actively engaged in leading seminars and retreats and conducting spiritual renewal events in local churches across the United States. He has a particular interest in theological and spiritual renewal within the United Methodist church, as well as the larger body of Christ. He also has a deep concern for the spiritual needs of pastors and Christian leaders.

His workshops, The Healing Power of Forgiveness and Overcoming Barriers to Experiencing God’s Love, which he has presented at scores of churches and conferences, have ministered deeply to the brokenness in people’s lives. He is regularly involved in a ministry of healing prayer to seminary students. Dr. Seamands and his wife, Carol, have four children and eight grandchildren.

Further Info
For questions or comments, please contact us at: office@tgministry.org.

TG Internship: Jun 15-Aug 8
Our internship program is designed to give pastor-interns real-world ministry experience in different settings, culminating in a presentation they deliver at our TG Convocation in August. All expenses are paid either by TG Ministry or the hosting church. Internship Orientation is Jun 15-17 in New York City. The Internship Program runs from Jun 17-Aug 4, and those who complete the program will be acknowledged at our annual Convocation from Aug 5-8 in Atlanta, GA.

2009 applications are closed but if you have an interest in ministry, or if you sense some calling from God in your life, or if you simply are interested and would like more information, please contact our Internship Coordinator, Rev. Eumin Kim, at: pastoreumin@hotmail.com for more info. The registration form is available as a PDF file HERE.

PAST NEWS:

TG Intern Testimonial

Brian Kim, a 2006 TG Intern, relates his experiences during his internship at Abundant Life Community of San Diego Korean United Methodist Church:

Early in 2006, as I was talking to my brother about my nonexistent summer plans, he told me to consider ministry opportunities. I thought about it for a second and then again realized my sad financial status as a student. But as I prayed about it, I realized that God was opening up my heart. The following day, Pastor Mark of Morningside Ministry and current TG President, asked me to consider the TG Internship over the summer. He explained to me that it was a pastoral internship where I would get to experience different pastoral duties. As someone who felt a calling into ministry, but was unsure of what direction God wanted to take him, I applied.

The internship began in Washington DC with the orientation. There I met my fellow interns along with Pastor Eumin, our beloved Internship Coordinator. It was during this time that we got to meet different people who were involved with the program along with an overview of our various roles. We also got to spend time worshipping together and just talking about many different things. On top of that we got to taste the fine cuisine of the DC area, perhaps eating more than was healthy. As we heard lectures, went through Bible studies and devotionals, my heart was slowly warming to the internship.

I was placed in Los Angeles at Community Church on Holliston under Pastor Sam Park. During my time there I got to experience many different aspects of ministry. I got to experience their children’s ministry, youth ministry, college ministry, small group ministry, children’s ministry, outreach ministry along with the administrative side of all these different ministries. And though I was only officially serving under one pastor, the different pastors that were a part of CCH, along with the members of the congregation, served as my mentors.

Through my experiences on this internship, I learned a lot. I came to the internship as someone who has already had a wealth of experience serving in different ministries. But I was never challenged as much as I was during this internship. I found myself out of my comfort zone for much of the time and more than anything, I found myself without excuses. I was in a place I had never been before without any familiar faces I could depend on. I also had none of the familiar meetings, small groups and events that I depended on before. During this time I was able to learn what it meant to depend on God alone. For the first time, I felt like I was able to take my faith seriously. I sought after God passionately in prayer and scripture and really waited upon Him to speak to me.

As I think back to my time during the internship, I can see in hindsight how God has used those experiences in my current ministry setting. I am also confident as I move forward in ministry, that my experiences during this internship will prove invaluable.

New Executive Team Organized
During the Friday plenary session of our 2007 TG Convocation, our new Executive Team for TG Ministry was nominated and elected to its two-year term. Pics and bios of the new team can be found on our Staff page. We pray God's blessing of love and wisdom be upon them, and ask for your prayers on their behalf.

TG Convocation on August 1-4, 2007 (Wed-Sat)

TG (Trans-Generation) Ministry’s 26th Annual Convocation was held on August 1-4, 2007 at Arcola KUMC in Paramus, NJ. It was hosted by Trinity Christian Fellowship, the EM ministry of Arcola KUMC, now called Arcola Covenant Community.

The 2007 Convocation was a Spirit-filled gathering of clergy and laity from across the nation. Our hearts were stirred by powerful times of worship led by Pastor Matthew Na, lead pastor of Arcola Covenant Community, and a praise band comprising members from different local churches.

Our souls were challenged by transforming messages from our keynote speaker, Reverend Dr. Minho Song, senior pastor of Young Nak Presbyterian Church of Toronto. As a former EM pastor at Young Nak Presbyterian Church of Toronto, a professor at Tyndale Seminary for seven years, and OMF missionary and professor in the Philippines for four years, Dr. Song was well equipped to speak to a 2nd generation Korean-American audience about God’s heart for world missions. Among other topics, he spoke about the church’s need to fulfill all three of its identities – as the Bride of Christ, as the Body of Christ, as the People of God – but many churches fulfill only the first two. If the image of the church is as a hospital, then its purpose is to heal sick people and make them a pure bride of Christ. If the image of the church is as a family, then its purpose is to proclaim both the unity and universality of the body of Christ. But the church’s tendency is to stop there and not fulfill its third identity. If the image of the church is as a sent people, as an apostolic group, then its purpose is to be sent into the world as the people of God. Or, as Dr. Song would later put it, “Mission is not an option. It’s a part of the church’s DNA.”

A variety of seminars also were offered as times of connection, learning and growth: seminars on fostering better communication between 1st and 2nd generation clergy and on effective preaching by Dr. Song, a seminar on connecting to God’s mission in the UMC using resources such as the GBGM by Pastors Evelyn and Terence Eberle, a seminar on the heart of missions by Pastor Arnold Oh, a seminar examining the soul of Christian servant leadership by Pastor JP Hong, a seminar on cross-cultural understandings of ministry by Pastor Eumin Kim, and a training seminar for new pastors by Pastor Mark Kim.

At the plenary session, held every two years during the Convocation, it was decided that TG's Board would be dissolved and that the Executive Team be empowered to create a new governing structure for approval by the 2009 plenary session. Under the proposed structure, TG’s Convocation and Internship program would be considered two out of four or five ministries, all different in focus but equal in standing, and guided by an overseeing council. Other ministries include a possible connection with Youth Initiative, and the start of a College Initiative.

As always, the highlight of our 2007 Convocation was the banquet on Friday evening. It was a time to celebrate TG’s continuing mission to empower, equip, and serve local congregations in the development of English Ministries. Participants were able to foster relationships, support one another and develop a common sense of mission. The banquet closed with a free lesson in salsa dancing provided by two wonderful, local instructors. Needless to say, everyone enjoyed the time tremendously!

All in all, it was a wonderful, God-centered time of spiritual growth and fellowship. Our thanks go to Pastor Matthew Na and the members of Arcola Covenant Community as gracious hosts, and to Rev. Myung Hoon Ahn, senior pastor of Arcola KUMC, and the rest of Arcola KUMC’s congregation for their tremendous support. We look forward to next year’s Convocation held on Aug. 6-9, 2008 and hosted by Living Grace Ministry (KUMC of Ann Arbor) in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Our keynote speaker is Dr. Douglas Strong and the theme will be on committing to healthy covenantal relationships. Until then, to God alone be the glory!
** ** ** ** Photos of previous convocations can be found in our album. For more information about TG Ministry, contact our president, Pastor Mark Kim, at president@tgministry.org

Rev. Dr. Minho Song and TG Exec Team