RUMC Welcomes it's new pastor!
Courtesy of The Herald and Reporter Margaret Downing
Rockton has a new pastor and his family, Seonghyun Choi (first name pronounced “Sung”). Choi, who is a native of Busan, South Korea (formerly known as Pusan), says, “I’m excited to be the new pastor at Rockton United Methodist Church. Before moving here, my family and I lived in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, where I’ve been a full-time graduate student at the University of North Carolina. I’m currently finishing my Ph.D. in Religious Studies, focusing on the Hebrew Bible and ancient Jewish texts known as the Dead Sea Scrolls. I’ve also taught college classes and worked closely with students, which I’ve found incredibly meaningful.
“As I near the end of my doctoral program, my wife and I began thinking about the kind of place we’d want to live, raise our children, and serve in ministry. We were especially drawn to northern Illinois because of the United Methodist Church’s strong emphasis on openness and inclusivity (welcoming all, loving all, and serving all!)--values that mean a lot to us.
“The United Methodist Church also practices what’s called ‘itinerancy,’ which means pastors are appointed to serve different churches as needs and opportunities arise. This summer, I was appointed to Rockton UMC, and we felt right away that this was a community we’d be glad to call home.
“While I love research and teaching, what I care about most is being with people—serving the church and the wider community, building relationships, and walking through life with others, whether they consider themselves religious or not.
“I’m here with my wife and our two daughters—Seohee, who’s a rising 8th grader at Stephen Mack Middle School, and Junia, who’s a rising 5th grader at the Whitman Post school. They’re both playful, curious, and always ready to explore something new. As a family, we enjoy movie nights, board games, walking local trails, and discover new places to eat!
“We’re excited to be settling into Rockton and looking forward to getting to know our neighbors, becoming part of the life of the town, and learning what makes this community special.”
Some background provided by Pastor Choi includes ministry experience: “Republic of Korea Air Force, South Korea Military Chaplain |2006–2011; Provided pastoral care to military personnel and their families; led suicide prevention and resilience programs, Huam Baekhap Korean Evangelical Holiness Church, Seoul, South Korea; Director of Sunday School & Elder Outreach, 2003 to 2006; coordinated intergenerational outreach and children’s giving campaigns.
“Modern languages: Korean (native), English (proficient), Hebrew (intermediate), German (reading knowledge). Biblical and Ancient Languages: Hebrew…Aramaic, Syriac, Greek, Latin, and Coptic.”
“Education: Ph.D. Candidate, Religious Studies, UNC Chapel Hill M.A.R., Hebrew Bible Yale Divinity School, 2018 M.T.S., New Testament Vanderbilt Divinity School, 2015 M. Div. Seoul Theological Seminary, 2006 B.A., Theology Seoul Theological University, 2003 and background in Bible teaching, education leadership for all ages, music integration in worship, intercultural ministry and pastoral care, flexibility and adaptability in diverse roles and settings.”
The family will be celebrating South Korea’s National Liberation Day in August, which is the day in 1945 that Korea achieved independence (August 15), marking the end of Japan's 35-years of colonial rule. The liberation dates back to 1945 when the country received liberation from Japanese occupation when Japan surrendered to Allied forces in World War II. The day is celebrated as National Liberation Day of Korea, also known as “Gwangbokjeol” in South Korea, meaning "Restoration of Light Day"
Welcome pastor!
