Caleb Luk - Church Visit #3

Church name: Church of the Beloved

Church address: 375 East Chicago Ave., Chicago, IL

Date attended: November 1, 2015

Church category: Different ethnic or racial demographic (Asian-American)

Describe the worship service you attended. How was it similar to or different from your regular context?

The worship service was held in the Northwestern School of Law, Thorne Auditorium. The church seemed to be composed of mainly young adults and college age students. A majority seemed to be composed of Asian descent, but there were people of other races as well. The worship was led by a worship band. There were people of various races and both genders represented within the band. We also sang in Korean (or attempted to) a popular contemporary song. Pastor David Choi’s sermon was based on a few verses in Ruth, but rather than exegeting on the text, the focus was on the Gospel and how it ties in with our lives. Communion was served at the end, intinction styled.

What did you find most interesting or appealing about the worship service?

Pastor Choi’s focus on the Gospel was very much a great thing to see. Perhaps it is because the congregation is composed mostly of young adults who are in an urban professional setting, but Pastor Choi’s sermons remind me a bit of Tim Keller, in that the examples drawn and used are from popular sources and events that the general public knows well. The baby dedications and person who came to faith, both instances demonstrated the solid support of the church as well as those who were close to them. After communion, there was a time of prayer, and Pastor Choi asked that the congregation pray for him, that he continues to believe the Gospel and to live it out every day. To have a pastor ask the church to keep him in prayer is an act of humility.

What did you find most disorienting or challenging about the worship service?

Perhaps having to attempt to sing in Korean was a bit of a challenge for me. Many times, I feel extremely bad for singing in another language that I don’t know, simply because I realize I am botching the pronunciation of the words and not having the ability to share the language in its unique beauty. However, having the ability to listen to others sing was a blessing. Even though I did not know the language well, the willingness of the congregation and worship band to try helped me to do my best in following along with the English phonetic translation.  

What aspects of Scripture or theology did the worship service illuminate for you that you had not perceived as clearly in your regular context?

Seeing that the Church is a place that welcomes non-Christians and recent believers was evident. Having the close friends of a recent convert to Christ lay their hands upon her and pray for her was an example in which the service demonstrated that the congregation was composed of some recent believers. Having members of the congregation to stand up and verbally vow to help the families of the children dedicated demonstrated that the church was not simply a place of formalities, but rather a genuine community. To hear how connected the congregation was with each other was amazing. The sermon that Pastor Choi gave probably was the biggest evidence in this. In many churches, the sermon is usually based on a theme that the speaker hopes to pass to the congregation, themes such as rest, kindness, hope, etc. Pastor Choi focuses on the Gospel in his preaching. At times, it drew away from the text, but having shared the Gospel throughout the message, not only are the believers strengthened and encouraged, but those who are non-believers are left with hoping to know more about the faith. The words that Pastor Choi uses, convey the Gospel in a way that non-believers will understand.