Home Missions Director Named

The Board of Trustees of the Christian Reformed Church in North America has appointed and ratified Rev. Moses Chung as the next director of Christian Reformed Home Missions.

He will start May 1, taking over from interim director Ben Vandezande, a veteran CRHM leader who was pleased with the appointment made by the BOT at its meeting in Burlington, Ontario.

"Moses Chung brings to Home Missions a fresh energy and vision for the mission of God in North America and around the world," said Vandezande.

Chung was introduced to the BOT by Michael Talsma, a member of the Home Missions board that made the nomination. “We are beginning a new chapter in Home Missions,” Talsma said.

Chung told the BOT that his dream is for the CRCNA to be a leading voice for mission in North America and around the world. "I really sense that God is at work,” he said, and Home Missions “will play a part in what God is doing in North America today."

He said that a key part of the task is raising up leaders. "I'm just passionate about leadership,” he said, and it is important for the CRC to invest in that. "I understand my personal calling as 'helping the church to be the church' for our generation."

Born in Incheon, South Korea, Chung is married to Eunae and has two children. He is a 1993 graduate of Calvin College, received his M. Div. from Calvin Theological Seminary in Grand Rapids, Mich. in 1999, and is currently working towards a doctorate in ministry and mission leadership at Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California.

In his first pastoral job, he was the minister of discipleship at First CRC of Bellflower, California. From 2003-2007, Chung served as associate pastor at New Life Community Church (Reformed Church in America) in Artesia, California, one of the most ethnically diverse places in North America.

From 2007 until now, Chung has been an associate pastor in Busan, Korea at Sooyoungro Presbyterian Church, which attracts 30,000 worshippers each Sunday. Chung preached regularly and was an executive administrator of a staff of 200. He also was instrumental in helping to develop mission leaders in Korea – a task that he will continue in North America with CRHM.

"God has given me leadership positions and roles that always pushed my thinking and ministry toward helping churches and leaders to be more mission-focused and outward-looking," he states.

As Home Missions' director, Chung will focus on multiplying new churches and campus ministries, cultivating diverse mission-focused leaders, and helping churches discern their place in God's mission.

"I rejoice in what God is doing in North America and the world today," says Chung. "I am convinced that Home Missions, with its long history of being a 'leading prophetic voice and cutting edge' agency in the CRC, has important contributions to make."