Brooklyn Center Korean Church Celebrates Faith, Culture
Brooklyn Center has one of the largest Korean churches in the state. The church serves the northwest metro’s growing Asian population. In Brooklyn Center, 19 percent of the population is of Asian descent.
But the church has been serving the community for more than 40 years.
“We need to have an outlet for people who kind of look like us, which is very important,” said parishioner Jung In-Sup.
Korean Presbyterian church in Brooklyn Center
The church is a place where people can reconnect with their Korean heritage.
“I go to a school where there’s not a lot of Koreans, and it’s nice to be surrounded by people that are like me,” explained teen Sean Oh.
Lauren Bae has been attending the church for 25 years. She moved to the United States from Seoul when she was 8- years old, and she’s now a church leader.
“There used to be two Korean Presbyterian Churches for a while, but they came together as one,” she said.
The place of worship has several ministries that serve different Korean community segments. One service is in the Korean language.
“Our KM (Korean Ministry) is mostly first-generation Korean Americans,” explained Bae.
The other service is in English.
“In the Twin Cities, we are the only church, in a Korean church, that has an English ministry,” said Bae.
And some members of the younger generation, like teen Sean Oh, enjoy the English services.
“It’s hard for me to understand like a fast Korean sermon. So, I can understand while also being part of a Korean community.”
Korean Language and Culture Classes At The Church
There is a Korean language and culture class on Saturdays for people who want to brush up on the language.
Members say the church is a shelter from hatred Asians sometimes face. Recent FBI data shows overall, hate crimes in Minnesota have increased 39 percent from 2020 to 2021.
“It certainly doesn’t protect you, but it is a place where you can feel like you belong,” replied Bae.
Meanwhile, church leaders say they want to be part of the Brooklyn Center community. They have a partnership with the elementary school across the street.
“We have donated school supplies, and we have scholarships, and we’re continually trying to think of ways to partner with our community,” explained Bae.
The house of prayer is a cornerstone of support for immigrants and others who want to experience and celebrate Korea’s rich and diverse culture.
“I believe this ministry needs to be here for the future of our community,” said Bae.
