Leadership can be demanding. Personalities don’t always mesh. Conflict and confusion, even hurt feelings, can result from minor disagreements.

But Pastor Peter Choi was committed to overcoming obstacles, both due to his own leadership style and to the styles of others. Because he and his congregation working together to serve the greater community through love and Christian actions was a vision that he was determined to see come to fruition.

In this week’s spotlight, we’re sharing Peter’s story of how he and his team were able to bring about vital, positive change in both the community and in how they worked together.

Serving through Love and Christian Actions

Participating in the Creating a Culture of Renewal® program gave me a deeper understanding of our church leadership—and of myself. Using the DiSC® assessment, I was able to see how different leadership styles shape how people respond to ministry, decisions, and change.

Conflict is inevitable in ministry. Whether we like it or not, it’s always present when working with people. In the past, I’ve felt uncertainty when people disagreed with plans or pushed back against new ideas. But now, instead of reacting with uncertainty or anxiety, I’ve learned to respond with understanding. Each person brings a different style, a different story. Whether they support or oppose our efforts, I remind myself they are still my brothers and sisters in Christ. That truth has brought me surprising peace and helped me work more effectively with others to craft our vision to serve our community through love and Christian Actions.

We see a future for our community filled with Christ’s love, where people share lives, encourage one another, and find companionship. To achieve this, we actively engage in our ministry programs, serving and encouraging our community through various initiatives.

To fulfill this vision, we first focus on our spiritual growth. We offer spirit-filled worship services, numerous Sunday schools for all ages, weekday morning devotion, and Bible studies to help our spiritual growth. Additionally, we have significantly updated our facility to serve our church members and the community. One of the changes is the establishment of a warm and modern-style church café, which serves as a convenient meeting and fellowship place throughout the week. Furthermore, we organize regular lunch fellowship events for our community members monthly.

We expanded our food pantry ministry to include both daytime and night shifts. This expansion allows us to serve those who may not be able to come during the day due to their work commitments. Through God’s grace and the unwavering commitment of our church, we were able to purchase a food truck and establish a mobile food pantry in our community. We have over 40 families relying on our food pantry each week.

The success of this wonderful God’s ministry is a testament to the power of teamwork. Numerous volunteers, including both church members and community volunteers, work closely together as a united front. Their collective efforts have made a positive impact on both our church ministry and the broader community.

Working Together and Listening to Others

When we formulated our vision statement, we carefully considered both biblical and cultural factors. This was crucial for us to work collaboratively and to invite everyone to be a part of this process. This rationale inadvertently included all church members, as I had to intentionally consider their biblical and cultural backgrounds, which streamlined our vision alignment process.

As 1 Corinthians 9:19-23 emphasizes, it is commendable to consider others’ perspectives and circumstances. While we may not always have the answers to their differing viewpoints, I have found that they appreciate our willingness to listen and care for them. This process was essential and has yielded significant positive outcomes. We believe that this is necessary for our community, and it aligns with God’s desire for us to serve our community by providing essential ministry projects and programs that bless non-believers.

Through prayer and spiritual growth, the Lord had prepared me and our leaders to face conflicts, meet emotionally sensitive individuals, and find comfort in the affirmation of God’s presence. Ultimately, I remain at peace regardless of the obstacles I encounter in my ministry.

Collaborating with Community

Once we created the vision, it took months to build alignment for it. We engaged in extensive sharing, discussion, and listening to ensure everyone was on the same page. We also dedicated time to praying together for God’s presence to guide our ministry vision and goals.

For almost a month, I intentionally shared this vision in my sermons, explaining its significance and the steps we need to take to fulfill God’s plan for our ministries. To reach diverse generations within the community, we also included young college students in our vision team. This provided an excellent opportunity for our congregation to grasp God’s will and understand the reason behind our focus on this divine vision in our ministry.

One of the challenges we faced was finding volunteers who were willing to dedicate themselves to executing the vision together. It was particularly difficult to find the right person in the right place. However, we didn’t give up; we kept trying and praying for God’s guidance. We also witnessed the Lord’s daily addition of His people to our church ministry. By God’s grace and the prayers of many church members, we continue to receive new visitors and members to bless God’s ministry at Fishersville United Methodist Church. We excitedly look forward to the future of our ministry and the plan that God has for us.

We’ve experienced many blessings from God through our ministry as we engage with the community.

Through the Creating a Culture of Renewal® program, I have personally grown as I had numerous opportunities to reflect on my own challenges and spiritual barriers. I prayed for God’s guidance and encouragement, and I am experiencing this growth in my ministry setting. For instance, in the past, I’d get frustrated when I didn’t have enough support. I can now move on, focus on my responsibilities, and listen to what church members have to say more closely. I have developed greater empathy and compassion to help us all grow together to do ministry as a team.

I am grateful for this opportunity to grow and serve God’s church in His way. And, working together, we’ve truly served through love and Christian actions throughout our community. I am also humbled and deeply grateful to Rebekah and her staff for the opportunity to participate Creating a Culture of Renewal. I am also thankful for the wonderful support from FUMC members and the Virginia Annual Conference. God’s grace has been instrumental in all of these blessings. 

Our Call to Serve with Love

As Rev. Choi’s vision took shape, he became more and more dedicated to the call to serve with love, despite any stumbling blocks he encountered along the way. And serve he did, feeding the hungry in his community, day and night on a weekly basis.

We’re all called to serve as his church and community did, but the obstacles before us sometimes just seem insurmountable.

That’s where Creating a Culture of Renewal®, my proven and effective clergy leadership program, comes in. We offer a free interactive seminar, How Christian Ministries are Achieving Success, during which you’ll learn why Peter Choi credits his journey through this empowering program with much of the success of his leadership and vision.

Register here and start the journey toward your own vision fulfilled!

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