Name Change to “GaJOK”
Hello everyone! Pastor Jane here.
I hope this finds you well in the midst of quarantine as we all transition into our new normals for the fall in the midst of COVID-19. Whether or not you have been at this church for a long time or are just starting to become a part of our family, we just want to welcome you and invite you in. Thanks for tuning in and joining this message.
I am writing to announce a big transition for our college and young adult ministry.
In the midst of a small but deep revival and re-structuring of our community last year, we have been transitioning into a multi-generational english-speaking ministry with youth and adult age-groups. After a little over one year, we can finally say that this move has proven to be exactly what our church needed for spiritual life and growth. Our youth no longer have to be chased out of church upon turning 18, and our english-speaking multi-ethnic community has finally been able to have a home in North Boston. Families can worship together, adults can do life together, and youth or college students can grow spiritually together in their stage of life while having the ready accessibility of guidance and mentorship through brothers and sisters that look out for them and have been in their shoes before.
Through our transition into being multi-generational, we have grown so much by God’s grace, guidance, and providence.
COVID-19 has no doubt been the greatest test of faith our generation has ever seen. However, it has also been a season of sowing and growing for our community. Through much prayer and discussion, some members of leadership have been able to talk more about the future of our community and have come to realize the limiting nature of naming our adult meetings by life stage (college, young adult, etc). We want to continue in the spirit of intergenerational unity while making adequate space for both college and young adults in our congregation. (It’s important to note that previously, our main meeting was loosely called “college group,” but it is no longer a fitting word for the community, since we are well-mixed between college students and young adults.)
Therefore, we have decided to change the name of our college/ya group community to (Ga)JOK, or 가JOK.
The meaning of this name is that it is both an acronym and a Korean word. First, it is an acronym, J.O.K., which stands for Join our Koinonia, or Join our Koin. It is also derived from the Korean word for “family,” which is “gajok.” The characters “Ga” and “Jok” have their own meanings within the word; “Ga” or “가” means “home”, and “Jok” or “족” means “tribe” or “people.” In the distinction of Ga or home, we are nodding to the very nature of our community, as a spiritual home for all who enter in.
As we grow multi-ethnic and multi-generational, we nod to the Korean spiritual heritage of our church while welcoming people of all walks and backgrounds to Join Our Koinonia.
As we become increasingly multiethnic and multi-generational, we nod to the Korean spiritual heritage of our church as we continue to grow by God’s guidance and welcome everyone of all walks, backgrounds, and ethnicities to Join Our Koinonia (GaJOK).
Much thought and prayer has been sown into this name, and with it, a vision for the future of our ministry. The vision and focus of the community has been organically woven into the name. We seek to be a church that can be a home to all who enter in, be it for one week or for many years. We believe in the cruciality and the sanctity of koinonia, or fellowship, as described in Acts 2:42-47. At the same time, we hold to the work of God’s faithfulness in our lives and in our church by nodding to our spiritual heritage in being a part of the Korean church. In this, we hope to be better tethered to the congregations in our church and to, by God’s will and power, transcend cultural and linguistic barriers to meet in the middle and exist together as a Body in Christ.
Our collective english speaking ministry will be still be called NB #ENGLISH, or NBEC.
It’s important to note that our collective english speaking ministry will be still be called NB #ENGLISH, or NB EC. The distinction is that the communities have their own space as Youth, GaJOK and Family Groups respectively.
This is a big move. And while it speaks to how faithful God has been, we need prayer more than ever.
Would you pray with us?
Here are our prayer requests as our GaJOK continues to bloom:
discernment in the continuing growth of this ministry,
faith to trust in God,
and most importantly, submission to the will of God for our church.
On a final note, I just want to say thank you for being a part of our family. Every single one of you are so important to this family, and I am so honored to be able to run this race with you all. I am so excited to announce this change. But at the end of the day, it is not because of me or another person that we are able to be a family together— it is all because of GOD. Thank you Jesus. All glory to God for the wisdom and discernment to write out this name. All glory be to God, now and forevermore.
And now: welcome home to our GaJOK. Thanks for being you and being with us together. Blessings to you all.
Love,
Janedo
