Key points:
- Los Feliz United Methodist Church has launched new programs and added members, since the arrival of the Rev. Brian Suk-Boo Lee.
- The pastor credits the congregation for affirming its commitment to the church, while members praise Rev. Lee’s emphasis on teaching United Methodist beliefs.
- The church is becoming a multigenerational and multicultural faith center, and members want to expand its evangelism efforts even more.
Los Feliz United Methodist Church, under the leadership of the Rev. Brian Suk-Boo Lee, is experiencing a resurgence following a period of denominational upheaval.
Located in the heart of Los Angeles, the church has found renewed energy through the launch of an English-language ministry, expanded multicultural outreach and the addition of 21 new members.
The turnaround began with the arrival of the Rev. Brian Suk-Boo Lee as senior pastor in July 2023. He was appointed to replace a local pastor, the Rev. Byungok Shin, who had campaigned for Los Feliz to disaffiliate from The United Methodist Church. The change prompted a wave of departures, casting uncertainty over the church’s future.
It was a difficult time, and Lee said the renewal that followed wasn’t solely the result of pastor leadership.
“The congregation’s response has been equally transformative. Faced with crisis, the members rallied, reaffirming their commitment to the church’s future,” he said.
Andy Park, a longtime member, reflected on the congregation’s journey: “After the hardships, there was a wake-up call. Everyone realized the value of a single soul and began treating each other with Christ’s love. Some may not agree, but I believe this crisis was the turning point for our rebirth in Christ’s love.”
With a history dating back over 130 years to its founding on May 20, 1894, Los Feliz United Methodist Church has deep roots in the community. A pivotal chapter began on August 11, 1975, when the Rev. Thomas Dong Hyung Kim established its Korean congregation. This group formally joined The United Methodist Church in 1983 under the leadership of the Rev. Sun Sik Yoon.
The Korean and English-speaking congregations gradually merged, culminating in full integration. In October 1994, the English-speaking members entrusted ownership of the church property to the Korean congregation, marking the church’s evolution into a predominantly Korean-American community.
Since Lee became the church’s sixth senior pastor, the congregation has witnessed renewed spiritual vitality. On April 21, 2024, 21 new members joined the church, and the congregation now stands at 83 members, with worship attendance of 57. In August, the church launched a Wednesday Bible School and a TEE (Theological Education by Extension) program. In November, it inaugurated English-language worship services, signaling a growing commitment to multicultural ministry.
Further extending its outreach, Los Feliz supports four overseas missionaries in alignment with the United Methodist Korean Caucus’s goal of sustaining 140 Global Ministries missionaries worldwide. On May 18, the church will celebrate the 50th anniversary of its Korean congregation with California-Pacific Bishop Dottie Escobedo-Frank as the guest preacher. The service also will mark the blessing of nine new lay leaders.
Many credit the church’s revival to Lee’s deep United Methodist spirituality and theological grounding, coupled with his innovative and integrative pastoral approach. He envisions a congregation in which every member nurtures a personal relationship with God and lives out their faith with the presence of Christ dwelling within them.
“A key source of the church’s spiritual strength is the weekly early morning prayer meeting held every Saturday,” Lee said. He and the church members describe this as a vital time of unity, communal care and spiritual renewal.
Today, Los Feliz is becoming a multigenerational, multicultural worship community. The growth is not just numerical — it represents a spiritual and communal rebirth. Formerly inactive members have returned, many bringing their children, revitalizing Sunday school and creating an intergenerational worship environment.
One returning member shared how witnessing the quiet dedication of her mother and other elder members, who regularly prayed and cleaned the church, stirred her to reengage. Her return, in turn, encouraged a friend to rejoin. Both now actively serve in various ministries.
This period of transformation has also drawn younger members into leadership roles. The two professional volunteers, Sam Lee, the choir director, and his wife, Ellen Eunyong Lee, the church pianist, are such members. Initially invited as a substitute pianist for Rev. Lee’s first worship service, Ellen felt a deep calling to stay and support the struggling congregation.
“When we first came, fewer than 20 elderly people remained, and morale was low,” Ellen recalled. “But we saw how hard they worked to care for the church — we couldn’t just walk away.”
She added, “Now people serve with real joy. My husband works full time but still finds happiness and purpose in leading both the praise team and choir.”
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Longtime member Park recounted how his son, who had previously been disengaged, returned to the church during this difficult period. What began as simply filling a pew quickly turned into active participation in the praise team and the church’s broadcasting ministry. His daughter-in-law also joined the choir, and their child now attends Sunday school — a full-circle family reengagement.
Moo Cho, a member since transferring from Glendale United Methodist Church three and a half years ago, reflected on the pain of the church split and pointed to one root cause: a lack of United Methodism.
“As United Methodists, we need to be educated in our church’s theology and doctrine,” Cho said. “The pain we experienced was partly because that foundation was missing.”
He commended Rev. Lee for diligently teaching United Methodist beliefs and polity. Cho expressed hope that Los Feliz would become a vibrant center for multiethnic ministry, especially among Asian communities.
“This area is home to many minorities. I want to share the joy of Jesus with them,” he said. “I hope our church becomes a faith hub for the Asia-Pacific region and spreads the gospel worldwide through social media.”
That vision is already taking shape. During a recent visit by United Methodist News, a young Taiwanese attendee bid farewell as he prepared to return home. He expressed gratitude in both English and Korean, saying, “This was the best place I could have been. I’ll miss your warm smiles. Thank you for welcoming me in this unfamiliar land. Thanks be to God.”
Los Feliz had not only welcomed this young man but helped guide his faith journey, empowering him to share the gospel back home.
While the church remains rooted in its Korean-American heritage, it is widening its embrace. With outreach efforts focused on nearby Hollywood, the church uses platforms like Facebook and YouTube to connect with broader audiences. Its praise team already includes young adults from various cultural and linguistic backgrounds, enriching the worship experience.
Richard S. Nam, the church’s longest-serving member, has witnessed its evolution since joining as a high school student in 1975. He recalls the challenges of recent years, including the major changes that began a year and a half ago.
“Many people left, but those who remained were determined to protect what our parents and pioneers built over 50 years ago,” Nam shared. “We’ve worshipped God here for so long, how could we walk away?”
Since Rev. Lee’s arrival, Nam says, the church has experienced positive transformation. “Pastor Lee preaches with passion. His sermons are clear and easy to understand, even for those unfamiliar with the Bible.”
Looking ahead, Nam sees the church’s future rooted in its mission to evangelize the diverse Hollywood community. “I believe it was God’s will that we moved to Hollywood 18 years ago. Our hope lies in spreading the gospel here.”
Kim is director of Korean and Asian news at United Methodist Communications. Contact him at 615-742-5470 or [email protected]. To read more United Methodist news, subscribe to the free UM News Digest.
