CUBA CITY—South Korean native Hee-Kwon Jung joins the Cuba City community as the new pastor of Cuba City United Methodist Church.
He and his wife, Sijung Jung, have one son, Jaesung Jung. They come from the So Beautiful Korean UMC in Greenfield to fill the role of former pastor Dan Verdigan at the Cuba City UMC.
Jung has a strong marketing background. He has a bachelor degree in economics from the Sogang University in Seoul, South Korea, and a master of arts degree in economics from UW-Milwaukee. He also obtained a Ph. D. in marketing in management science from UW-Milwaukee before becoming a licensed pastor in Wisconsin. In May, he graduated from Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary. He did his internship at Kenwood UMC, spent two years in lay ministry at a new beginning church in Rapid City, S.D., and was actively involved in many roles at his home church, So Beautiful Korean UMC.
Jung said he grew up in Korea and became a Methodist when he was 6 years old. He sensed an initial call to ministry in high school, but did not pursue it. He completed college and worked for several years before moving to the United States in 1996.
“When I started my doctoral program in business marketing, God called me again, but still I said no and pursued my own way,” Jung said.
He earned his doctorate degree in marketing and taught in college.
“Over the years, God continued to call me and I finally realized that marketing will be perfect when it is not for imperfect products, but it is for perfect good and truth in ministry,” Jung said.
He entered the seminary program in 2012. He said he wants to be the bridge to connect the gaps between the church congregation and God, the community and the world.
Jung stated he plans to contribute to the revival of the Cuba City United Methodist Church by analyzing the church’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats through examining the church’s present status and visioning future direction based on the church’s potential and gifts.
“I will fulfill my church revival by strategic planning, by nurturing the congregation to be awaked spiritually and growing in faith, by reconciling members from conflict and tension,” Jung said.
The Cuba City United Methodist Church, located at 401 S. Main St., holds worship services on Sunday at 9 a.m. from June through August and 10 a.m. September through May. A contemporary service, Wednesday Night Alive, takes place Wednesdays from 6:15-7 p.m. For more information, call 608-744-2538.