It's been raining since dawn with strong winds (as of 4/4/25), and I'm in the office on the church's second floor. I've spent a lot of time here, forgetting about the rest of the world. Why am I in this space, and why do I have to stay here? I asked myself this question and thought over and over again.

I have been a pastor for over 30 years. I've been pastoring solo for 17 years. Looking back, it's not a short time. Other than my home, the church is the place I have stayed the longest. I planted and served an immigrant church. Most immigrant churches rent local churches or use public spaces like community centers. Of course, 10-15% of churches have their own building. In this situation, I am blessed to have an office in the church building.

I believe that there are basically three charging stations that are needed to sustain the ministry. The first is a spiritual charging station for spirituality. Due to limited space, we have two hours of prayer in the chapel from 6:00-8:00 (Tuesday-Friday). It is a time of communication where we pray to the Lord, who hears every prayer and petition, and hears His voice speaking to us, and it is recharging.

The second place is home, a place of rest. Last December, by God's great grace, we moved into a new house. I think it would be a testimony to talk about this process. Home is a refuge, a sanctuary, and a recharging place for the mind and body. When I am especially tired, I can lie down on the carpeted floor with my back stretched out for a while and feel rested and at peace. How good it is to have a home where I can find relaxation without having to go through anything.

The third place is the shepherding room (office), which is only for me. Although I have limited use according to the contract, it is actually a power plant for the ministry that I can use at any time during the week. It's where I read the Bible, study, meditate, and organize. For work, I'm in the church parsonage from 10:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (Wed-Fri). I do a variety of things. He organizes and handles church administration, meets with church members, outside guests, and evangelistic targets. But most of my time is spent preparing sermons.

Thursday mornings are especially important. This is when the first draft of the sermon, which has been prepared through research on Tuesday and Wednesday, is written. I don't have any meetings during this time. In short, it is the most important and prioritized time. The second draft is done on Friday, and the final breakdown is done on Saturday morning. For me, the shepherding room is a charging station and power plant for my ministry of perfecting the saints. That's where I write these short columns. I hope the Lord is watching.

To summarize, I have three homes. I have a house of worship where my soul lives and breathes, a house of rest where my body rests, and a shepherd's cottage where I do ministry. It is the shepherd's cottage where your own universe unfolds to fulfill your mission.

Translated with DeepL.com (free version)