The Casto Connection: Hope Community Church

After almost 3 years (we're 2 weeks shy), today was our last day at Hope. Trent has faithfully led the English-speaking Congregation in many ways. He has put together the service every Sunday, including writing and preaching the sermon and leading the worship service each week. He has also led a small group for our church at various homes on various topics. He's met with others one-on-one, answered questions, preached at shelters throughout downtown St. Louis, conducted a funeral service and some other things. I am truly amazed he was able to do this while being a full-time student. The Korean & English congregations of this church have treated us with love and shown us grace. We have many fond memories from this time. But now we are moving on from this church. We are not sure what the next year will look like or what we'll be doing after graduation in May. We have ideas, but they take us in different directions. For now, we are deciding where we'll go to church next week. We will simply be members of a congregation. Trent does have a new job that he starts soon, but I think I'll save that for another post.

A few times, we would attend the Korean service at our church after our English service was over. The head pastor of the Korean congregation asked us to come to the Korean service today so he could announce our leaving. After the sermon, he called us forward. Him asking us to come forward was the only English he spoke in the service. While the 3 of us were standing up front, the pastor spoke from the pulpit in Korean for a little bit, turned to us, bowed, then looked at Trent, smiled and pointed towards the pulpit. After Trent realized he was wanting him to say something, he walked up to the mic, paused and spoke poignantly. In other words, Trent had to speak after the head pastor, but had no clue what he had said. We then bowed a few more times and left Hope.

Here's some photos showing some of our time at Hope:

Trent putting up the English Ministry sign