Soon after its founding, the English-speaking ministry, which had begun as the youth group, began to graduate to college and then to the working world. Compelled by the need for an English Ministry to serve Korean-American young adults, "Light and Salt" was formed in 1987 with help from the lay leadership of Dr. Hyun Kim. The purpose was to provide this new emerging group a Christian environment where they could become light and salt to the world.

Though this group continued to grow in number, the ministry remained inwardly focused on the spiritual needs of English speaking Korean American young adults. Things really started taking shape under the leadership of David Gibbons who cast a vision to build leaders to impact the world. By establishing discipleship groups to grow lay leaders and plugging congregants into various ministry areas according to their individual gifts and desires, Pastor Gibbons provided both the vision and opportunity for our members to serve within the church as well as outside its walls, including overseas short-term missions trips. He cultivated many leaders, some of whom continue to serve as our deacons and lay leaders and others who have left to become missionaries or plant their own ministries.

Eventually the Lord called David Gibbons to leave Bethel and plant a church in California. In December of 1994, Timothy Park became the new head pastor for the English Ministry. Coincidentally, this was also the time that we witnessed an explosive growth in the number of married couples in the church. As to be expected these married couples were transforming themselves into families. The Lord has blessed this congregation with an abundance of children that necessitated the creation of the children's ministry.

Not only did the demographics change, the English Ministry also was reorganized; consisting of college students, young single adults and married couples and families. As the members of the church grew older, they became better equipped to handle more of the responsibility of governing church affairs. Eventually, the Session (Korean Ministry Board of Elders) recognized the English Ministry’s ability to oversee its own operations and granted them functional autonomy. During this time we confirmed our first deacons and soon after a diaconal board was formed.

Pastor Park envisioned an autonomous second-generation church, with its own elders, partnering with the first generation congregation in kingdom work. But before the vision of autonomy could be realized, God called Pastor Park to serve at a church in Atlanta.

God called Billy Park to serve as our senior pastor. With a vision for theologically-pure ministry, Pastor Billy emphasized reformed teaching and preaching and Christ-centered worship. The focus on doctrine and adult Christian education refined and deepened the biblical understanding and knowledge of lifelong Christians as well as enlightening new believers to the true message of the Gospel.

In 2002, Kenny Ye was called to serve as the college pastor and proved to be a much needed and steadfast support and shepherd for the congregation in the absence of a senior pastor after Pastor Billy’s departure the following year.

Although it was a difficult year without a senior pastor, in retrospect, it’s clear how even that period was part of God’s plan to grow and shape the ministry. The deacons, lay leaders and members who remained solidified their commitment to the church and took more ownership and initiative to keep the ministry going. God was gracious in providing Won Jae Lee who served faithfully as interim pastor. Then God in His perfect timing brought Walter Lee who answered the call and has been serving as our senior pastor since 2005.

Learning from our history and building on God’s work and faithfulness, we are ready and wanting to become the mature, healthy church God intended.