A couple months ago, the new class of five lead pastor residents started working at several of the Mars Hill churches in our Lead Pastor Residency Program. Under their respective local church lead pastors, they are learning about what it means to pastor a church long-term. We wanted to introduce three of them to you.
Ed Choi
Mars Hill Federal Way
What’s your story?
I have been married to Kathryn for over 18 years and we have 4 children. Their names are Titus (17), Faythe (16), Emily (12) and Christian (10).
Well, here’s my story. I was born in South Korea and, when I was 5 years old, our family immigrated to the States (CA).
My parents where not Christians then, but they attended a Korean Reform Church in order to connect with other Korean immigrates. When I was 8, a Sunday school teacher lead me to Jesus Christ and I was born again. But it wasn’t until the age of 17 during a Christian youth summer camp that I sensed a calling into the ministry.
After speaking and praying with my youth pastor about my sense of calling into the ministry he encouraged me to serve at the church as an intern and look into attending a Christian college.
After high school, I attended Biola, a Christian university in Southern California, and after graduation I got my M. DIV at the Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary. While in college and in seminary I served as a youth, college, and young adult pastor at various Korean Churches. After 12 years of ministry I sensed a calling to the military as a chaplain.
In 2001, I was commissioned as an Army chaplain and have served over 12 years. I have been deployed twice to Iraq and once to Afghan since 9/11. During my second combat deployment in Iraq, I served with the hardest hit unit since Vietnam and today I’m considered to be the most deployed chaplain in the Army.
How’d you know you were called into ministry?
After returning from my third deployment last year, my wife and I sensed God’s calling out of the Army and toward serving at a local church. After much prayer and searching I applied to the Lead Pastor Residency program for Mars Hill and by the goodness of God I’m here today. I look forward to serving Jesus’ church through Mars Hill.
What’s something you learned in your first couple weeks of residency?
One thing I’ve learned already since coming onboard as a Lead Pastor Resident is how high the calling of being a pastor at Mars Hill is. I have always understood that the calling to be a pastor is important but Mars Hill does a great job in creating a culture for the people of Mars Hill to honor and love their pastors. It’s truly an honor and humbling to be an LPR.
What’s a fun fact about you or your family?
One fun fact about me is I like country-gospel music, I guess because I was born in the “south,” South Korea.
Pastor Aaron Gray
Mars Hill Federal Way
What’s your story?
My parents were saved when I was 3 years old, so my dad learned to read the Bible for the first time as he read me the picture Bible as a child. I was raised in the church and became a Christian at a very young age. In some ways, I have that “boring testimony” that Pastor Mark has spoken of wanting his kids to have. However, my story is also one that is marked by pride. Over and over, God has revealed his grace to me by allowing me to see that I’m unfortunately like the older brother in the story of the prodigal son—self assured, prideful, and trusting in my own good works. It’s only by God’s grace that I’m saved, the same as anyone with a more “scandalous” testimony.
How’d you know you were called into ministry?
When I was a kid, my dad began serving as an unpaid pastor at our church and has been in some form of ministry ever since. One of the things I’m most grateful for is just how much ministry my father included me in. By the time I was 21, I was leading worship, preaching, and leading leaders at the church plant that my family was involved in. I don’t have one specific moment, like Moses at the burning bush, where I knew that God had called me into the ministry. It’s just something that God has built into my DNA since I was very young.
What’s something you learned in your first couple weeks of residency?
At one of our residency trainings, Pastor Dave Bruskas highlighted how important it is for us as pastors to ensure that the people in our care are saved. I know that this may sound simple, but the way that he put it really struck me. In Federal Way, where I serve as a pastor, there are many people who are familiar with the gospel story and who consider themselves to be Christians, but who have never personally walked with Jesus. This thought has now grabbed me afresh, that God has called us all—all Christians!—to pursue and love the people in our lives so that they may become Christians.
What’s a fun fact about you or your family?
My wife is also named Erin (spelled differently), but she mostly goes by Erin Lynn or just Lynn. This makes for some interesting phone calls around the house. We dated for all four years of high school and got married at 18 years old. We recently celebrated our 12th wedding anniversary. Other than salvation, my wife has been the most amazing gift I have ever received from God. We have four daughters together: Mackenzie (8), Delaney (7), Reagan (4) and Hadley (10 months).
In between Delaney and Reagan, God brought a teenage girl named Tristen into our family. Her family was going through a rough season, and she needed a place to stay for the weekend (or so we thought). Tristen ended up living as part of our family for four years. Tristen is now twenty-one, she loves Jesus, is married to a godly man, and recently became a mother herself. It was challenging to parent someone who was only 10 years younger than myself, but God used it to not only to change Tristen’s life, but mine and Erin Lynn’s as well.
Tim Birdwell
Mars Hill Portland
What’s your story?
I am married to a beautiful lady named Jaya. We have two kids, 1 year old and 4 years old, who are a ton of fun and keep us on our toes. My wife and I got married right out of college, I went to seminary, and then we moved to Austin, Texas, in 2009 to plant a church where I was an associate pastor. It was the hardest, but most rewarding experience of my life. We loved that church and were super sad to leave, but felt a strong call from God to join his work at Mars Hill. We are excited to serve with Mars Hill Portland, and we hope to move back to Texas to plant a Mars Hill Church there.
How’d you know you were called into ministry?
I went to Romania on a mission trip when I was 20 years old. Even though my faith was feeble and my walk was lacking, God used me to lead someone to Jesus while I was there. The fact that I was even on a trip like this was amazing and the fact that God used me as an instrument to transform a life was mind-blowing. After this experience, God made it clear that I needed to devote my life to His redemptive work, in and through the local church.
What’s something you learned in your first couple weeks of residency?
I’ve learned how important it is to invest in people. Jesus has given us the great privilege of participating in his mission, and his mission involves people. It can be easy to get caught up in theological debates, event planning, and even putting on a great Sunday service, but if we don’t invest in people and point them to Jesus, we’ll miss out on all that he wants to accomplish for his glory and our good.
What’s a fun fact about you or your family?
I live the tough life of a Dallas Cowboys fan, love Tex-Mex, and enjoy taking spontaneous excursions with the family.
The 2013 Lead Pastor Residency Program application process is closed. If you are interested in applying for the 2014 program, please email residency@marshill.com and when applications reopen we will let you know.
