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Church History 

 
 
 

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  • On August 7, 1994, Providence Korean UMC and Immanuel Korean UMC united as the “Zion KUMC.” Zion KUMC presided over its first worship with 115 members in the Ashbury UMC located at 143 Ann Mary Brown Dr. Warwick, RI. Reverend Dr. Jung Sun Oh was the first pastor.

  • From November 6, 1994, to December 26, 1999, Zion KUMC shared ministry with Ashbury UMC.

  • During his pastoral ministry, Reverend Jungsun Oh visited Cambodia for missionary work.

  • From December 26, 1999, to June 15, 2015, Zion KUMC has shared ministry with Hillsgrove UMC at 35 Kilvert St, Warwick, RI.  In June 2015, Hillsgrove UMC relocated to Providence, RI, and changed its name to Open Table of Christ.

  • On July 2001 Reverend Jungsun, outgoing / Reverend Dr. Hyuk Seonwoo was the second pastor.

  • In 2009-2010, the playground was built with improvements made in the following 2 years.

  • In July 2011, Reverend Hyuk Seonwoo held weekly Tai Chi classes, a Chinese martial art, for the community.

  • On July 15, 2015, upon advisement of the District Superintendent of the Rhode Island/ Southeastern Mass (RISEM) District of the UMC, the Open Table of Christ (OTC) UMC transferred the property to Zion KUMC. Clarice Gothberg (OTC), William Aldrich (OTC), Pastor Sunmin Cho (OTC) and Pastor Hyuk Seonwoo (Zion KUMC), and Board of Trustees member Choong Lee (Zion KUMC), accompanied by lawyer Thomas Hemmendinger, signed, and registered the transfer in Warwick City Hall. The Zion KUMC Board of Trustees received all rights of the Hillsgrove’s property.

  • Starting in 2015, several major maintenance projects were completed including the roof replacement, repairing of water leaking into the building, building wall crack repair, and parking lot replacement.

  • In 2018, the Yale Institute of Sacred Music (ISM) annual conference to explore sacred music, worship, and the arts.

  • In 2018, they received honorable awards from the Rhode Island State Council of Churches (RISCC) for their leadership in the UMC, RISCC, and Zion KUMC communities.

  • In 2019, Reverend Hyuk Seonwoo outgoing (Trinity Methodist Church in Martha’s Vineyard, MA) / Reverend Dr. Yohan Go is the third pastor. 

  • In 2020 Opened a free music school in connection with the Creative Calling Project hosted by Boston University School of Theology

  • In 2021, the Hymn recording project to help small churches online worship

  • In April 2022 Korean Cultural Experience Day by inviting Korean adoptee sons and their families to Rhode Island in connection with Brown University Korean Adoptee Mentoring Program (KAMP)

Year-Round Ministry

  • Provided a Korean language school in partnership with Rhode Island Korean School.

  • Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) meetings have been held in the church every week.

  • Participate in Project Outreach for families in need in connection with Open Table UMC.

  • Continue ministry to help the homeless by volunteering with the House of Hope CDC.

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