shepherdesses
JENNIFER HAN
My family and I started attending Christ Central in the winter of 2017 when Jimmy accepted the call to serve as the Pastor of Family and Small Groups. It was a major change as we left our previous church that we helped start and was a part of for 15 years. However, this new community has not only received us, but loved us and has become our new home and family. It has become the focus of both Jimmy and my life now as we meet with couples and lead small groups.
I grew up attending church for most of my life but a transformative growth in my own faith didn’t take place until after I got married. Yes, you can call me a late bloomer. I never thought in my wildest dream that I would marry a pastor but here I am. Jimmy and I just celebrated our 22nd anniversary and that, too, is by the loving grace of God. We have two growing children, Josh (17) and Elizabeth (15).
My story is really about discovering and growing in the knowledge of God, who is amazingly gracious, kind, and loving toward me in the midst of my sinful tendencies, brokenness, and a deep need for him. God used our marriage to help reveal all that was going on in my heart even though I was mostly unaware. I can be notorious in my high expectations for others and Jimmy was no exception. I quickly discovered how our marriage was not what I had imagined it to be. In my sinfulness I allowed my husband, other people’s approval, and even my children to become idols in my life and I grew extremely insecure and unhappy. Throughout the span of almost 18 years, I lacked the awareness of my own need to grow but instead was on a mission to change my husband and a circumstance that caused me much despair.
In 2019, by God’s relentless pursuit and through an in-depth study of God’s word with a mentor and counselor I met, I rediscovered God in the most personal and intimate way. “He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also along with him graciously give us all things?” Romans 8:32 changed my view of God and my life forever. With much gratitude I am excited to serve and grow with Christ Central in this new season and chapter of my life.
SONIA JOO
I am a Southern California native. I am married to my husband, Daekeun, and am a mom to my three sons: Sean (18), Dillon (15) and Toby (12). Currently, I am a stay-at-home mom. Previously, I taught kindergarten and first grade in California and Ohio before resigning from my position to stay at home with our children while my husband was doing his medical training.
My parents are believers and have raised me in a Christian household from my infancy. I didn’t actually place my faith in Christ until I was 12 years old. I remember hearing the gospel message delivered in a whole, cohesive manner for the first time at that age and it stayed with me. In college, I experienced strong spiritual growth at a very liberal school. It was a very unlikely set up for drawing near to God. But God can do anything! He can save and grow you no matter where you are.
For me, becoming a parent could be compared to taking out my heart and wearing it on my sleeve, where it can’t be hidden. I felt a frightening range of emotions and insecurities and saw dark sides to myself that I never knew before. God revealed to me more of my true self and I was deeply humbled and left with very little, if anything, to prove myself to Him. Though I was saved by Christ alone at the age of 12, here I was as an adult, still shedding layers of self-reliance and self-righteousness. God knows everything about me and yet He still keeps his promise to love me and to continue to transform me into His likeness.
Being able to rely solely on Jesus’ life, death and resurrection for my own salvation and righteousness before God has given me tremendous freedom and joy to live as fully as I can for God’s kingdom. I am far from perfect, but I don’t have to be, because Jesus is. One of the ways I love to serve Him is in the Children’s ministry as a preschool teacher.
deaconesses
ANGELA HWANG
I was born in Korea and immigrated to sunny Southern California when I was 7 years old. Both of my parents came from christian households and so they raised me and my siblings in a Christian environment. Between learning from all the stories in the bible and memorizing bible verses, I “knew” that I was a sinner and needed Christ as my Lord and Savior and I had this deep conviction that God was real but it was only when I grew older, around 6th grade, that I felt the gravity of what it meant to be a sinner; to turn away from sin; and follow after Christ. From then on, God has been refining me piece by piece by revealing all the idols that occupy the throne of my heart.
In my undergraduate studies at UC Berkeley, I grew in my hunger for His Word and also my love for Christ. In particular, God revealed to me something that I had been clinging onto so dearly - and that was family. For a long time, my loyalty to my family had become so central to my identity that it had replaced God in my heart. If you were to ask my siblings, Kristy and Sam, they would tell you the lengths I would go to keep my parents happy and keep my family together. By His grace, through lots of tears and prayers, I learned to let this go. It was only when I was able to truly lay my family down at His feet that I learned to love my family on a deeper level.
It was also in college where I met Phil, my loving husband of 11 years! Crazy! He basically followed me to grad school all the way to New York and after our 4 years there, we moved back to California to finish my residency training.
We’ve been attending CCSC since 2014, since we moved back from New York. We have been so humbled and blessed by the community here at CCSC. I could not have imagined having to go through two pregnancies in the midst of residency if it weren’t for the prayers of my small group and community here. Even now, as I continue to navigate being a physician, a wife, and a mom to two wonderful children, Caleb (5) and Janelle (4), I feel so supported and encouraged by a community that lives and breathes the gospel into my life when I need it the most.
ARLENE LEE
I was born and raised in SoCal and was brought up in the church thanks to my parents that faithfully lived by example. Like many church kids, I had faith that I was saved by the blood of Christ who died for me. But for many years, I admittedly lived as a passive Christian. It wasn't until I returned from college, broken and unfulfilled, that I felt God's unfailing, loving, embrace despite my iniquities. Returning back to church, I publicly confirmed my love and faith for Jesus and tapped into a loving community after joining a small group. Immediately, I felt the transforming power of the Holy Spirit working in me and my life has never been the same!
I am happily married to my best friend, James, and I'm a proud mom to my Pokemon Trainer, Olivia (9), and my baseball fanatic, Bennett (7). Over the years, I've had the privilege to serve at CCSC in various (behind-the-scenes) ways like small groups, women's ministry and my personal favorite, picking up trash after service while listening to praise music! I am so thankful for these opportunities to serve and humbly pray that His life and love be my continued guide to love, care and serve others with all glory to God.
SHARON MYUNG
I grew up in the church. My uncle was a pastor, and he planted a church when I was 3. My parents and my 2 brothers along with my many aunts, uncles, and cousins were the first of members. One of my earliest memories is watching all the preparations the night before the first worship.
Growing up in the church, I witnessed countless acts of service and sacrifice and love for Christ, the gospel, and the church. I may not have fully understood the why at times, but I continued to gain a deeper understanding. I don’t have a singular moment of coming to Christ but rather a consistent revelation of Christ’s love in my life. With each revelation I became more aware of how broken and undeserving and unworthy I am to receive God’s love.
I am thankful each day because God loves a sinner like me. And then I recall the witnesses of service and sacrifice and love for Christ and His church and I am humbled. Out of a heart of overwhelming thanks and love to our Savior, I hope to glorify Him by loving and serving our church to further His kingdom.
JENNIFER YO
I was born and raised in Glendale to a loving household. One side of my family was Buddhist and the other Christian. I grew up being exposed to 2 different ways of life. I've witnessed members of my family accepting Christ and their lives being transformed and relationships restored. God's grace, mercy, and power of the gospel has been evident throughout my life.
I am grateful and blessed to be wife to David, mom to our 2 sons, Zeke (11) and Aaron (9). God abundantly gives and He also takes away.
Before my dad's passing to cancer in 2016, my parents moved in with us so that the transition of his absence would be as smooth as possible. God gave us wisdom and the compassion to serve and care for our parents in their greatest time of need.
Through the highs and lows of my life journey, Christ Central has been such a pillar to our family. I'm a firm believer that God provides sustenance in ways unimaginable. I'm excited to see God work in our community at Christ Central and serve alongside you. May I forever be used for His glory alone.