John Louk

Salem is experiencing a “re-start,” a new church plant with an existing core of people. Like a new church start, we must focus on the basics: worship, a core group of people, a process to disciple people in the way of Jesus Christ, and multiplication. Worship . When we move into our new location we will finally (after more than two years!) have a place of our own to gather for worship. That means Salem will once again have two worship services on Sunday morning, at 9:00 am and 11:00 am. We are planning on live musicians to lead the singing in our contemporary service. The traditional service will include the piano/organ and choir. As we grow, we will get ready to start a third service at 7:45 am. Our new sanctuary will be a wonderful space in which to worship. Core Group of People . As an existing congregation, Salem already has a core group of people. This is a tremendous blessing and I am extremely grateful for everyone who has kept Salem going over the last two years since the fl...

Salem's leave taking worship service was yesterday afternoon, officially deconsecrating the flooded building downtown as the congregation prepares for the buyout and a new location. Click here and here for the local media stories. Click here for the leave taking service bulletin.

Salem's bell was removed on August 25, 2010 and moved to Salem's new location. Pictures by Mark Minger. Music (Awesome God) performed by Eden's Bridge - The Best of Celtic Praise and Worship.

KCCI reporter Katie Ward interviewed Bishop Julius Trimble on the Cnnference's "You Can Make the World a Better Place...Be Encouraged" effort.

Just before Easter in 2002, Joy and I visited Seoul, Korea. We met with Bishop Sundo Kim, the pastor of the largest Methodist church in the world, Kwanglim Methodist Church. Bishop Kim was appointed to the congregation in 1971. There were 150 members. Over the next 30 years the church grew from 150 to 80,000. To begin with they had no money or resources. But every Wednesday evening became “soul winning” night. They gathered for thirty minutes of Bible study. Then for thirty minutes they went out by twos visiting door to door. At each house they simply talked about God and what they had experienced in their lives. They shared their personal stories. Then for thirty more minutes they gathered back at the church to share testimonies of what had happened that evening. Doing this they grew day by day and built the Kwanglim Methodist Church (20,000 people) and several branch churches (60,000 people). Kwanglim became the largest Methodist church in part because of the many branch churches...

[Recently I was asked to share Salem’s story with the East Central District as a witness of discerning God’s call and beginning new ministry. Of course, most congregations are not thrust into it as Salem was. Still, as God’s people we are always formed and reformed, made over and over again. This is the article I wrote.] How is God at work in our community? How can our church participate in God’s mission to renew creation and usher in the kingdom of God fully? How will God’s Word continue to be spoken and heard in our community? What is the consequence of our praying, “Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven?” These are some of the questions Salem has been asking since the flood of 2008. We looked at a church building that was for sale. We determined to accept the buyout of our downtown property. We considered building on the land that Salem already owns on Blairs Ferry Road. There were many opinions about what we could or should do. We determined we need...

For worship in September we continue in the Season After Pentecost (ordinary time) and return fully to the Revised Common Lectionary. In fact, we will begin reading all four scriptures appointed for each Sunday. Lectionaries are ancient, however, the revitalization of the current lectionary is usually traced back to the Second Vatican Council: "The treasures of the Bible are to be opened up more lavishly, so that richer fare may be provided for the faithful at the table of God’s Word. In this way a more representative portion of the holy Scriptures will be read to the people over a set cycle of years" ( The Documents of Vatican II , Walter Abbott, ed. [Piscataway, N.J.: New Century, 1974], p. 155).   While we will read all four lections, the sermon will usually focus on one or two of the scriptures. Even so, the Holy Spirit will speak to us in all the readings. We gather each week to hear what God says to us.