Dear Trinity family,

It brings me great joy to announce that Reverend Sam Park has been appointed to Trinity! Sam comes to us from Bethany of Fox Valley United Methodist Church in Aurora. 

Last Sunday, the members of the Staff Parish Relations Committee had a wonderful visit with Sam and his family. Sam’s wife, Haena, works as a dental technician. Haena and Sam have two children. Their daughter, Hanuri is a senior in high school and this fall will be attending Boston University to study child psychology. Their son, Channuri, will be a junior in high school next year. Channuri hopes to study science in college and enjoys playing the cello and tennis.

From the first introduction, it was evident that Sam brings a contagious energy and genuine excitement for ministry. His passion for serving the community and nurturing spiritual growth within others is so inspiring. From his early ministry in Korea with those who have special needs to his work within the University of Illinois Medical Center in Chicago, Sam served in two intense settings where he daily provided pastoral care. For the last fourteen years, Sam has been a senior pastor in two different United Methodist churches. To quote Sam, he shared: “every experience in my life has formed my own faith and guided a spiritual journey through God’s unwavering love and unique call to become an inspirational preacher, visionary leader, and pastoral caregiver to the church and its community.”   

Read more about Pastor Sam, his ministry, and family here.

Nine years ago when he was first appointed to Bethany of Fox Valley UMC, Sam took over a church that was very close to closing its doors. Instead, one project at a time, he led the members to grow the church into the thriving congregation they are today. On Sam’s current church’s website, it states that Bethany UMC is a “Welcoming, Reconciling, Missional Community”. Everything we learned from Reverend Park during our SPRC meeting speaks to Bethany United Methodist Church’s outreach and Sam’s leadership. Here are a few examples from Sam’s current church that might feel familiar to our missional outreach here at Trinity as well. Bethany UMC has been a reconciling congregation for the past nine years of Pastor Sam’s ministry and hosts Rainbow Faith outreach events for the LGBTQIA+ community. His church has a partnership with a local elementary school very similar to Trinity’s partnership with District 59. This year Rev. Park’s church collected $1,500 during an Ash Wednesday offering to fund a school supply donation drive. Bethany of Fox Valley hosts a Spanish speaking congregation that partners with their church in very similar ways that we here at Trinity open our doors to the Sammool congregation. In talking about the many ways that Sam and his current church outreach to the community, he told our SPRC members that it’s not enough to open the church doors here . . . we need to be out in the community sharing God’s love. Sam’s dedication to fostering an inclusive and welcoming environment aligns perfectly with the values that define our church family here at Trinity.

In these next few months, we will be busy as a church. District Superintendent Brittany Isaac gave us this baton to symbolize the smooth transition from Wendy to Sam – a transition that will be made even smoother with all of your support. As we prepare for the baton to be passed, there will be ways we will support Wendy and celebrate her wonderful time here. There will also be opportunities to give Sam and Haena and their family the huge Trinity welcome for which we are known. We will let you know if there are any needs we have here or at the parsonage as we prepare for the Parks to join Trinity on July 1st. During the late summer and early fall, the SPRC will host events to provide opportunities for us to meet and connect with Sam and his family on a personal level – opportunities to witness firsthand the passion and dedication they all bring to their lives and will bring to our ministry together here at Trinity. 

The members of the Staff Parish Relations Committee believe that Sam is a perfect missional match for our needs at Trinity and that he will be instrumental in growing our current programs and ministry, as well as being a catalyst for new ones as well. As we embark on this new chapter together, let us embrace this moment with anticipation and excitement for our journey with God and each other that lies ahead. 

In Christ,
Scott Reed
Staff Parish Relations Committee Chairperson
Trinity United Methodist Church