A remarkable story of a Korean-American woman who turned his life around after years of hardship, including living in a homeless shelter, has caught widespread attention.
On January 9, Choi Kwang-ok (63) was officially ordained as a pastor in a special ordination ceremony held at Saesomang Mission Church in LA’s Koreatown, organized by the United Presbyterian Church in America and the Korean Central Presbytery.
Rev. Choi’s journey to becoming a pastor was anything but ordinary. Before her ordination, she spent eight years living in a homeless shelter in Koreatown. Reflecting on her life, she said, “I immigrated to the U.S. in 1991 and ran a hair salon, living a stable life. But nine years ago, I lost everything after three consecutive misfortunes.”
The three incidents she referred to included the forced closure of her hair salon due to redevelopment, the sudden death of her mother, and a fire that destroyed her home overnight.
After losing everything, Choi moved to Indiana to stay with her sister for about a year but found it difficult to adapt. She returned to Los Angeles with nothing but a single bag and her 15-year-old son, who has autism and is non-verbal. Unable to work while caring for her son, she sought refuge at a Korean-run homeless shelter in desperation.
Describing life at the shelter as a “war zone”, she recounted, “I entered the shelter run by Rev. John Kim eight years ago. During that time, I was threatened by other homeless people who said they would report me to immigration authorities because I didn’t have a green card. I was also assaulted, and my glasses were broken.”
Choi faced further hardships, including false accusations of theft and physical altercations while defending himself. Despite the harsh conditions, she worked as a caregiver at the shelter to make ends meet. Rev. Kim, recognizing Choi’s determination to survive, provided unwavering support.
Rev. Kim helped Choi enroll at World Mission University, writing recommendation letters to ensure she could pursue theological studies. Despite living in the shelter, Choi continued his education whenever she had the chance.
While studying theology, Choi began to empathize deeply with marginalized individuals in similar circumstances. This understanding fueled her passion for ministry, leading him to volunteer as a missionary for 12 years, serving the homeless community.
Becoming a pastor had long been Choi’s dream. She shared, “I wanted to help people like my son with disabilities, my father who struggled with gambling addiction, and the addicts and homeless people I met at the shelter. My experiences with them have been a great blessing and will guide me on my path as a pastor.”
Following her ordination, Choi expressed her gratitude, saying, “I am starting a new path with a renewed heart. As a pastor, I want to help more people in need.”
One of the greatest challenges Choi faced on his path to ordination was balancing his responsibilities as a single father while studying in a difficult environment. Despite the violent and unstable atmosphere at the shelter, she persevered.
For Choi, years of hardship were not merely painful memories but essential experiences that prepared her for her ministry to help the marginalized. During the ceremony, she expressed her gratitude to Rev. Kim, saying, “Thanks to your support, I was able to study theology and become a pastor who can now help others.”
In response, Rev. Kim praised Choi’s resilience, saying, “You endured eight tough years in a shelter with strong-willed people. You’ve done a remarkable job.”
Following her ordination, Choi will begin her pastoral ministry at Saesomang Mission Church in LA’s Koreatown, where Rev. Kwon Bo-ra serves as the senior pastor.
BY YOONJAE JUNG, YOUNGNAM KIM [jung.yoonjae@koreadaily.com]
