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Stettler reverend realizes dream of global ministry

There is a new face leading the Stettler United Church.
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Rev. Kwon is joined in Stettler by wife Miran Kyoung and one of his two daughters. (Dennis Dorion photo)

There is a new face leading the Stettler United Church.

Rev. OhWang Kwon took over the pastoral leadership of the church on Sept.1, following a nearly five-year stint as pastor at Knox United Church in Consort, Alta.

“It’s a joy and honour to be invited by this congregation,” said Kwon in a recent interview.

According to Kwon, something drawing him to the Stettler community and the Stettler United Church is that it is a “dynamic, energetic ministry.”

“I’m very inspired to be welcomed by the congregation,” said Kwon.

Kwon will be kept busy in his new role; in addition to duties at the Stettler United Church, he will also be conducting services in Erskine and Big Valley.

According to Kwon, his road to this point has been anything but a straight line.

Rev. Kwon, who also has his doctorate in theology, attended school in both his home, the Republic of Korea, where he specialized in international relations, and in the United States, where he attended Claremont School of Theology for a year before shifting to Claremont Graduate University for several years.

After graduating in 2008, Kwon returned home, still dreaming to become “global minister.”

That dream remained unrealized until 2017 when a Mutual Recognition of Ministry agreement was signed between the United Church of Canada and the Presbyterian Church, Kwon’s home church, in the Republic of Korea.

The agreement allowed Presbyterian ministers from Korea to apply for vacancies in the United Church of Canada, something which Kwon jumped on eagerly.

“I felt, oh, this is for me,” said Kwon.

Kwon began his first Canadian in Consort on Dec. 1, 2017.

In his nearly 14 years serving as an associate minister and minister, Kwon says he has learned a lot, and hopes to apply what he has learned to his new role with passion and enthusiasm.

“I want to do my best to serve my three congregations, and my community as well,” said Kwon.

Kwon is joined in Stettler by his wife, Miran Kyoung, and one of his two daughters; the other attends school in Calgary.

The Stettler United Church held a welcome service for Rev. Kwon and his family on Sept. 11.

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Rev. Kwon greets members of the Stettler congregation. (Dennis Dorion photo)
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Rev. Dr. OhWang Kwon, the new Stettler United Church reverend, and his wife Miran Kyoung, at the welcome service on Sept. 11. (Dennis Dorion photo)


Kevin Sabo

About the Author: Kevin Sabo

I’m Kevin Sabo. I’ve been a resident of the Castor area for the last 12 years and counting, first coming out here in my previous career as an EMT.
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