Pastor Sean Lee was ordained to the ministry at Southview Church in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on Sabbath, Nov. 17.
“Sean has been working toward ordination for several years, and it was with great pleasure that we held the ordination service for him,” said Elder Justin Lyons, Minnesota Conference president. “The service signifies the church’s recognition of the call God has already placed on his life.”
Tim Denniston, Southview Church’s first elder, presented Lee’s history; Lyons preached the sermon and offered a special ordination prayer; and Elder Brian Mungandi, vice president for administration, gave the ordination charge and presented Lee with his ordination certificate.
Journey shaped by a call
Pastor Lee was born and raised in South Korea, and thanks to the careful tutelage and prayers of his mother, was baptized in 1993 in his home church.
While attending an Adventist academy, Lee learned more about Jesus. A friend introduced him to a King’s Heralds album from 1961, and Lee’s spiritual journey was reshaped. He fell in love with Christian music, which sparked his involvement in religious activities.
During his senior year in high school, Lee felt God calling him to be a pastor. He attended the Adventist university in Seoul, South Korea, and when he graduated he joined full time ministry singing first tenor for the Golden Angel Singers of the Northern Asia Pacific Division.
Lee immigrated to the United States in 2006 and began pastoral ministry at the Baltimore Korean Adventist Church in Maryland. While serving there he met his wife, Helen Kim. They married in 2009 while Helen completed her degree in dentistry.
Lee completed his Master of Divinity degree at Andrews University, then accepted a call to the Santa Maria Korean Church in California. After a few years he moved back to Michigan to serve as pastor of Andrews Korean Church. While pastoring there, he also completed a Master of Business Administration degree from Andrews University.
Lee was called to the Minnesota Conference in 2015 to serve as associate pastor for Southview Church and associate youth director for Young Adult Ministries at the conference.
In 2018, Lee was asked to serve as senior pastor for Southview Church. “I am excited to serve in this role with the church ministry leaders,” said Lee. “I feel blessed because I can see the willingness of church leadership and the desire of the congregation to serve their community.”
In addition to leading the Southview Church, Lee loves to play and have fun with his two sons, Nathan and Joseph. He enjoys singing and producing music. He also enjoys serving his community as a police chaplain with the Minneapolis Police Department.
Photo: Courtesy of Southview Adventist Church
