by CONNIE TABBERT
Editor
COBDEN — A retirement celebration was held to honour of Rev. James Min Sunday evening at Grace United Church in Cobden.
The evening included hymns, musical entertainment, poetry, presentations and memories recalled by various people.
Rev. Min has been the minister at Grace United Church, and the former Queens Line United Church, since 2007. Last November, he agreed to be minister at St. Andrew’s United Church in Westmeath.
However, prior to his arrival, Rev. Min went through many trials and tribulations, good times and bad. But, through it all, he never once lost his belief and faith in God.
Following the tributes, Rev. Min took to the podium. When he finished, there weren’t many people who had not shed a tear or two.
“First and foremost, I thank God for His unlimited grace and blessings bestowed upon me and my family during my 35 years of ministry,” he said. “From my childhood days, God gave me a dream to be a preacher who would be able to preach the gospel message even to the people of different cultures and languages.
“But the path to pursue my life dream was rather rugged and steep,” Rev. Min recalled. “More often than not, my ethnic background and my upbringing caused me to falter in my journey of seeking ministry opportunities.
“However, it was you, Cobden-Queen’s Line Pastoral Charge, and St. Andrew’s United Church in Westmeath, who have received me as one of your own for our Lord’s pastoral ministry, without questioning who and where I came from,” he continued.
“Your words of encouragement, your friendship, and your unreserved hospitality, and most of all your faithful participation to the weekly worship services, all of these have made it possible for me to serve the Lord according to my life dream.
“I thank the Lord for all your love and prayers for me and my family,” Rev. Min said, adding, “Maybe they are too good for me to think about going anywhere even after the retirement. So, I decided to stay put for a while even after tonight.”
The congregations of Grace United Church in Cobden and St. Andrew’s United Church in Westmeath each asked Rev. Min to remain as their pastor for the next year – and he agreed. In the United Church of Canada bylaws, a minister must retire at age 70, which Rev. Min reached on Dec. 5, 2015. However, he can be asked to remain as the parish minister on a yearly basis.
Throughout the two-hour celebration, Rob McKenzie emceed the event keeping everything running smoothly.
Bonnie McLaughlin recalled special moments when her father Henry died. She also spoke briefly about how important family is to Rev. Min and his wife Hester. Whenever there’s a birth of a grandchild or the impending visit of family, the congregation knows about it. When there are children in church, Rev. Min seeks them out and using whatever he can find nearby, whether a candle, flower, or maybe a book, he takes the time to teach a lesson about God’s love.
ConnieTabbert recalled interviewing Rev. Min and wife Hester about coming to be the minister for Queens Line United Church (which closed in 2013) and Grace United Church in Cobden for a story in the Cobden Sun. She then had to do a second interview, because her reporter’s notebook could not be found.
She also spoke about special moments during her wedding ceremony to Tim Tabbert.
“I believe my marriage remains strong because of a special blessing you gave Tim and I while kneeling with us,” she recalled.
Ms. Tabbert also presented Rev. Min with a family photo from the congregation of Grace United Church. During the morning service, she presented Rev. Min with an engraved pocket-watch and display case from the Grace United Church Women. Ted Richardson, chairman of Session, presented Rev. Min with a framed photo of Grace United Church, which was also from the congregation.
Nora Odette from St. Andrew’s United Church noted that while Rev. Min has only been their minister since last November, they have all come to know and love him.
She recalled hearing about Rev. Min having to leave his wife Hester and Brian, their 40-day-old child, behind in Korea 41 years ago as he immigrated to Canada to attend Bible College in Prince Edward Island.
And then, when Hester and Brian joined them, it wasn’t his father the young boy cried out for, but his grandmother back in Korea.
However, life went on and today, Hester and Rev. Min are the parents of four children and grandparents to 10.
“This morning, joy and pride was in his voice when he stated that 35 years ago when he was ordained, he never envisioned being blessed with the opportunity to share a church service with his children, one about to be ordained and another in a seminary, studying to become a minister,” Ms. Odette said.
She noted that Rev. Lillian Pak (his daughter) gave the morning message at St. Andrew’s and Grace united churches.
Rev. Min and Hester were then each presented with a bouquet of flowers from the two congregations.
Rev. Paul McLenaghan, retired, spoke on behalf of the Whitewater Ministerial Association, and then presented him with a token of their appreciation.
Ms. Tabbert and Susan Gilchrist presented Mrs. Min with a vase of cut flowers and a hanging basket of flowers on behalf of the United Church Women and the church choir.
Ms. Min’s brother Sun-Hong Lee from Korea performed several musical pieces on his bamboo clarinet and an ocarina.
His son Brian spoke during the evening service; while son William sang a hymn while strumming his guitar at the morning church service and gave the reading and message at the evening service.
It was no surprise to anyone when Rev. Min addressed his family in his podium address.
“First of all, to Hester, my beautiful wife,” he said. “When I proposed, you hesitated to say yes, not because I was neither handsomer than other guys nor a man from a prestigious background.
“You hesitated to say yes because I said I would become a church minister.
“Apparently, to become a minister’s wife was the last thing you would have considered for your marriage. However, somehow you reluctantly accepted my proposal. And, when you did so, you committed your whole being – your mind, your spirit and your body to those of mine,” Rev. Min said, adding, “And you pledged everything of yourself to support me so that I might be able to pursue my life dream to become one of God’s servants in ministry.”
When Rev. Min left to attend bible college, Hester did not stop him. And, once arriving in Canada, she was like a parent to him as he furthered his education over 12 years, preparing him meals and spending many sleepless nights typing his homework papers.
Once ordained, he served a variety of congregations, moving here and there, and Hester and his children were right there beside him each time.
“Hester, I am standing before you in the presence of our proud four children and their families, and my dear Christian brothers and sisters, to say this to you, like a runner after the race.
“Hester, my proud wife, I am retiring now. Thank you for being such a wise and spirit-filled minister’s wife for me. Even though you were reluctant to be a minister’s wife, I don’t think there will be anyone else who could be as great as you are in making a minister’s wife,” Rev. Min said. “You have been not only a wonderful minister’s wife, but also a wonderful mother and grandmother to all of our children and grandchildren. You are just awesome to them all.”
Mrs. Min could be seen wiping tears from her cheeks.
As for his children, Rev. Min spoke fondly of them, recalling each of them as they grew up.
“Indeed, you have become the vessels of God’s blessings and rewards my Lord has bestowed upon me again and again.
“Whenever I faced some sort of challenge in my work of ministry, there was always one of you who would turn to be a great encouragement and comfort for me by achieving something great in your life,” Rev. Min said, adding, “You have not only become thriving in your lives, but also in establishing your homes on the foundation of Christian faith. Whenever I saw you, you are working diligently to raise your children in the Christian faith. It gives me a sense of comfort and compliment more than anything else.”
In closing the night’s celebration, Rev. Min thanked each of the parishioners who attended the event, as well as special guests who had travelled from afar.
He then invited everyone to a social time in the church’s community hall.
