On the evening of Saturday, October 22, 2022, Rev. Josh Shuster of St. Andrew’s United Methodist Church in Cherry Hill received an unexpected call from his then District Superintendent Hector Burgos. Members of the First Korean Church, now “homeless” after a vote to disaffiliate, were looking for a temporary home.
“He said it would only be for two weeks,” Shuster recalled with a laugh. But two weeks became two months, and it soon became clear that they might be staying long-term.
That congregation would form a new community called Unity in Christ United Methodist Church (한마음교회, or UCC), a name rooted in their desire for connection and belonging. What began as a temporary arrangement evolved into something deeper—a partnership that, over time, would offer both churches a glimpse of God’s kingdom on earth.
“About five months in, I began to realize that something special could happen here,” said Shuster. “One church member told me that this could be an opportunity to inject energy into both congregations.”
For Unity in Christ, this partnership provided much-needed healing and welcome. For St. Andrew’s, it was a reminder of who they were as a church. Shuster reflected on the church’s history, noting that St. Andrew’s has always risen to meet community needs—from its founding in the 1950s to the establishment of a nursery school, and more recently, the creation of Little Hands Little Feet, a program that clothes 1,200 children annually in Camden County and beyond.
A joint board was formed one year after the Korean congregation began worshiping at St. Andrew’s to help manage the shared use of facilities.
“We started with discussions about how to share space, and soon enough, the idea of joint worship services came up,”
Shuster explained. Initially, there was uncertainty, but both congregations’ boards embraced the challenge. “The board was really intentional about being positive about this. They saw the potential and leaned into it.”
Two churches, one homecoming
The two-week arrangement that stretched into two months has now become two years—and on September 8, 2024, the two congregations came together as one worshiping body to celebrate Homecoming Sunday. For St. Andrew’s, it was a homecoming to their missional roots, living out their call to see a need and meet it. For Unity in Christ Church, it was a homecoming to a place that had truly become their spiritual home. Rev. Minho Cho of Unity in Christ and Rev. Josh Shuster of St. Andrew’s collaborated with their respective worship committees to design a service that embodied both congregations’ shared journey, weaving together bilingual, bicultural elements and the unique gifts they each bring.
The service, which drew 166 attendees, began with a welcome from Cho, followed by a sermon from Shuster on the six principles of God’s kingdom that the church lives out on earth: three from UCC and three from St. Andrew’s. Throughout the service, worship elements were shared in both Korean and English, with all aspects of the liturgy displayed bilingually on large screens.
Acolytes from both congregations participated, and the choirs sang hymns in each other’s languages.
The highlight of the service for many was the shared Communion Table. “The beauty of the Kingdom of God was on display,” said Shuster. “There’s something powerful about coming to the table together, even when we don’t speak the same language.”
Cho echoed that sentiment. “Pastor Josh and I have often discussed how our two churches, both part of the United Methodist Church, can better embody connectionalism,” he said. “Through events like this, we are learning what true connectionalism is: it’s more than just sharing resources or doctrine. It’s about welcoming one another and recognizing each other as part of the body of Christ.”
Food that brings us together
After the service, the celebration continued outside with a barbecue lunch. UCC members ran the BBQ stations, grilling up bulgogi alongside St. Andrew’s “smash burgers.” Members from both congregations sat together at every table, sharing laughter and deep conversations.
“It wasn’t UCC here and St. Andrew’s there,” Shuster explained. “Every table was intermingled.” For Shuster, this was a powerful indicator of the strength that comes from diversity. “Homecoming Sunday was almost like Wesley’s grace—at the moment the service ended, we crossed that threshold. Two churches fully surrendered to moving forward in ministry together.”
Cho shared a similar observation, noting how moved he was by the reactions of the congregants. “The response from our members was overwhelmingly positive. One St. Andrew’s member took my hand after the service, with tears in his eyes, and said how profoundly the service had touched him. It was a reminder of what true unity looks like.”
Looking toward the future
The success of Homecoming Sunday sparked conversations about future collaborations. Both Cho and Shuster have expressed a desire to make joint worship services a regular occurrence. They plan to celebrate World Communion Sunday together in October, and the boards of both churches have 
tentatively agreed to hold quarterly joint events moving forward.
“We’re not just doing this because it feels good,” Shuster said. “We’re doing it because this is what it means to be the Church. To see each other as part of the same body, to share in each other’s lives, and to learn from one another. That’s what makes this so powerful.”
“We are learning to be the Church—the body of Christ—together,” Cho said. “That unity comes from Jesus Christ, who breaks down all barriers.”
The journey that began with a phone call in October 2022 has blossomed into a partnership that is transforming both congregations, bringing them closer together in worship, fellowship, and mission. The excitement for the future is contagious, and both pastors are eager to see where God leads them next.
As Shuster puts it, “Diversity can be our greatest strength, and we are in this together.”
For more information on the two congregations, contact the offices of St. Andrew’s UMC (saumcnj.org) or Unity in Christ Church (unityinchristumc.org).