A Bilingual Congregation on Brecksville Road
Korean Central Presbyterian Church of Cleveland sits on Brecksville Road in Brecksville, Ohio, in the stretch of suburbs between Cleveland and Akron that defines much of Northeast Ohio. The building has long hosted a Korean-speaking congregation, and alongside it a growing English Ministry, often shortened to KCPC EM. The English Ministry describes itself as "an open and welcoming church for Northeast Ohio," and the church is affiliated with the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), governed by the denomination's Book of Order and Book of Confessions. The English Ministry is led by its own pastor and runs its own Sunday service, small groups, and outreach partnerships, while sharing the building and some programs with the wider Korean congregation.
Sunday Worship in the Vision Center
English Ministry worship happens every Sunday at 11:15 AM in the Vision Center, a worship room on the lower level of the building near the west side entrance, positioned toward the rear of the parking lot. Services run in a hybrid format that has been in place for some time, with members able to attend in person or join through a Zoom link from home. Each service is livestreamed on the church's YouTube channel, and recordings of recent Sundays stay posted for anyone catching up later.
Parking is in the main lot off Brecksville Road, with additional space available across the street at Brecksville Commons when the church lot fills up. A rides spreadsheet circulates among members each week so that anyone needing a ride can connect with someone already driving in. Dress ranges from casual to semi-formal, and newcomers are encouraged to come in whatever feels most comfortable. Online giving is available through the church's giving platform for anyone who wants to support the ministry from a distance.
Children, Sunday School, and Youth
Families with infants will find a nursery overlooking the Vision Center, designed for nursing mothers and parents with young children. The Sunday School floor on the first floor houses classrooms for Pre-School and Pre-K, along with separate classes for kindergarten through fifth grade. Students in sixth through twelfth grade meet downstairs with the youth ministry, which maintains its own online presence. The Sunday School and nursery teams are coordinated by Harry Reu, and families wanting more information about specific classes or services for school-age children are encouraged to contact the English Ministry directly.
Small Groups Across Life Stages
The English Ministry organizes its small groups by generation, with the stated goal of building "fellowship, friendship, and accountability" around the study of God's Word. Most groups communicate through Facebook chats and email, and each finds its own rhythm - some meet weekly, others monthly.
- College Students (Gen Z). The undergrad ministry communicates primarily through a Facebook group, where students can request to join, find ride sign-ups for Sunday services, and stay connected between gatherings. A shared bus ride sign-up spreadsheet helps coordinate carpools from local campuses.
- Young Adults (Gen Y and Gen Z). The Young Adult Family Group, or YAFG, meets every Friday evening, with the location announced inside the YA Facebook group chat each week.
- Singles and Couples (Gen X and Boomers). A monthly gathering for single adults and couples, focused on Bible study and fellowship.
- Young Family Agape (Gen X and Gen Y). A monthly group for families with young children, designed to walk through the parenting years together.
- Women's Group. Open to women of all generations, the group meets monthly for study and connection.
- Men's Group. Also monthly and open to men across generations.
Serving the Church
The English Ministry runs several regular volunteer teams that keep Sunday services moving and support the wider congregation. Each team is led by a coordinator who handles scheduling and communication.
- Welcome Greeters. Kate Lee coordinates the team that greets visitors at the door and helps newcomers find their way to the Vision Center.
- Audio/Visual. Phil Kim leads the team that runs sound, slides, and the livestream equipment each Sunday.
- Praise Team. The same team oversees music for worship and is actively recruiting instrumentalists - particularly pianists - to round out the band.
- Sunday School and Nursery. Harry Reu organizes teachers for every age group from nursery through fifth grade.
- Community Outreach. Anna Seballos connects the English Ministry to the church's external mission partners.
Homeless Shelter and Urban Mission
Two outreach partnerships shape the English Ministry's presence beyond its own walls. The Homeless Ministry organizes volunteers who prepare and serve meals to people experiencing homelessness in the Cleveland area, with each team taking a turn to cook and serve twice a month. The English Ministry's young adults have a regular rotation to serve at the shelter, and any interested adult can sign up to join a team.
Building Hope in the City (BHITC) is the English Ministry's primary urban mission partner, a non-profit Christian organization focused on the renewal of urban Cleveland through volunteer and mission work. Anyone interested in serving through BHITC must first complete the Building Hope 101 orientation session, and Anna Seballos helps coordinate sign-ups and class registration. Christian Community Development 101 is also offered for those wanting deeper training.
The church also serves as a year-round donation site for Common Threads, a non-profit thrift service that offers affordable clothing to individuals in need as part of the broader Cleveland revitalization effort. New or gently used clothing is welcome, and a list of accepted and unaccepted items is posted on flyers around and outside the Vision Center.
What KCPC Believes
The English Ministry states its beliefs plainly, framing them as "core and essential" convictions that bind the community together rather than a comprehensive doctrinal summary.
- The Bible. The Bible is the written Word of God, inspired by the Holy Spirit, and authoritative in matters of faith, living, and practice.
- The Trinity. One God exists eternally in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
- The Person of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God, whose perfect and sacrificial death atoned for the sins of all who trust in Him alone for salvation. He will return bodily and visibly to judge all humankind and to receive His people to Himself.
- Salvation. Salvation is by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, based solely on God's grace and not on human works or merit. The Holy Spirit gives God's people the strength and wisdom to trust Christ and follow Him.
- The Church. The Church is the people of God, saved by Christ, and founded on the witness of the apostles. It is within these Christ-centered communities that believers worship the Lord, grow into His likeness, and enjoy serving Him together.
The church's mission is to "inspire and train people to become fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ." Its vision is to be "a radically inclusive community that displays the supremacy and love of Christ while connecting with people of all walks of life." As a Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) congregation, KCPC operates under the denomination's Book of Order and Book of Confessions.
Pastor Che Kim
Pastor Che Kim has served as the lead English Ministry Pastor at KCPC since April 2018. He holds a Master of Divinity from Trinity Evangelical Seminary and has pastored at congregations in Chicago, Atlanta, and Cleveland before taking on his current role. He and his wife Debbie have two children, Chloe and Josiah.
Becoming a Member and Staying Connected
Anyone interested in joining the church can download a membership application form and submit it in person at 8220 Brecksville Road or by email to the English Ministry. The English Ministry maintains an active Facebook group and an Instagram account for ongoing announcements, and weekly email updates round out the communication channels. Services are livestreamed and archived on YouTube for anyone who wants to follow along from a distance.