Our Staff
James & Heather Byun ■ Twitter
Lead Pastor & Lead Pastor's Wife
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
James & Heather's Family: Karis, Kara, Joshua, and Joseph (children)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
James' Education: University of California at Davis (B.S. Managerial Economics), Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (M.Div. with Biblical Languages), Dallas Baptist University (Ph.D. in Leadership expected in 2010).
James' Q & A:
Where is your hometown? San Francisco, California
What is your life verse? Galations 2:20
What do you do at Higher Connection Church? Try to serve and honor God and hope to bring as many people to a life-transforming loving relationship with our sweet Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
What do you like to do in your spare time? Hanging out at a local cafe sipping my favorite cup of Java "The Decaf Americano with Room," and watching movies (no horror movies!).
If you could go anywhere in the world where would it be and why? Hawaii with my beautiful bride because I love the warmth and beauty of the Islands. Since its in the US, do not have to worry about customs if buying something.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Heather's Education: Ewha Womans University (B.A. Psychology), Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (M.A. Christian Education with a Counseling Concentration).
Heather's Q & A:
Where is your hometown? Seoul, Korea
What is your life verse? Galations 18:18
What do you do at Higher Connection Church? Be loved by Jesus as His bride and love and raise His children for His Kingdom.
What do you like to do in your spare time? Sitting on a comfy couch with a cup of coffee and my Bible (if my children allow me to) =]
If you could go anywhere in the world where would it be and why? Hawaii with my husband because that is where he wants to go and I do not really have any preference.
Han Oh ■ Twitter
Worship Pastor
------------------------------------
Family: Father and mother, older sister
Education: Emory University (B.A. History, Minor: Music), Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (M.Div. with concentration in Apologetics), Dallas Baptist University (Ph.D. in Ministry Leadership expected in 2012).
Q & A:
Where is your hometown? Tampa, Florida
What is your life verse? Proverbs 3:5-6
What do you do at Higher Connection Church? I am the Worship Pastor at the church, but like to be available to serve in whatever capacity!
What do you like to do in your spare time? I love to write songs, and spend time with my guitars! I also like to watch movies and listen to a variety of music; I especially love jazz!
If you could go anywhere in the world where would it be and why? I always wanted to go to Australia. I don't really have any particular reason, other than the fact that I just want to explore the continent.
Kyle Lewis ■ Twitter
Connections Pastor
------------------------------------
Family: Caroline (wife), Josiah (son)
Education: Oral Roberts University (B.S. in Social Work), Johns Hopkins University (M.Arts in Teaching), Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary (M.Div. with Biblical Languages)
Q & A:
Where is your hometown? Olney, Maryland
What is your life verse? All of Galatians 5
What do you do at Higher Connection Church? As the Connections Pastor, I help newcomers to the church get connected and grow in their relationship with Jesus.
What do you like to do in your spare time? Hang out with my wife and son, read, think about working out, eat chocolate cake, think more about working out, watch football, then maybe finally go for a walk instead of working out. When I have time, I also enjoy making videos on the computer and taking pictures.
If you could go anywhere in the world where would it be and why? Anywhere warm and sunny with a beach! I love to sit on the beach and read even though reading at the beach is getting progressively harder with a toddler. I would also like to go skiing or snowboarding some day.
Peter Mun ■ Twitter
Pastoral Assistant to the Lead Pastor
------------------------------------
Family: Father, mother, and older sister
Education: Liberty University (B.S. Religion expected in 2010)
Q & A:
Where is your hometown? Metropolitan Area
What is your life verse? Philippians 3:7-11
What do you do at Higher Connection Church? As the pastoral assistant I serve the Lead Pastor, as well as the rest of the pastoral staff in anything that they need. I strive to serve and bring glory to the Lord by serving His people and others in the community.
What do you like to do in your spare time? I like to watch and play sports; Basketball and Football are my favorites. I like to watch old sitcoms on TV. I love to write and listen to music; I like almost all genres of music. Most of all I like to spend my free time with my family and friends.
If you could go anywhere in the world where would it be and why? I would like to go to Rome, Italy and Greece. I have always been interested in the ancient world and I’ve always wanted to visit and see it for myself.
David Lee ■ Twitter
Outreach Intern
------------------------------------
Family: Father, mother, older brother, and younger sister
Education: Liberty University (B.S. Religion expected in 2012)
Q & A:
Where is your hometown? Burke, Virginia
What is your life verse? Psalm 116
What do you do at Higher Connection Church? As the outreach intern, I look for and coordinate opportunities for our church to be able to show the love of Jesus Christ to the community by sharing the gospel as well as helping to meet their physical needs.
What do you like to do in your spare time? I love to eat, Korean and Mexican food being my favorites. I enjoy reading a good book and watching sports, especially MMA and basketball.
If you could go anywhere in the world where would it be and why? I would like to go to Korea to eat all the delicious food and because I'm Korean but never been.
Joshua Kim ■ Twitter
Logistics Intern
------------------------------------
Family: Father and mother, older sister
Education: Liberty University (B.S. Religion and minor in Christian Counseling expected in 2012)
Q & A:
Where is your hometown? Silver Spring, Maryland
What is your life verse? Jeremiah 17:7-8
What do you do at Higher Connection Church? I am the Logistics Intern.
What do you like to do in your spare time? Most of the time during my spare time, I like to watch Korean variety shows and eat Korean food. During my productive spare time, I usually enjoy working out, swimming, and watching movies. I also like to spend a lot of my spare time with family and friends.
If you could go anywhere in the world where would it be and why? I would go to the Caribbean Islands because I’ve never been to a beach where I can see my feet in the water.
Caroline Nam ■ Twitter
Graphic Artist
------------------------------------
Family: Father and mother, younger brother
Education: University of Maryland, Baltimore County (B.A. in Visual Arts with concentration in Graphic Design)
Q & A:
Where is your hometown? Columbia, Maryland
What is your life verse? Philippians 4:6-7
What do you do at Higher Connection Church? I mainly work on design projects... and I try to minimize unnecessary chaos of clutter by organizing and cleaning whenever I possibly can!
What do you like to do in your spare time? I'm in front of a computer a lot.... but besides that, I like to listen to music, take pictures, read books, and spend time with friends.
If you could go anywhere in the world where would it be and why? I would want to be in Los Angeles, CA. I am obsessed with beaches and good weather. If it's somewhere I haven't gone before, then I'd choose France - to try and actually use 6 years of study.
David Kucharski
Associate Worship Leader
------------------------------------
Family: Seunghee (wife) and Joshua (son)
Education: Kent State University (B.A. in Music in Trumpet Performance); Peabody Conservatory of the Johns Hopkins University (Masters of Music in Trumpet Performance)
Q & A:
Where is your hometown? Cleveland, OH
What is your life verse? 2 Chronicles 29:11 (The Message)
What do you do at Higher Connection Church? I mainly lead worship for our 10:00 a.m. service, but I love to help out wherever it's needed.
What do you like to do in your spare time? I have lots of interests... it's just so hard to find time for all of them! If I do have some quiet time, though, I mostly enjoy spending it with my family.
If you could go anywhere in the world where would it be and why? My wife and I have always dreamed of going to Tahiti! For us, it looks like one of those rare places on earth to get away from the mainstream and spend some unadulterated time surrounded by God's beauty and grace.
James Choi ■ Twitter
Youth Pastor
(GMC & HCC)
------------------------------------
Education: University of Florida (B.A. Political Science), Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (M.Div.).
Q & A:
Where is your hometown? When I was young, I moved around a lot from Seoul, Korea to Tampa FL to Portland OR and to Lee, NJ, but I finally settled in Coppell TX and finished most of my schooling there so I would consider Coppell TX my hometown.
What is your life verse? Exodus 9:16 (The verse is used again in Romans 9:17 by Paul when he speaks of God's sovereignty. It is an amazing reminder of how I need God's mercy and how my righteousness is not attributed to my doing but imputed through Jesus Christ our Savior.)
What do you do at Higher Connection Church? I am the youth pastor and oversee the English-speaking high school and Jr. high youth ministries.
What do you like to do in your spare time? In whatever spare time I can scrounge up, I do my best to fulfill my carnal addiction of eating GOOD FOOD. Also, I love to collect and read books, especially anything C.S Lewis, Martyn-Lloyd Jones, and A.W Towzer.
If you could go anywhere in the world where would it be and why? If I could go anywhere in the world, I would love to go to North Korea because when I am able to go - it will be because North Korean is a free nation!
Jeri Song ■ Twitter
Children's Pastor
(GMC & HCC)
------------------------------------
Education: University of Maryland-Baltimore County (B.A American Studies with concentration in Secondary Education, Minor: Social Work), Dallas Baptist University (M.A.C.E. in Childhood Ministry expected 2010)
Q & A:
Where is your hometown? Gaithersburg, Maryland
What is your life verse? Isaiah 40:31
What do you do at Higher Connection Church? I serve, love, teach, and spend time with the youngest members of our church.
What do you like to do in your spare time? In my spare time I like reading blogs..especially DIY project/craft blogs, organizing, online shopping, playing tennis, golf, learn to cook.
If you could go anywhere in the world where would it be and why? "Paradise Falls" (Guiana Highlands) in South America. I wanted to go ever since I watched the Pixar movie "Up."
