Drew Hyun on Leading a Family of Churches, Dealing With Your Ego As a Pastor & the Cost of Unity
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Jason had the privilege of sitting down on this week’s episode with Pastor Drew Hyun who oversees a family of churches called Hope Church NYC. Drew is a kind and committed leader to the mission of God and shares vulnerably about his life, faith, and leadership with us.
Drew worked at New Life Church under Pete Scazzero for many years before eventually realizing the need to resign to pursue what God was beginning to form in his heart. The transition was difficult though as not everyone understood why he would leave when he and Rich Villodas were in line to step in after Pete. He shared about these moments of reflection and how he came to realize his only reasons for staying were really about ego and fear. If he left this well known church, he would be a nobody. If he quit, he would be left without a job in one of the most expensive global cities. Neither of these he realized, were a good reason for staying though, so he left and began to pursue what God might have next.
After job interviews, feelings of depression, and wrestling with his own ego and insecurities, Drew realized he needed to plant a church that God had given him a unique vision for shaping. The family of churches they have (10 currently), is not like a multi-site or a loose network, but an optional family they can enter or leave as is best for them. It’s really about a shared set of values, some theological distinctives, and a desire to work together as leaders. Outside of that though, they are legally independent churches and there are even four different denominations represented across their family. Connected to this is also the New City Network Drew helps lead that seeks to support church planters and pastors in global urban centers, founded on the values of being urban, multi-ethnic, spirit-filled, and having emotional health and missional practice.
Jason ends the conversation by talking about unity and what it takes in their format and in general for pastors and churches to experience it. Drew says it’s really about releasing control and having humility as it might mean laying down personal preferences or even allowing people you invest in to go do their own thing without becoming bitter. Hope Church NYC is an exciting example of a church working to connect and serve their city.
We hope you are encouraged by this conversation with Drew Hyun.
“We need anything to get us to die to our own egos, getting us to be more willing to build a great city rather than build a great church.”
Drew Hyun
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Drew Hyun is the Founder and Pastor of Hope Church Midtown, as well as the Founding Pastor of Hope Church NYC, a family of diverse churches in and around NYC. Drew is also the Co-Founder of the New City Network, a network of urban churches that value multi-ethnicity, Spirit-filled ministry, emotional health, and mission. Drew is also part of the Emotionally Healthy Discipleship team, a movement that is dedicated to transforming church culture through the multiplication of deeply changed leaders and disciples.
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John & Helen Burns
John and Helen Burns are passionate about helping people build thriving relationships, marriages and families as well as healthy church communities. They planted Relate Church in Vancouver, Canada in 1986, after John left his busy dental practice to become a full-time pastor.
John and Helen have seen the faithfulness of God in their lives as He restored their hurting marriage. Today they continue to serve as Founding and Teaching Pastors at Relate Church. They also cherish the opportunity to travel to nationally and globally teaching primarily on building healthy relationships. Together they co-host the television program, 'Sex, Love & Relationships’ on the Hillsong Channel and have authored several bestselling books.
John and Helen have celebrated over 46 years of marriage, have three awesome daughters and take the greatest joy in their eight grandchildren.