Pastor Peter Kwon (Temecula Valley Korean Presbyterian Church) has been a firsthand witness to the growth of Temecula and the transformation of its Korean American community. As the leader of TVKPC for the past 23 years, he has served the region with unwavering dedication. KAYO littles members sat down with him to discuss his journey of ministry and his deep-rooted love for the community.
Q : Why did you choose Temecula specifically as the place to serve?
A : Temecula feels closer to home for me. It is a city surrounded by nature, and it is quiet and clean. At the same time, it is becoming more industrialized. Because it has both peaceful surroundings and development, I felt it was the right community for me to serve.
Q : How has the Korean community in Temecula changed over time?
A : The Korean community in Temecula has grown significantly. There are now more Korean-owned businesses, and many Korean churches have been established. These changes have created a stronger sense of community and belonging.
Q : What differences do you find between earlier generations and younger generations today? What values should be kept, and what could be improved?
A : Earlier generations worked hard and experienced many struggles. They understood that success comes after failure. Younger generations today sometimes think they can succeed without failure, which can lead to triumphalism. I believe biculturalism should be preserved. It is important to keep both Korean and American identities. Younger generations can improve by understanding that failure is part of growth.
Q : As a Korean American Pastor, how do you see your role as a leader and role model?
A : As a leader, I believe there should be freedom for love. However, actions and words should go together. I encourage people, especially young people, to live with strong Christian values, avoid selfishness, and positively influence the next generation.
Q : How is TVKPC different from other churches?
A : TVKPC has well-balanced age groups in the church. It focuses strongly on the next generation while helping the community in many different ways. The church also emphasizes faith development and has many structured and organized events to help the community.
Q : How does your church support Korean American families and the community?
A : Our church supports youth and children’s’ faith in Jesus. We also provide identity education for Korean Americans. In addition, our church provides the English Ministry (EM) to help the people in TVKPC feel more comfortable. I also established the Temecula Valley Korean School to help younger bilingual generations.
Q : What is the most important thing you hope does not change at TVKPC?
A : I hope that the focus on the next generation and faith development does not change. I think it is important to keep a bicultural identity and remember both Korean culture and American culture. I also hope that younger generations will have a stronger faith in Jesus.
Q : What is your message to younger Korean American generations?
A : I want younger generations to have clear answers for their lives, especially about Christianity. They should not think only about themselves or be selfish. They should keep their identity and grow through their experiences.
The interview was very meaningful and gave us a new perspective. Pastor Kwon suggested that we should have a positive peer influence so our generation can become stronger and braver. He especially hopes KAYO Littles will inspire each other and grow together. He encouraged us by
saying we should help out the community to show we are taking action. We thank Pastor Kwon so much for the time he spent with us for this interview.
