Kee Won Huh
Lead Pastor
"I love helping people discover more about God. That's easily my favorite thing as a pastor. I think part of it is because I'm always learning and discovering more about God. The wonder never ceases with God, and I want everyone to have a taste of what that's like. Because of this, some of my greatest joys include science, theology, reading, writing, and teaching. I also love people and creating fun cultures. Ra La (my wife of 20 years) and my teenage kids (Peyton & Brandon) think I'm weird, but I'd say the same about them. Some other things I enjoy are kayaking, golf, fishing, and fiction. Oh, I'm also a really amateur stage magician, and people all over the world -- in the U.S. and on the mission field -- say I look like Mr. Bean."
Kee Won Huh
Lead Pastor
"I love helping people discover more about God. That's easily my favorite thing as a pastor. I think part of it is because I'm always learning and discovering more about God. The wonder never ceases with God, and I want everyone to have a taste of what that's like. Because of this, some of my greatest joys include science, theology, reading, writing, and teaching. I also love people and creating fun cultures. Ra La (my wife of 20 years) and my teenage kids (Peyton & Brandon) think I'm weird, but I'd say the same about them. Some other things I enjoy are kayaking, golf, fishing, and fiction. Oh, I'm also a really amateur stage magician, and people all over the world -- in the U.S. and on the mission field -- say I look like Mr. Bean."
Kathy Kwon
Assistant Pastor: Education
"Throughout my life, God has surprised me over and over by giving me unexpected chances to work with some of the funniest, sweetest, and most energetic human beings to walk this earth. Being able to help guide the future leaders of our world (the surgeons who will operate on us when we are old and gray! the officers who will write our traffic tickets!) is an honor that I don’t take lightly! My priority is to make sure that every child develops an understanding of God’s boundless love and leaves unafraid to dance in praise because of that love. My husband Sam and I are also unafraid to express our joy for God’s amazing creation, particularly all the Disneylands."
Kathy Kwon
Assistant Pastor: Education
"Throughout my life, God has surprised me over and over by giving me unexpected chances to work with some of the funniest, sweetest, and most energetic human beings to walk this earth. Being able to help guide the future leaders of our world (the surgeons who will operate on us when we are old and gray! the officers who will write our traffic tickets!) is an honor that I don’t take lightly! My priority is to make sure that every child develops an understanding of God’s boundless love and leaves unafraid to dance in praise because of that love. My husband Sam and I are also unafraid to express our joy for God’s amazing creation, particularly all the Disneylands."
Sam Jang
Assistant Pastor: Youth & Young Adults
"I love teaching, mentoring, and helping others see Jesus more clearly. My goal is to help people cultivate a thoughtful, transformative, yet sustainable faith that equips them to navigate life’s struggles—whether they are youth students or young adults/professionals in a challenging season. In my free time, I enjoy spending time with my wife, Julie, and our Labradoodle, Wally. We love trying new restaurants or catching up on some of our favorite TV shows. Lately, I’ve been playing pickleball (as a failed tennis player) and enjoy staying up-to-date with scholarship. Some of my academic interests include the history and uses of doctrine, early and modern biblical interpretation, Late Antiquity, Asian American theology, and the intersection of mental health and our understanding of God."
Jeff Hutchinson
Church Planter, House of Mercy
"My wife, Troy, and I have worked and lived in New Haven, Connecticut since 2016 and love its ethnic and cultural diversity, and the high value placed on education. It is such a privilege to be called to plant our house church in New Haven (houseofmercynhv.org), and it is such a joy and encouragement to be in partnership with New Mercy Palisades during this adventure! I was raised in the church, but it was in college at Duke University that I came to a deeper and more personal sense of Christ’s love for me, as I found myself in a personal relationship with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit through the friendships I was making in InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, and through the simple motions of Bible Study, prayer, worship, and spiritual fellowship. It was also at Duke that I met Troy! We have been married for more than 35 years, and have three grown children and a wonderful son-in-law. After service as a Naval Officer, I was called to the ministry of the gospel, and have served as a Presbyterian pastor in North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Connecticut for more than thirty years; but this current church planting adventure for ECO has been my favorite season of ministry so far."
Sam Jang
Assistant Pastor: Youth & Young Adults
"I love teaching, mentoring, and helping others see Jesus more clearly. My goal is to help people cultivate a thoughtful, transformative, yet sustainable faith that equips them to navigate life’s struggles—whether they are youth students or young adults/professionals in a challenging season. In my free time, I enjoy spending time with my wife, Julie, and our Labradoodle, Wally. We love trying new restaurants or catching up on some of our favorite TV shows. Lately, I’ve been playing pickleball (as a failed tennis player) and enjoy staying up-to-date with scholarship. Some of my academic interests include the history and uses of doctrine, early and modern biblical interpretation, Late Antiquity, Asian American theology, and the intersection of mental health and our understanding of God."
"My wife, Troy, and I have worked and lived in New Haven, Connecticut since 2016 and love its ethnic and cultural diversity, and the high value placed on education. It is such a privilege to be called to plant our house church in New Haven (houseofmercynhv.org), and it is such a joy and encouragement to be in partnership with New Mercy Palisades during this adventure! I was raised in the church, but it was in college at Duke University that I came to a deeper and more personal sense of Christ’s love for me, as I found myself in a personal relationship with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit through the friendships I was making in InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, and through the simple motions of Bible Study, prayer, worship, and spiritual fellowship. It was also at Duke that I met Troy! We have been married for more than 35 years, and have three grown children and a wonderful son-in-law. After service as a Naval Officer, I was called to the ministry of the gospel, and have served as a Presbyterian pastor in North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Connecticut for more than thirty years; but this current church planting adventure for ECO has been my favorite season of ministry so far."