Rev. Minho Song
Rev. Minho Song
Rev. Minho Song is Senior Pastor at Young Nak Korean Presbyterian Church in Toronto, Ontario. Song’s family immigrated to Canada from South Korea when he was fifteen years old. After having spent a considerable amount of time in Vancouver, British Columbia, Song moved to Toronto in 1988 to begin a new chapter of his life. Since then, Song has been serving the Young Nak congregation as a minister. Aside from the ministry, Song is also a visiting professor at Tyndale Seminary, Asian Theological Seminary, and Handong Global University.
“IT WAS ALL TRUST-BASED. IT WAS HEARTWARMING.”
Why did you decide to become a pastor?
It wasn’t so much that I wanted to be a pastor, but a call. The call was powerful. I could not resist. It was during my first year of university at UBC that I received the call to be a pastor. I was studying to become an engineer. The following year, I switched to an arts program in order to prepare for a seminary study, and graduated with a degree in psychology.
How or why did you/your family decide to move to Canada?
I came to Canada when I was fifteen years old. My father was [working] in car maintenance in [South] Korea. A Canadian gentleman came into the shop to have his car looked after. In the process, the owner of the car left his wallet in the car. When he came back the following day to have his car back, he expected the money in his wallet to be all gone – that he wouldn’t be able to get his wallet back. But my father took good care of the wallet, also with all the money in it. This really impressed the gentleman. The gentleman asked whether my father would be interested in going to Canada or not. My father was curious and asked him who he was. He said, ‘Canada can always use an honest person like you. If you apply to immigrate to Canada, I will do my best to help you.’ As it turned out, this gentleman worked in the Canadian embassy. In fact, he was one of the high ranked officers in the embassy. So, that’s how our immigration process began. We came to Vancouver in 1974. I started to going to high school in Vancouver and then university and seminary. From 1974 to 1988, I was in Vancouver.
“I WAS QUITE SURPRISED THAT CARS WOULD STOP FOR YOU WHEN YOU CROSS THE ROAD.”
What was your first memorable impression in Canada?
My impression of Vancouver was very calm and peaceful. I was quite surprised that cars would stop for you when you cross the road. People in general were very nice and courteous. And I remember seeing all these white folks – not too many Asians at that time. That was in Vancouver. Generally, I have enjoyed living in Canada with all the peacefulness that I had anywhere I go. I felt safe. The sense of safety is the most important thing that I discovered.
What was the happiest discovery about living in Canada?
I was not a Christian when I was in Korea. So, the important thing that happened to me when I came to Canada was when a Canadian approached me and shared the good news of Jesus with me. And, I became a Christian. I believe that is the happiest moment in my life. It was in my first year in university. Someone took the step to explain to me what the gospel is. After I became a Christian, someone took time to nurture me in my Christian faith. That was the most important thing.
Minho and Meja Song
A Story about a memorable event during your/your family’s life in Canada. It was in 2008 when our family took a trip to Prince Edward Island from Toronto. It was like a good three-day going and three-day coming back. The most memorable event was when we went to the Anne of Green Gables in PEI. Our three daughters really enjoyed it. They grew up reading the novels of Green Gables. When they actually visited the farm and the house that Anne grew up in, they were so excited. Just watching them getting excited and happy put smile on my face. And, PEI was just beautiful to drive around. I remember that the land was red in colour. It was beautiful. One more thing, when we were driving around, I noticed farmers would have their vegetable stands and they would put products like potatoes. Right beside would be a box where you put some money for the potatoes you buy. There was no man actually. It was all trust-based. It was heartwarming. I don’t know any other place that does that.
“I ALWAYS TELL OUR CHURCH MEMBERS NOT TO LOOK INWARDLY, BUT TO LOOK OUTWARDLY.”
What does being a Korean-Canadian mean to you?
It means to bring strengths of the Korean heritage to Canada to build an even better country. To be a Korean Canadian would mean for me on one hand just being very appreciative what others have done to build the nation so far, and for me and someone like me to come along to contribute to make the nation even better. I know Koreans can bring a unique set of strengths and abilities as well. Koreans have endured and went through so much: Korean War, Japanese occupation and what not. Even today, [there is a] constant threat from North Korea and so on. The people are resilient and have survived multiple times. Even though Korea has been invaded by so many countries in the past, Korean itself has not invaded other countries. That kind of enduring spirit and peace-loving nature, I think they are good qualities that Koreans can bring and make Canada even better country than before.
What is your vision for your congregation?
I always tell our church members not to look inwardly, but to look outwardly – be the salt and light in the world. My vision is that our people will count the blessing that God has given them, and share the blessing with the people around. That could be sharing the gospel – the good news of Jesus Christ – and sharing material wealth that God has given us with those who are not as fortunate and who are going through difficult times. So it is not just focusing inwardly but focusing outwardly and serving the people who are in need.
Do you have anything you would like to add?
It means a lot that Canada is 150 years old. I came when I was 15 and I am now 58 – that is 43 years. I am very happy and honoured to have spent 43 years of that 150 years of Canada’s history. I take that as a great privilege. I believe Canada is the best country to live in the world. Because of my work as a pastor and as a missionary, I travelled to many countries around the world. But I have yet to find a country as peaceful or more peaceful than Canada. I am very grateful for that.
By Caleb Park