Pastor's Greetings!

          Hello! My name is Jeong-Rae(Jerry) Cho. I am the pastor of Zion-Salem  churches.  I was born in Masan, South Korea in 1961. I became a Christian when I was nine years old. I had lived in South Korea for 31 years until I came to the U.S. in 1992. While I was in Korea, I went to Mokwon Methodist University(1980-1984) in Taejon, Korea and the Graduate School of Theology at Mokwon (1984-1991). I was ordained by the Korean Methodist Church in 1986 and subsequently served the Korean Army as an Army chaplain (1986-1989).

In 1992, I came to Dallas, Texas to study at Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. I received an M. Div. Degree from Perkins School of Theology in 1994.

 I worked for Yuma Regional Medical Center in Yuma, Arizona as a chaplain resident and C.P.E. student for a year (1994-1995). After a year of C.P.E. residency, I studied in “Pastoral Care Studies” program at the Blanton-Peale Graduate Institute in New York, New York from 1995-1996.

 In 1996 I was accepted at Ph.D. program of Pastoral Care and Counseling Program at Claremont School of Theology in Claremont, California and studied there from 1996 to 1998.

 Since 1999, I have been serving Prairie Farm UMC(1999-2000), Oconto Falls UMC(2000-2003), Eau Claire Lake Street UMC (2004-2005) and currently Zion and Salem UMCs.

 I am married to Cindy (middle school teacher) and have two stepsons, Zack and Clayton. My hobbies are soccer, computer, fishing, movies and reading.

 I have been living in two countries (South Korea for 31 years and U.S.A. for 14 years) with two different languages and cultures. I know from my experience that common sense, kindness, and laughter are universal language. Please, come to my church and listen to the Christian message for the whole world.

May God bless you and your family richly! Kamsa Hamnee Da! (Thank you!)

Pastor Jerry Cho