Staff
Rev. Saebuek Lee, Pastor
Heidi Flower Director of Music & Organist
Rev. Saebuek Lee is getting acquainted with Connecticut in general and Bristol specifically since he moved here in late June to prepare for his new assignment to assume pastoral duties for both Prospect and Asbury United Methodist churches.
Saebuek, who just turned 34, followed in the footsteps of his father and great grandfather who were both Methodist pastors in South Korea. As a child of a pastor he spent considerable time in churches his father served largely in Seoul, South Korea. He has an older sister who has two daughters ages 4 and 2.
He admits growing up as a child he wasn’t attracted to the ministry at first and thought he wanted to be a scientist or an ambassador serving in other countries. A pivotal moment occurred at Yanghwajin, a foreign missionary cemetery in South Korea, where he deeply experienced God’s calling. There, he was moved by the dedication of missionaries, pastors, and ministers who had sacrificially responded to God’s call. In that moment, Saebuek recognized his own calling to live a life devoted to God’s mission and kingdom.
Saebuek earned his Bachelor of Christian Education at the Methodist Theological University in Seoul, South Korea, in February 2016. He earned his Master of Divinity at Drew Theological School in New Jersey in May 2020 where he earned the John Heston Willey Prize in 2020 and 2022 awarded to a student who excels in pulpit oratory and manner.
He previously served four churches in the Catskills region of New York and likened the experience to that of the circuit riders in the early days of Methodism except by car instead of horseback. He worked closely with lay leaders of the Catskill churches since the churches were a distance apart.
The District Superintendent approached him in the spring about the need to serve the two Bristol churches. “God gave me hope and passion to help the two churches thrive,” Saebuek says. His email address is Saebuek.Lee@nyac-UMC.com.
In his free time, Saebuek enjoys playing guitar, writing songs, and singing. He also loves playing soccer, running, hiking, exercising in the gym, going on road trips and visiting coffee houses.