Pastor Lee Bio
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.