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John Hyun Yoon

@thejohnyoon

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Husband | Dad of 5 | Pastor
Family, faith, life & honest reflections
👫🏻🩷🩷🩷👼💙🩷
@lydiajyoon
@patria.house

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Photo sessions are usually something I dread and just try to “get through” as quickly as possible but every session we’ve had with @togetherphotosatl has actually been SO enjoyable. Not only did they manage to get our crazy household of 9 to take some epic photos, they even captured some candid moments that, honestly, are my favorites. All the in-between moments: Dassa running around with Zuri, Zion being unable to contain his laughter, Zuri climbing all over Zion, (and even navigating a difficult moment together with Maia 🤫) feel like a window into real life with our family.

If you’ve been putting off family photos because you dread the process, I can’t recommend them enough. They have booking links in their bio (@togetherphotosatl).

They do have a 20 minute mini-session open TOMORROW 11/1 at 3:55pm if you want to get those last-minute fall family photos. by @thejohnyoon

I promised this post a month ago but life happened SO fast after sabbatical 😅. The longer I waited, the more unnecessary the post felt but felt that little nudge a couple days ago to finish this. →

1. I am dispensable — and I should be.

For a season, the church kept moving without me. Worship still happened. People still got cared for. Decisions still got made. And instead of feeling threatened by that, I felt something closer to relief. If a ministry can only run through one man, it’s not a church — it’s a bottleneck. Christ is the head. I’m just a member of the body, and members are meant to be replaceable so the Body can keep moving after we’re gone.

2. There’s personal blessing in honoring legacy.

We didn’t plant Patria House within KECA — a Korean denomination — to fulfill an obligation. We planted it trusting in the promises of God and standing on the work He has done (and is still doing) in and through a generation that paved the way so an English-speaking ministry like ours could even exist. Honoring that this legacy isn’t a burden I carry — it’s a blessing I get to walk in.

3. God loves His Bride too much to let me build at church what I don’t build at home.

It’s possible to shepherd a congregation well while quietly neglecting the six people God gifted me to steward. Sabbatical made this reality much clearer. Everything I want to see at Patria, God is making me live out within family first.

4. Godly friendships are invaluable.

We didn’t rest alone. We rested surrounded by friends who hosted us, checked on us, and reminded us we weren’t just being cared for by a network — we were being cared for by people who actually love us. That kind of friendship doesn’t happen by accident. It’s worth protecting.

5. I love our people.

Distance has a way of clarifying affection. Away from the weekly rhythm of Patria, I found myself missing not the role, but the people. Absence made me even more grateful I get to do it with them.

So thankful to God, our Patria family, all our wonderful friends who hosted us, and all those who have sent love and support our way to make our first family sabbatical both restful and fruitful. by @thejohnyoon

I spoke at the Next Generation Leadership Conference of the Korean Evangelical Church of America in Montreal. Almost every leader participating was connected to the Korean immigrant church and carried with them a profound appreciation for the first generation. I would describe them as humble, hard-working, hungry, and hopeful. I’m praying that they would honor and serve the first generation while leading the third generation well. 
Thank you, Pastors John Yoon and Yo Sep Seo, for the invitation and for your leadership.   #NGLC #KECA by @thejohnyoon

We’re excited to be popping up again for ATL GI’s 2nd Annual Concert! Join us on August 29 in support of showcasing their talents for the glory of God.

Be sure to check out @atlgodsimage to see what they’re about! Can’t wait to see you there~

#popup #coffeecart #bakedgoods #dance #worship by @thejohnyoon

When God called us back to the Korean Church as a mission field, I assumed the road would be marked with nothing but pain and suffering.. but I am so grateful He has proven me wrong time and again through - starting with my denomination.

Grateful for the way KECA has made intentional strides toward caring for church planters and “young” lead pastors.

Grateful for churches like New Life Vision Church for being the hands and feet of God and using their resources to bless and serve pastors and their families unto rest and hope.

Grateful for the lessons God has been teaching me in this short but sweet season of rest and sabbath.

Sabbatical post coming soon but here’s a little snippet of the 3040 Conference - a conference designed to bless lead pastors in their 30s and 40s (and, for this year, their families).
Some of the things they lined up for us included:
- A night of celebration with the family with the BEST MC and bottomless Starbucks gift cards
- Gleaning from the wisdom of a pastor reflecting on his life and ministry as he prepares to “retire”
- The most unnecessary portions of prime rib, beef short rib, lobster, and more.
- A trip to Universal for all the pastors kids
- A trip to Disney for all the attendees (with Lightning Multi Pass!!) and $50 gift cards per person to spend for the day.

Thank you, Jesus, for the call.
Thank you for taking care of us along the way.
You are good. You are worthy. Always. by @thejohnyoon

The number of times I’ve watched this video🥹✨ I feel such deep joy and satisfaction in watching my children laugh and have a good time. It makes me wonder if we’ve overcomplicated things when it comes to pleasing God.

Maybe He just enjoys hearing us laugh and watching us play because He’s a good father.
Maybe the kind of faith that pleases Him is simply trusting His intentions towards us.
Maybe He loves us beyond anything we can do for Him and that’s where rest begins.

This is your reminder to live, love, and laugh because it makes our Father in heaven happy 🙂

#sabbatical #family #joy #thankful #livelovelaugh by @thejohnyoon

Our family is taking our first pastoral sabbatical this month since @patria.house has been planted and some years of ministry before that😅 It’s embedded in our culture (especially in the Korean Church) to value productivity, diligence, and sacrifice which are beautiful and godly things. But rest, fun, and connection are just as godly and vital to the design for God’s family✨

It’s already been such a gift to slow down and enjoy God and one another. Our hope for this time is to have a ton of fun but also to intentionally connect with God, ourselves, and others. To make space for God to build the vision in us as He continues to work through us. To freely receive that we may freely give.

Would you pray with us for:
🤍 Travel mercies to and from California for our family of seven!
🤍 Health, rest, and deep joy for everyone
🤍 Addy and Dassa as they attend @godsimage camp—that they would encounter Jesus in fresh ways and build life-giving friendships
🤍 Refreshment and encouragement through our denominational pastors’ conference
🤍 Young Adult Retreat (retreat for lay leaders serving various Korean churches in LA - this was scheduled before our sabbatical month but we trust in God’s timing!)
🤍 For God to continue to materialize the vision of complete connection in and through our lives during this sabbatical

If the Lord places it on your heart, we’d also love to invite you to partner with us financially. Sabbaticals are an investment in the long-term health of ministry families, and any gift—large or small—helps make this season of rest, renewal, travel, and connection possible. (Venmo: @lydiayoonmusic)

More than anything, thank you for praying for us. It’s actually been hard to stay away from church bc we love being with our people sm but we already the see the fruit of trusting the Lord and our community. Thank you for believing in us, praying for us, and walking with our family on this journey❤️ by @thejohnyoon

So grateful for the opportunity to travel with our praise team to NY and minister alongside some long-time friends. Thankful that Lydia and I got to tag-team for Dassa’s very first youth retreat and Addy’s first retreat as a high schooler. Beyond encouraged to see a region coming together and a generation learning to fight for complete connection. Can’t wait to come back and see what the Lord has done. by @thejohnyoon

7th Father’s Day without you, and it doesn’t get easier.

Today I shared about legacy.

Looking back, I realize some of the greatest things you gave me weren’t things at all. They were faith, values, perseverance, and countless moments that seemed ordinary at the time. It was the banner of 1 Thessalonians 5:16-17 hanging in our living room reminding me in Korean to “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances…”

Legacy isn’t just what we leave behind. It’s what we receive and pass on.

Today, I find myself doing with my children what you once did with me. Loving them. Carrying them. Praying for them. Trying to point them toward Jesus.

Dad, your life still echoes through mine.

And by God’s grace, I pray the faith entrusted to me will continue through the generations that follow.

Miss you. Happy Father’s Day. ❤️ by @thejohnyoon

Blessed beyond words for these fathers in my life that lay down their lives that their children and their children’s children might live. @thejohnyoon preached on “Entrusted Faith” for third week into Legacy Month @patria.house — the kind that shares what we have first received. Thank you Appas for showing us the love of our Father in heaven. We love and honor you 💙 by @thejohnyoon

38 🎂

We kicked off Legacy June at Patria this week and Lydia absolutely killed it. Someone asked me if I was nervous since she did such a good job & I responded absolutely not because I love seeing you in your element operating in the gifts God has given you. Maybe that’s what draws our children & others to you — so much so that it’s hard to get/find solo photos of you. 😅

Feeling extra reminiscent on your 38th birthday as I think back on the last 2 decades of our figuring out life, love, & leadership together.. and completely blown away by how faithful God has been.. and I know he will continue to be.

Believing for this year to be the year he begins to unfold the promises you’ve held on to through the seasons of hardship — the year you begin reaping & enjoying the fruit of all that you’ve sown in faith!🕊️

I love seeing you so celebrated & I love you!

Without wax.

Drop a comment with a memory of @lydiajyoon👇🏼 by @thejohnyoon

Fall in love ✅
Get married ✅
Travel the world ✅
Make a bunch of minions ✅

Blessed to be married to my favorite worship leader, preacher, podcast co-host, and friend. It’s been a wild 15 years of marriage and following Jesus together.. but something tells me the best is still yet to come.

Happy 15th anniversary, love. by @thejohnyoon