In this episode of We Are Vineyard, Jay chats with James Choung about being raised in a Korean immigrant church and how he experienced justice growing up in an inner-city community. James shares how God disrupted his plans at MIT, directed him to reinvest in his fraternity, and called him to full-time ministry. James talks about his transition to InterVaristy Christian Fellowship after seminary, and then he and Jay talk about Vineyard’s relationship with InterVarsity. 

Rev. Dr. James Choung serves as Vice President of Strategy & Innovation — overseeing evangelism, discipleship & leadership development, planting, global engagement & justice, multiethnic initiatives, and the Creative Labs — at InterVarsity Christian Fellowship USA. He is also ordained with Vineyard USA and has written three books — the latest being a co-written book titled Longing for Revival. 

James wrote his D. Min. dissertation on postmodern leadership development also at Fuller Theological Seminary, received his M. Div. from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, and studied management science and marketing at MIT. He has previously served on the pastoral staff of a Boston-area urban church plant, of a megachurch in Seoul, and led an LA-adjacent house church. As for other interests, he has led worship at various national conferences including the Urbana Student Missions Conference, and serves on boards for higher education and overseas for-profit and non-profit startups. For fun, he likes to travel with his wife, laugh with his two sons, spoil his daughter, bask in Los Angeles’ endless summer, and swing a racket in hopes of playing something like tennis.

Show Notes: 

Hear more from James at Better Together! 

2024 Vineyard USA National Conference: Seed & Soil

James’ Website 

Longing for Revival by James Choung and Ryan Pfeiffer 

Vineyard History and Identity Resources: 

The Way It Was by Carol Wimber 

The Quest For The Radical Middle by Bill Jackson 

Empowered Evangelicals by Rich Nathan and Ken Wilson

“I’m a Fool For Christ”– John Wimber’s testimony