Washington UMC

06/26/2026

A message from Pastor Ahn...

Greetings,

When we read Genesis 41, we usually focus on Joseph, and rightly so. Joseph was wise enough to interpret Pharaoh's dreams and humble enough to say that the interpretation came from God, not from himself. But this week I found myself thinking about someone we often overlook: Pharaoh.

Pharaoh had disturbing dreams that no one could explain. He summoned the wisest people in Egypt, yet they had no answers. Finally, a Hebrew prisoner named Joseph was brought before him.

Imagine what Pharaoh faced. Joseph was a foreigner, a former slave, and a prisoner. The famine Joseph predicted had not yet begun, and there was no visible evidence that his words were true. Pharaoh could have dismissed him. Instead, he listened. He believed that God was speaking through Joseph, accepted his counsel, and immediately prepared Egypt during seven years of abundance for the seven years of famine.

That, too, is wisdom.

Jesus reminds us in Matthew 7:24-27 that wisdom is not simply hearing God's Word but putting it into practice. The wise builder lays a foundation on the rock before the storm arrives. Likewise, Pharaoh prepared for the famine before it came. Wisdom acts before the crisis.

Isn't that often our challenge? We know what is right, but we delay. We wait until problems appear before we pray, forgive, save, serve, or deepen our faith. Yet God's wisdom calls us to act today, not tomorrow.

Perhaps God is inviting us to strengthen our relationship with God while life is still calm, to invest in our families while we have the opportunity, to serve generously while we have abundance, and to build our lives firmly on Christ before the storms come.

Joseph faithfully spoke God's truth. Pharaoh humbly acted on it. So, may we do the same. It is because true wisdom is not merely knowing what is right. It is doing what is right. Wisdom is not measured by what we know, but by what we do with what God has already shown us.

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock” (Matthew 7:24-25).

Peace,
Byungil

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06/26/2026

COME SHOP!
Greenstone Thrift Shop at the Washington United Methodist Church . Saturdays 10 to 1. Last week to fill a bag of women or men's clothing for $10.00!

06/22/2026

No video for 6/21/26 to upload. We are still having audio issues. Sorry.

06/21/2026

Happy Father's day to all you dads out there!

06/20/2026

Saturdays 10 am to 1 pm.
June sale: Fill a bag of women's or men's clothes for $10.00!
Located at 116 E Washington Ave (United Methodist Church) All proceeds go to local non profit organizations.
COME SHOP!

06/19/2026

Friday night, June 26, Take out Meal

06/19/2026

A message from Pastor Ahn...

Greetings,

Seventeen years ago, in my first appointment, I had a dream. I wanted to see 200 people in worship, a strong choir lifting praises, and a congregation vibrant enough to support a full-time pastor. It sounded inspiring until reality set in. The average attendance was 23.

Later, in Washington, I shared another dream: “I would love to see 300 people in worship.” The initial responses were cautious: “Be realistic. Don’t dream too big. Make sure it’s achievable.” I understood. People were trying to protect me from disappointment. Because when you share a dream, others often measure it—against your resources, your situation, and what they believe is possible. Some will encourage you; others will quietly (or openly) discourage you. Not everyone celebrates your dream.

This tension is not new. We see it in the story of Joseph in Genesis 37:2–11. As Jacob’s favored son, Joseph already stood apart. When he shared his dream that one day his family would bow before him, it did not inspire his brothers. It provoked them, and Scripture tells us they hated him. His dream created distance, even hostility.

So what do we do? Should we stop dreaming? Should we keep our dreams to ourselves?

Joseph’s dream was true, but not yet. He was about eighteen when he first dreamed, and over thirty when it was fulfilled. In between were years of hardship: betrayal, slavery, false accusation, and imprisonment. Yet through it all, Joseph remained faithful. He served diligently in Potiphar’s house, resisted temptation, and even in prison he worked with integrity. His circumstances did not cause him to abandon his calling. Again and again, Scripture reminds us: the Lord was with Joseph (Genesis 39:2, 21, 23; Acts 7:9).

In time, the dream came true, but Joseph was no longer the same person. When his brothers finally stood before him, he did not seek revenge or validation. Instead, he offered grace. He said, “You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good” (Genesis 50:20). God had not only fulfilled the dream; God had transformed Joseph through the journey.

So when you have a dream, hold it with humility. Guard it with wisdom. Trust God with the outcome. But ask a deeper question not just, “How can I achieve this?” but, “How is Christ being formed in me through this?” Because the ultimate goal is not simply that your dream comes true. The goal is that, through your life, God’s redemption is revealed. In the end, the dream is not about you. It is about what God is doing through you for the sake of the world.

Do not lose heart in the waiting, nor abandon the dream in the struggle. Trust that God governs the timing.

“I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work in you will continue to complete it until the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6).

Peace,
Byungil

06/18/2026

Happy Thursday!

06/15/2026

Today we celebrated the ending of our Sunday School.year with the children