Who We Are . . . and Why!
New Hope United Methodist Church is a community of believers in God and Jesus Chirst his son. Our members come from the communities of Clark, Renick, Higbee, Sturgeon, Middle Grove, Moberly...and beyond. But we aren't just "members" of New Hope...we are a church family! Like any family with strong ties, we care for and about each others' lives. And we are glad to extend that same hospitality and care to all who enter our doors seeking God.
Our mission is to make disciples of Jesus Chirst by
learning to be more like Him,
inspiring others to follow Him, and
serving Him in our community and the world.
Our Pastor, Jaeho Uhm
Pastor Jaeho Uhm, pictured here with his wife Hee-Jin Lee, was born in Seoul, South Korea...and since then has accumulated a bunch of life experience, in a lot of different places!
After high school Jaeho attended Hyupsung university in Korea, majoring in church history. In 2003, he joined the Korean Army (two years of military service is mandatory in South Korea) and served two years as an army truck driver. After finishing military duty he went to South Africa to study English, and stayed there for six months. He also volunteered at a local church ministry for six months as a youth group teacher.
In 2007, he finished his English language school in South Africa, then went to Sydney, Australia, where he gathered numerous job experiences for one and half years, including truck driver, janitor, delivery, construction work, and sushi shop. Also, for 18 months, he met many friendly people in Australia, which was a precious life lesson for him.
Jaeho returned home in 2009 and again studied at Hyupsung university , in graduate school for a Master of Arts degree in the history of churches in the Middle Ages of Europe. After earning his M.A. degree in 2012 he worked at a security company in Korea, to save money to study at Drew Seminary in New Jersey.
He came to the U.S. in 2013 and studied at Drew Seminary, earning his Master of Divinity degree in 2017. While in Drew Seminary, he served the Korean-American church as a youth group and young adult group director.
In 2017, he worked as an administrative pastor at the Korean Community Church of New Jersey for one year, then went to Monmouth Grace UMC in New Jersey and served as the church youth director for one year. In 2019, he moved to Atlanta, Georgia, to serve Immanuel Korean UMC as a youth and campus ministry director for two years. In May 2021, Jaeho was certified as a licensed local pastor, and in July was appointed to Jefferson Ave UMC in Moberly, Missouri as a full-time local pastor.
Jaeho married Hee-Jin Lee in June 2021 in the U.S. She received a doctoral degree in Theological Doctor at Candler School of Theology (Emory University, Atlanta, GA) in May 2022, and Hee-Jin currently serves as a lead pastor of Sturgeon UMC and Riggs Union UMC.
Jaeho is currently serving as pastor of both Jefferson Ave UMC and New Hope UMC, where he has been serving since July 2022.
After high school Jaeho attended Hyupsung university in Korea, majoring in church history. In 2003, he joined the Korean Army (two years of military service is mandatory in South Korea) and served two years as an army truck driver. After finishing military duty he went to South Africa to study English, and stayed there for six months. He also volunteered at a local church ministry for six months as a youth group teacher.
In 2007, he finished his English language school in South Africa, then went to Sydney, Australia, where he gathered numerous job experiences for one and half years, including truck driver, janitor, delivery, construction work, and sushi shop. Also, for 18 months, he met many friendly people in Australia, which was a precious life lesson for him.
Jaeho returned home in 2009 and again studied at Hyupsung university , in graduate school for a Master of Arts degree in the history of churches in the Middle Ages of Europe. After earning his M.A. degree in 2012 he worked at a security company in Korea, to save money to study at Drew Seminary in New Jersey.
He came to the U.S. in 2013 and studied at Drew Seminary, earning his Master of Divinity degree in 2017. While in Drew Seminary, he served the Korean-American church as a youth group and young adult group director.
In 2017, he worked as an administrative pastor at the Korean Community Church of New Jersey for one year, then went to Monmouth Grace UMC in New Jersey and served as the church youth director for one year. In 2019, he moved to Atlanta, Georgia, to serve Immanuel Korean UMC as a youth and campus ministry director for two years. In May 2021, Jaeho was certified as a licensed local pastor, and in July was appointed to Jefferson Ave UMC in Moberly, Missouri as a full-time local pastor.
Jaeho married Hee-Jin Lee in June 2021 in the U.S. She received a doctoral degree in Theological Doctor at Candler School of Theology (Emory University, Atlanta, GA) in May 2022, and Hee-Jin currently serves as a lead pastor of Sturgeon UMC and Riggs Union UMC.
Jaeho is currently serving as pastor of both Jefferson Ave UMC and New Hope UMC, where he has been serving since July 2022.
