“When I die and God asks how I lived, I ponder what answer I should give. My sole goal is to continue my current work until the end of my life, as it is what pleases God the most.”
– Yong J. An, lawyer
**************************************************************************************
Full Circle Moment
As you know, Pa guides our family with wisdom and strength, but it is encouraging when we get to see and hear how he’s impacted the lives of others. This article was passed on to us by one of Pa’s former parishioners, and we are thankful that he shared his appreciation for Pa. It is even more important that Yong J. An continues to spread the truth and love of Christ to so many people, so that He can stand before God with pride when his time on earth is complete.
The following is the translated article from the online website, The Korea World News.
**************************************************************************************
Attorney Yong J. An grew up in a small town with a population of less than 10,000, located between Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas. He recalls his middle school days, where he first set foot in the U.S. in 1974. He recounts how the 15 classmates, all white, would torment him, which remains the biggest trauma of his life, bringing tears to his eyes.
The small and unremarkable Asian student was an easy target, and Yong J. An, attorney, recalls that, “During the year when I learned every American curse word, the physical assaults from my white classmates were almost unbearable.” He reminisces about enduring the torment, thinking, “If I just died, I would be freed from this suffering!” when he was stripped naked, spat upon, pelted with stones, and doused with cold water.
A Beacon of Hope: Pastor Mike
His father, who worked at a nuclear power plant, frequently traveled between Korea and the U.S. with his mother, and Yong J. An did not want to worry them by complaining about his suffering. He describes a miraculous turn of events when, just as the constant bullying was pushing him to the brink, a single person, like a beacon of hope, came into his life and helped him survive.
Every Sunday the church near his home became a refuge where he hid from the white boys who harassed him. There, he met a pastor named Mike who took him in without asking any questions, allowing him to safely finish high school. Yong J. An, now an attorney, now smiles brightly, saying that Pastor Mike, who stood by him even more than his own father, was a channel through which he met God and transformed into a grateful, exemplary student.
After graduating from college, Yong J. An obtained his legal license in 1990 and began his legal career as an assistant district attorney in the U.S. Virgin Islands. He eventually worked for two years at Locke & Lord, a prominent law firm with over 600 attorneys, and then at Denton, which has over 100 offices across the U.S. He settled in Houston in 2005.
As soon as he opened his private practice in Houston, he became the dedicated attorney for Korean companies, which allowed him to reconnect with Korea and Koreans after 30 years. Yong J. An reflects that if he had not had the chance to work with major Korean companies like Samsung, LG, Daewoo, and Korea Gas Corporation, he might have lost his ability to converse fluently in Korean. He notes that translating legal documents into Korean legal terminology was the most challenging part, and the stress from collaborating with Korean companies over four years was immense.
The extensive travel during those four years was equivalent to circling the Earth multiple times, and he recalls that he earned the most money during this period while primarily traveling to the Middle East and Asia. The reason he decided to leave that job was the loneliness of not being with his family and a sense of guilt for forgetting “what would make God happy” over the pursuit of money. This realization led him to return to Houston without hesitation and maintain his current position.
A Different Kind of ‘Guardian of Faith and Service’
More than just a skilled attorney with a background as a federal prosecutor, Yong J. An is deeply ingrained as a kind neighbor within the Houston Korean community, and is always associated with “missions” and “service.” His remarkable ministry work often leads people to mistakenly think of him as a diligent pastor.
Every Sunday, he teaches Bible study classes for Korean youth who are not fluent in English at three different churches – Katy Baptist Church (Purun Church), Dong San UMC, and Korean Christian Church of Houston – and frequently travels throughout the U.S., Canada, and Central America for revival, evangelism, and testimony activities. It is understandable that people might wonder, “When does he actually do his attorney work?”
He confidently states that he has mastered the skill of managing his time effectively and making progress in his legal work while working with Korean companies. He still meets Pastor Mike once a year and credits their prayers with enabling him to harmoniously balance his legal practice and church ministry. Community organizations that he serves in the forefront of their church ministry invariably mention Yong J. An’s charity work. His significant contributions were inspired by the genuine care of Rev. Joohan Kang (pastor of Houston Vision Church) for the homeless, motivating him to open his wallet whenever possible.
Yong J. An reflects, “When I die and God asks how I lived, I ponder what answer I should give. My sole goal is to continue my current work until the end of my life, as it is what pleases God the most.” He smiles brightly with his characteristic warm smile. His considerate approach towards the less fortunate has intertwined beautifully with his faith journey, making Yong J. An a beloved figure in the Houston Korean community. His hope is that, as he envisions, his path will continue to be filled with “God’s grace.”
Meet the authors.
Listen to us discuss our blogs on our YouTube channel.
