On February 23, 2025, James Choi held the first public worship service of Crossings Church in North Augusta.

Choi, a graduate of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, started considering church planting after writing a paper about the process. Although he did not immediately step into a church planting role after seminary, Choi longed to apply what he had learned into the established planting model.

“I was really hungry, desiring a movement…in the States. I started there, and then got into different ministry positions in youth and worship.” Choi said. “I found myself in the Augusta area in Georgia about five years ago, taking on a student pastor position, serving faithfully.”

After a season spent on staff at established churches, Choi felt the call from the Lord to begin a new church. For Choi, the turning moment in his decision making occurred when he was convicted by the Lord to live more intentionally with his neighbors. 

“I tried to incorporate time in my life where I could be with my neighbors and have them over for meals. I started pursuing that, and as I kept doing that, I felt like it was nearly impossible to keep that pace, being a student pastor and dividing my time with my neighbors.” Choi said.

With the support of SCBaptists, Choi began the process of planting. The church plant, supported by the SCBaptist Start Team and Aiken Baptist Association, was the fruit of Choi’s obedience to the Lord.

“In the last year or so, God stirred up the desire to church plant. I did a church planting residency for a year in Georgia, and I felt like the best step was to plant in the Central Savannah River Area,” Choi said.

Welcoming Diversity

The Central Savannah River Area (CSRA) comprises around 20 counties in the Augusta area of both Georgia and South Carolina. An ethnically diverse region, the CSRA is home to families of different racial and social backgrounds. Choi, reflecting on his testimony, approached these demographics as an opportunity to put into action the lessons the Lord had taught him. 

“I felt like that was how God uniquely made me, being a minority people group in my heritage, that I could reach other people that felt like me,” Choi said. “Our desire [as a church] is to build bridges to people who felt like they were far away, not only from God, but from people.“

In addition, the Start Network enrolled Choi in a church planting program designed to help Choi build relationships and learn practical tools useful in the process of planting. “They helped me connect to other church plants that had a similar vision and heart for church planting,” Choi said.

In light of his experiences, Choi gives advice and encouragement to future church planters. Specifically, for those targeting minority groups in their communities, Choi advises planters to embrace the unique way the Lord has made them. Since most people have felt outcasted or alone at some point in their life, Choi believes that potential church members will be drawn into a church environment that seeks to build bridges.

“It starts with representation. I am praying that the Lord would send people of different backgrounds, races, and ethnic groups to be apart of leadership. It’s a balance between being intentional while also being authentic. The future of church planting is an openness to receive people who have different visions and callings,” Choi said.