Our History

In 2021, the Hiebert Center for World Christianity and Global Theology of Trinity Evangelical Divinity School (TEDS) received a generous grant from the Lilly Endowment to launch a five-year (2021-2025) project called the Thriving Immigrant Congregations Initiative (TICI). During the following years, the TICI team led two cohorts of immigrant churches from various ethnic backgrounds through two cycles of a two-year learning journey (2022-23 and 2024-25). Then, in early 2025, when TEDS decided to relocate to Vancouver, Canada, the TICI ministry had to find a new U.S. organization to host and support it.

A few months later, the Open Door Presbyterian Church (Herndon, VA), a Korean immigrant church and a key partner of the TICI ministry, graciously decided to take on this role and began partnering with the TICI leadership team to shape TICI’s future plans, which include raising half a million dollars to receive Lilly’s matching grant. When the TICI ministry began at the start of 2021, during the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, it was unclear how well this new ministry might serve immigrant churches in the U.S. Five years later, we can clearly see how God has used it to bless many immigrant churches, bringing much-needed healing and hope to these churches. So, it can only be said, “To God be the glory!”

TICI Project Leadership Team

  • Portrait of a man wearing glasses, a white collared shirt, and a dark sweater, standing outdoors with trees in the background.

    Peter Cha, PhD

    TICI Director

  • A man in a suit smiling in front of a wooden background.

    Joshua Joseph, M.Div

    Associate Director

  • A young woman with long dark hair wearing glasses and pearl earrings, smiling, standing in front of green leafy bushes.

    Angelica Barahona

    Administrative Coordinator

  • Smiling woman with long brown hair and a gray top, outdoors on a cloudy day

    Grace Teo

    Project Intern

TICI Project Consultants/Coaches

  • A man in a gray suit, white shirt, red striped tie, and glasses smiling at an event.

    Pastor Paul Kim

    TICI Project Congregational Consultants/Coaches

  • A man with gray hair, wearing glasses, a white shirt, and a black blazer, smiling in an office setting.

    Pastor John Cha

    TICI Project Congregational Consultants/Coaches

TICI Partners

Black and white logo with a large stylized letter 'L' and the word 'LILLY' above the words 'ENDOWMENT INC' separated by lines, with decorative floral symbols on either side of 'INC'.
Logo of Open Door Presbyterian Church with a stylized blue door icon and black text