Eliot Luongo didn’t grow up in the church, but God used a friend’s invitation to a Korean-American congregation to spark a lifelong calling. Today, he serves as co-lead pastor at The Vine Church in La Crescenta, California. He and his wife, Jinna, live in Southern California with their three children: Titus, Cara, and Lydia.

Q: Share briefly about your upbringing, family, and place you grew up.

I was born and raised in Cerritos, California. My parents had been raised Catholic, but they stopped being religious before I was born. However, my older half-siblings began attending church with their dad, and they would invite me along from time to time. That was my first exposure to the gospel, and looking back, I can see that a seed of faith was planted in me at a young age.

I did not attend church regularly at first, and when I did, I was not relationally connected to anyone there. Still, my faith continued to grow as I listened to sermons both in church and on the radio. I also read books that helped answer my questions about whether Christianity was reasonable and true. In high school, as I discussed faith with friends, one of them invited me to his church in Long Beach, which happened to be a Korean-American church. That was the first time I became meaningfully connected to a community of believers. It was also my first real exposure to Christianity in a Korean-American context, which has been a meaningful part of my story, even though I come from a different ethnic and cultural background.

Q: How did you hear about Talbot? What led you to come to the school?

I first heard about Talbot when I was in high school, though at the time I knew very little about it. Later, while I was attending UCLA, I knew campus ministry staff and a youth pastor from my friend’s church who were studying at Talbot. They spoke highly of the school and were eager to share what they were learning. Seeing their excitement made me want to study there too.

When I sensed that God was leading me to seminary, Talbot stood out as a school with a high regard for Scripture and a place where I could deepen my understanding of theology, the Bible, and ministry. It was also meaningful that Talbot was close to where I had been born and raised. I went on to earn my M.Div. from Talbot, graduating in December 2010.

Q: Share some of your favorite memories from Talbot. What did you gain the most from your time at Talbot?

Coming from secular schools all my life, I was struck when professors at Talbot would open class in prayer, and even more so when they took prayer requests from students. I remember one of my New Testament professors getting choked up as he read Scripture to the class. That moment stayed with me. It showed me that teaching the Bible was not merely an academic task, but a ministry flowing from personal devotion to Jesus.

I also formed meaningful friendships with fellow students, which became an important source of encouragement. What I gained most from Talbot was not only theological knowledge, but the example of professors who loved Christ, loved Scripture, and took both study and ministry seriously.

Q: What are you doing now in the ministry? How did Talbot prepare you for this?

I currently serve as the Co-Lead Pastor at The Vine Church in La Crescenta, where I have been for the last 11 years. The Vine was planted out of a Korean immigrant church 21 years ago, but its founding leaders intentionally desired that it not remain a mono-ethnic church. Today, it is a largely pan-Asian congregation with a significant number of non-Asian members. One of our distinctives is a commitment to plurality of leadership, with elders sharing equal authority in shepherding and leading the church.

Talbot prepared me well for pastoral ministry. I learned how to exegete and interpret the Bible with confidence, communicate Scripture through preaching and teaching, and watch my own walk with the Lord as I seek to shepherd others. The training I received gave me tools that I continue to use every week in ministry.

Q: What advice would you give to current Talbot students?

I would tell current Talbot students to make their walk with Christ primary. If that is not healthy, no amount of theological training will be enough. As you fill your mind with wonderful truths and deep insights from Scripture, remember to also tend to your heart and soul, depending on the Holy Spirit to empower and lead you.

I would also encourage students to build friendships with one another. Life can be busy, and there are always reasons not to invest time and energy into relationships, but it is absolutely worth it. Finally, seek out a mentor. Someone farther along in ministry can be a valuable source of wisdom, guidance, and encouragement as you prepare for the work God is calling you to do.

– Interview by Ben Shin