Christian Gives Private Tutoring Business to the Church

            In our current rough economy, who would swap a weekly pay check of $2,000 for a $600 one? Perhaps a dedicated Christian; like the person who just handed over his private tutoring company to his church.

            John Jun, 23, gave his tutoring business to 180 Church, located in Union Square and Staten Island, recently. Now known as 180 Tutoring, located on Staten Island, Jun established his private tutoring business two years ago. He initially started out as a private tutor and turned it into a business when parents and students suggested the idea, said Jun. “One day, I found myself believing in what everyone else seemed to see and agreed that what we had to offer to the academic world was worth starting a business for. On a practical level, I had all the right ingredients to start business. It was so ripe,” said Jun. “There was a demand and I had all the means to operate. Building, transportation, material- I had everything I needed to make a business out of it.”

            “180 Tutoring covers content that appear on the following standardized examinations: Math and ELA city/state-wide exams, SSHSAT, and PSAT/SAT. This includes various subjects in math, reading comprehension, writing, and grammar,” said Jun. “However, we are not limited to these as we also provide private assistance to our students who need help with other school subjects.” 

            Kimberly Chiu, 16, a junior at Susan E. Wagner High School, was tutored by Jun over the summer of 2008. Even before the tutoring business was officially handed over to 180 Church, students were aware that Jun was raising money for the new Manhattan church location, said Chiu. “I think it’s wonderful because it’s helping me and benefitting the church,” said Chiu.  

            Jun, an Americanized Korean with a welcoming smile, has been serving at 180 Church for the past five years. “Because I didn’t have any personal ambition for gain from the very beginning of starting this business, I gave the business over to church so that it could help fund the many ministries that I myself have greatly benefitted from,” said Jun. “However, it wasn’t just a ‘noble’ act. The business also benefitted when it was handed over to the church. The church provided a building in which classes could be held and legally the business was able to be recognized with the churches corporate ministry backing it up.”

            When Jun first pitched the idea to Sam Kim, senior pastor of 180 Church, Kim thought it was a great idea because it would help both parties. “First, it was more of a practical decision more than anything else. Under a church/religious organization, you do not have to abide by board of education requirement teaching license for a tutoring business,” said Kim. “Simply because of the separation of church and State policy, John would have freedom to expand his business without the State imposing its values and regulations.”  

            Besides the obvious fact that 180 Tutoring brings in more income for the church, it has also provided many people at 180 Church, especially recent college graduates, with jobs, said Kim.

            Fortunately for 180 Tutoring, the financial crisis has not affected business one bit. “We actually got more students during that time,” said Kim. The tutoring business is not the only thing that is left unaffected. “On a personal level, I believe that everything I need, food, money, shelter, and even personal needs are all provided for me by my ‘Father.’ Some call it foolish, but I wasn’t really personally influenced by our country’s economic problems,” said Jun. “Giving up my business was solely based on a desire to help and grow something I love.”