Behind the Ministry: Operations
Read about the quiet, purposeful work behind Metro’s Operations Ministry through its various team members.
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Giyoung Lee joined the Operations team in September 2024, back when there was no coffee before service and only two single bathrooms in the previous East Falls building. After some encouragement from a friend who was also on the team, she discovered she loved the behind-the-scenes care for the church. When Metro moved from Ridge Avenue to Wissahickon Avenue in August 2025, Giyoung stayed with Operations, and although responsibilities exponentially grew alongside the larger space, the purpose remained the same.
Now, Giyoung is part of the rotation of team members who arrive at Metro in East Falls at 8:30 AM every Sunday. After praying together, four of them disperse, brewing hot coffee and restocking tea bags before the 9:30 AM church-goers begin to mingle in the Atrium. Others straighten chairs, clean up spills, or refill bathroom supplies. After worshiping with the congregation, the team replenishes caffeine for the second service and sits down to eat lunch together in one of the back rooms. Although cleaning and preparation are both enjoyable, Giyoung’s favorite part of Operations is the people whom she gets to serve with.
“Operations is the introverted counterpart to the Hospitality Ministry, in the sense that we want to ensure the physical space is welcoming for those coming to Sunday worship…”
She expressed, “Our director, Andrew, likes to say that Operations is the introverted counterpart to the Hospitality Ministry, in the sense that we want to ensure the physical space is welcoming for those coming to Sunday worship. With that mentality, I really enjoy the detail-oriented nature of operations! There is a lot of care and intentionality that goes into everything, from researching coffee ratios to ensuring all the chairs are evenly spaced.”
Some may not know that most Saturdays, Operations team members can be found vacuuming the carpet and straightening up every row of chairs so that Sunday can be more restful. If you pass the kitchen, you may catch them donning pink rubber gloves to clean the dishes in the sink. The trash cans never overflow because they quietly take the garbage bags with them as they leave church, and when you arrive for Gospel Academy classes or community group, the tables and chairs are already set because they stay behind to arrange them.
We asked three team members a few questions to gain more perspective on the purpose and characteristics of the Operations Ministry.
Q: Why is the Operations Ministry important to you?
“[Operations] is another avenue to worship God that is not related to directly interacting with the service or congregation, but still plays an important role in having a successful worship,” said David Yoon.
“Operations team is important because Christ views the church as his bride. Just as he loved the body, we too are called to love and care for it. Our main goal is to minimize distractions from the flow of worship, creating an environment where the body can fully focus on his glory,” said Young Lee.
“Our main goal is to minimize distractions from the flow of worship, creating an environment where the body can fully focus on God’s glory.”
Q: What is your personal favorite part of cleaning/setting up Metro?
“My favorite part is the behind-the-scenes aspect. It allows me to take a step back and truly see what the Lord has done not just for me, but for Metro and our members,” said Young Lee.
“I enjoy being on Operations because there’s a strong sense of purpose; we are able to create space for those to encounter the Lord and feel welcomed. It’s a great way to get to know the members of the church and serve alongside them to grow the church more,” said Aaron Kim.
Q: How has being on the Operations team changed the ways you have previously treated maintenance and preparation?
“Before, I didn’t think much about the maintenance and preparation that went into the building. Now I see how self-centered that mindset might have been. After joining Operations, I am reminded that we are all called to be good stewards of this building,” said Giyoung Lee.
“Being on the Operations team at church has changed how I view maintenance and preparations in a big way. It felt to me like more background work and a chore, like people did not notice unless something went wrong. Now I see it as a form of service and leadership, helping to create an environment where people can focus on worship and community without any distractions,” said Aaron Kim.
“…we are able to create space for those to encounter the Lord and feel welcomed.”
Join us for our Church-Wide Spring Cleaning Day on Saturday, May 2 from 10:00AM–12:00PM or 12:00PM-2:00PM as we care for Metro East Falls (4700 Wissahickon Ave). This is a great opportunity to serve together, steward the building God has given us, and prepare our space to welcome visitors for Sunday worship. We are looking for 20 volunteers to help with various cleaning and organizing tasks. If you are able to serve, please sign up here. If you have any questions, please contact andrew@metrophilly.org.
Love the Church by Caring for It
Whether you're folding chairs, brewing coffee, or vacuuming on a Saturday morning, Operations is a ministry of quiet faithfulness. Come serve alongside people who love the church and the people in it.
