Yoshimatsu, who has been serving at the Church of the Good Shepherd since July, said he has enjoyed learning the traditions and practices of the local congregation and meeting and talking with church members.

Yoshimatsu had previously been minister at the Park Ridge United Methodist Church, where he began serving in 1995 and stayed for 13 years. In 2005, he married Izumi.

His name in Japanese characters, has meaning. "Jun" means pure heart, and "Yoshimatsu" means lucky pine tree. The pine tree also symbolizes fortune.

"So my family name literally means double luck," he said.

He was born in Tokyo, the son of a Christian church pastor; his mother was a public kindergarten teacher.

Yoshimatsu came to the United States in 1979 to study fine arts and earned undergraduate degrees at the Fashion Institute of Technology and Pratt Institute.

"Another reason why I came to New York," he said, "was that I wanted to run away from the church."

In Japan, he said, he felt pressure from church members who expected him to follow in his father’s footsteps, "which I did not want."

"In my college years, I was so lost that I did not know if I would become an artist to make my living.

"I was disgusted by the commercialized art world, in which many artists compromised themselves in order to sell their artworks," he said. "I did not want to do that, yet I did not know what else to do.

"Yet, sometimes God captures us unexpectedly," he said.

At that "wandering time," he was invited to participate in the United Methodist Church’s summer camp program in 1981.

"It was an extraordinary experience for me," he said, "and it changed my life."

As a leader, he stayed with children at the camp for several weeks during the summer and witnessed their changes.

Many children, he said, were inspired by the Bible and became very faithful. Some of those who seemed to be troublemakers became gentle, loving and caring for others.

"I received the divine calling in such a moment."

He subsequently went to two seminaries, Drew University Theological School and Yale University Divinity School, to pursue a master of divinity degree and a master’s in sacred theology, the latter in a specialized field of religion and art.

"I have never lost my interests in art, even after dedicating myself to God and the church," he said. "Hence, I am still studying at Columbia University Teachers College to pursue a doctoral degree in art education, combining religious studies."

In that vein, he invited anyone interested in cultural activities — for example, a Metropolitan Museum tour, religious studies with art and other programs and events — to contact the Church of the Good Shepherd.

Besides religion and art, he said, his interests are education, social issues and concerns, spiritual growth of the church members — including himself — history, philosophy and ecumenism.

"I always love to learn new things," he said.