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I first came to Garrett in 2017 as an international student, to learn about theology and think about my role in the ministry of the church. It was also a time when I began deeply questioningmy cultural identity—my Korean-born, New Zealand raised, English-speaking self that naturally passed as a Korean American—a confusing matter, on top of all the theological questions.

While I spent much time re-defining who I was, and what I belonged to, Garrett helped me unlearn and relearn about myself and my faith. My time in the M.DIV program (2017-2022) was liberating as I was able to explore myself beyond belongingness—it gave me a new language to describe my identity, my faith, and my theology, in addition to an expanded perspective onthe world. Garrett became a new home, and my comfort zone.

In unfortunate times, I had to return to Seoul during the COVID-19 pandemic, right in the middle of the 2020 spring semester. Although I was returning home, “home” required re-locating, re-adjusting and re-learning the context. Perhaps I returned a different self then when I left, but still, motherland seemed foreign. The newly updated-self spent a long time trying to translate this new language into the mother tongue—constantly seeking validation that what I learned in the U.S can be comprehended in Korea as well.

Amid it all, I continued with life. I served as a part-time pastor, an English tutor, and an online international student—now all in Korea. In close proximity, I experienced the diverse social landscape of children within the Korean Church. Especially during the pandemic, I saw how the church and congregations flexibly shifted, pushing through the unprepared and unfamiliar time. Experiencing Korea at a microscopic level expanded my perspective and understanding of my motherland to a very different level. Motherland did not need my translation, in fact, it required me to re-learn to speak in her way. I needed to see and understand home from a different perspective, through a different lens, with a different method, using different analogies. Being contextual, not from the outside, but from the inside, at the center.

Now, as a place of ministry, I am continuing my journey and efforts to keep my perspective from the inside. As part of the educational ministries for children, youth, and young adults in the local churches in Seoul, I am much better at reading the landscapes, the lives of the people, with a better understanding of the Korean Church. In deeper yearning to be educated to help the younger generation of Korea—in other words, future leaders of the Korean Church—I wanted to return to Garrett, this time staying in Korea.

Gratefully, with the option of studying overseas, I am currently an online international Master of Arts in Theology and Ministry student, with a concentration in educational leadership. Learning online helps me to stay in stronger connection to my context; while continuing studies in the new languages I have attained. Grateful to Garrett’s new and developingtechnological environment, my learning spaces are expanded not just to the U.S, but with students from all over the world. Not only do I get to stay close to the roots of my education, I am given the opportunity to experiment, apply and adapt these lessons to our lives, in our contexts, and ministries. I am also supported with faculty and staff attentive to the diversity of culture, faith, and time differences, helping students not just to learn, but also to think about each other’s contexts. The intentional learning community Garrett has built is an inspiration, and kindles hope for the ministries that we imagine together.

For me, Garrett is a place that redefines who I am through critical education and theological journey. It continues to help me stay a striving learner, a practical theologian, and a passionate minister today. Feeling closer and at home more than ever, I am excited to continue dreaming how we can raise generations of Christian leaders in Korea, who will empower my people, our Church, and the world.