Why Korea? The Story Behind Our Big Move
If you would have told us a couple years ago we’d be selling the majority of our belongings, packing up, and taking our family of four to Pyeongtaek, South Korea— we probably would have called you crazy. BUT it’s funny how life goes and ever so unique how God orchestrates our paths. There have been many moments along the way in James and I’s (Stephanie writing here) stories so far both independently before even meeting and collectively over the past almost 14 years together.
In early 2024, James attended a conference where he first learned a statistic that broke his heart for the nations and struck in him a desire to do more for the Gospel.
174,202 people die across the globe daily apart from Christ
James left that conference and said a prayer that he didn’t share with me. He asked that God would give me the same brokenness and the same feeling that we should go to the nations without ever telling me he was having those inclinations himself.
Fast forward several months, and wouldn’t you know, I started having those same whispers from the Holy Spirit. Through the teaching of our Pastor and a personal testimony from a missionary, I felt impressed that we needed to seriously consider what our faith was worth. Indeed, it is worth literally everything we can give.
With that, I turned to James after church one day and said with tears in my eyes, “I think God is telling us to go.”
At this point we had absolutely no idea where, when, or how we would go. But, we did feel we needed to relinquish our idea of what the future for our family looked like, and just give God our Yes. This was about July 2024 at this point.
Through a series of conversations missionaries, international pastors, our own mentors, research, and prayer- we begin the journey of seeking international missional opportunities over the next 6 months.
I received a lighthearted text from James one day, “how about South Korea"?”
….”sure” I replied hastily and mindlessly as I was in midst of a hectic work day.
Little did I know, we would soon be invited for an initial interview in early December with Songtan Central Baptist Church in Pyeongtaek, South Korea. That initial interview excited us in a way no other opportunity had yet. SCBC has strong ties with the Southern Baptist convention, they identify themselves as a sending church due to the rotational nature of their congregation, and their search committee was adamantly heartfelt and prayerful about ensuring they choose the Pastor who would be the right fit for their next leader.
Through a series of conversations, 6am Zoom calls, prayers, and much patience, James was chosen from a large candidate pool as the desired next Senior Pastor of SCBC.
Thus begins our journey….
