JENNIFER KIM
SENT BY symphony church TO EAST ASIA.
Jennifer currently lives in Bergen County, New Jersey while serving as the youth pastor and media director at Catalyst Agape Church. She is pursuing her Master of Divinity at Alliance Theological Seminary while also working as a teaching assistant at the seminary.
1. When did you go on your 1-yr internship?
2013-2014
2. Where do you currently attend church?
Catalyst Agape Church
3. How did you decide to devote one year to serving as an intern?
My decision to go on one-year was actually a two year process that led me to a journey of healing and submission before I I acted on God’s call. To make it short, I radically encountered the love of God in my college years that completely turned my life upside down. I was fervently pursuing my dream to be a famous film director and when I experienced the healing love of God my passion for film turned to a passion to make sure no person would ever go without experiencing this love. With this new passion, I heard the Lord ask me to take it outside of my four walls, beginning my call to go overseas.
4. During your time as an intern, what roles did you play?
My main role during my internship was to lead English Corners and build relationship with non-believing locals in hopes to lead them to church. I also helped start an English corner and Bible study at a local university.
5. What is one realization or revelation that God showed you about Himself, people, and/or His kingdom as a result of your internship?
During my one year, I came to deeply understand the commonly said phrase, “God cares more about your heart.” As I experienced God prune and shape my heart, character, and soul, He truly showed me that tangible fruit is secondary if we cannot be people who live in the fruit of the Spirit.
6. How has your experience while interning influenced what you are doing now and what you hope to do in the future?
The growth and revelations I’ve gained through the lessons I learned on the mission field have been monumental in helping me realize what kind of leader I want to be, what kind of life I want to pursue, and what kind of legacy I want to leave behind. It has launched me forward to pursue and fight for the Kingdom in ways that were not a reality before. While I may have continued to pursue my call to ministry after my one-year, it would not have been with the passion and goal that I have now.
7. How would you advise interns to maximize their experience while they are on the field?
One year may sound like a significant amount of time, but it flies by. There will be a point in your internship, where the days will feel long but the weeks will just wiz by. So, maximize your time, invest in learning the language, and invest in relationships because they can last a lifetime! Leave with the goal to finish well and the run the race to win the prize to hear God say, good and faithful servant.