English Ministry preacher Erik Turkelson leads the congregation in a recitation of the Apostle’s Creed at Kangnam University’s first official English-language service on October 5 on the 4th floor of Wooweon Hall.
(Photos: Charles Ian Chun)
Kangnam University’s 11:00 Sunday service has been a fixture in the schedule of students, faculty, and members of the local community for years. Held entirely in Korean, however, the university’s considerable international student population has felt left out.
“Most of us are lost,” says Nigerian Business Administration PhD student Daniel Dare Joseph. We don’t actually understand the sermons. We go to church to worship God in truth and in spirit. If you go and don’t even understand what the preacher is saying, you’re not connected at all.”
The university finally dealt with this drawback in September and began offering services in English with Department of Liberal Arts instructor Erik Turkelson serving as preacher.
Student response has been positive says Dare. “It is with excitement that someone like me is receiving this English service because we can interact, we can talk, and we can understand what the man of God is saying.”
The university held its first official English Ministry service October 5 on the 4th floor of Wooweon Hall. With Kangnam University president Shinil Yoon and numerous faculty in attendance, university pastor Junwoo Lee delivered his first English-language sermon.
Kangnam University pastor Lee Jun Woo delivers his sermon “Vision” in English at the first official English-language service October 5 on the 4th floor auditorium in Wooweon Hall.
Pastor Lee hopes everyone at Kangnam University will attend the new service. “The English service is not only for our international students,” he says. “We also want our Korean students to be able to hear the sermons in English. With Erik Turkelson as preacher, we’re able to provide what we think is a good chance for them. We look forward to more foreign professors attending as well.”
English Ministry services are held every Sunday at 1:00 pm on the 4th floor of Wooweon Hall.
For more information contact Erik Turkelson, trulyrisen@gmail.com.
Call to worship
Kangnam University president Yoon Shinil attends the university’s first official English-language service.
Kangnam University English Ministry preacher Erik Turkelson leads members of the congregation in singing “How Great Thou Art”.
Preacher Erik Turkelson invites questions about the day’s sermon.