Hugh Richardson said for him, it was an obvious yes. Every summer Shelby Baptist Association has a handful of interns, mostly local students.
But this year Chris Mills, student missions mobilizer for the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions (SBOM), asked if they would like to host two student interns from South Korea.
Richardson and other staff members “jumped at the chance,” he said.
And so now, for the next several weeks, Asun Kim and Sumin Park are partnering with them to carry out ministries from Vacation Bible School and evangelism to construction and work in the association’s community gardens.
‘Unique opportunity’
Mills called it a “unique opportunity” for Alabama Baptists to partner with students from other places in the world.
“Especially considering the Korean population and opportunities to connect with Korean ministries, this partnership is strategic,” he said. “I am encouraged by Shelby Association taking advantage of this opportunity and I’m looking forward to hearing about how God uses these students to impact the community.”
Kim, who served in Missouri last year, said her summer missions opportunities have given her the chance to see God at work all over the world — and to be a part of serving Him.
“In Korea, I only thought about studying God and feeling God. But now I feel how blessed it is to serve the local people in Christ’s name,” she said.
Park said serving as a missions volunteer “warms her heart.” This summer was her first visit to the United States.
“I am deeply grateful to many people here for their hospitality and care since I first stepped here,” she said, noting that one of her favorite things to be a part of was UNITE, the association’s student missions week. She said she loved engaging with students, working alongside them and leading them in Bible study.
Rebekah Parr, ministry evangelism catalyst for Shelby Association, said Park and Kim have been a blessing.
“They’ve been so sweet, and willing to do whatever we need,” Parr said.
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