Northwest welcomed 12 new Korean language students in March. Our four new Doctor of Ministry (KDMN) students and eight Bachelor of Christian Leadership (BACL) students gathered with our faculty, staff, and KDMN alumni on March 4 for our New Students Orientation.
“Jesus supported what he taught about Kingdom leadership by modelling it before his followers with perfect consistency,” remarked Larry Perkins, as he delivered a word of encouragement to our incoming Korean Language students. Each of our Korean Language programs has a heavy emphasis on leadership, so it seemed only fitting to receive words of encouragement and perspective on Jesus’ “perfect consistency” in leadership as the students venture into their studies.
Our New Student Orientation was hosted by Dr. Daniel Park and the KDMN Alumni Association. They sought to welcome, orient, and thank our incoming students. It is not often that you hear of faculty and alumni thanking their new students for registering but these students deserved our thanks. Eleven of our twelve incoming students had to patiently face obstacles presented by the COVID-19 pandemic in retaining their student visas, making travel arrangements, and meeting all the requirements for entry into Canada during the pandemic. We are thankful for their perseverance in pursuing their studies, and ultimately pursuing God’s call to seminary.
The orientation also included words from by Dr. Howard Andersen, Dr. Larry Perkins. Dr. Don Chang, Dr. Michael Morelli, Dr. Jeehoon Kim, Dr. Daniel Park, and Phoebe Hwang that ranged from welcomes to program introductions to campus services.
We at Northwest would like to extend a grateful “Thank you” to the KDMN Alumni Association. The association recently formed in January 2022 for the purpose of connecting alumni to other alumni, and for connecting alumni to current students to offer encouragement, guidance, and financial assistance through scholarships. The Association generously sponsored the New Student Orientation, capping the event with lunch for all at the TWU cafeteria.
Our prayer for our new students as they begin their studies is encapsulated in the words of Dr. Larry Perkins, “It is our desire to help you become the Kingdom leaders God has already called you to be. The most important lessons and transformations will come not through learning new ideas or techniques, but through how to serve other believers humbly and selflessly.”