‘The God Beside Me’

As autumn fades and 2024 draws to an end, many reflect on the events in their nation, church, family, and personal life. For Ko EunJin from Korea, 2024 has been particularly transformative, as she added the title of “Public Campus Ministry missionary” to her identity as part of Adventist Youth.

Serving in ministry at Xindian Adventist church in Taiwan has filled her with experiences and emotions she might never encounter again, making it an unforgettable chapter in her life.

Sharing ‘My’ God

“I attended Adventist schools from kindergarten to high school, spending over 12 years immersed in Adventist education,” EunJin says. “But once I stepped into society, I realized I couldn’t even explain the God I believe in. I wanted to become someone who could confidently introduce ‘my faith’ and ‘the God I’ve met.’ I strongly desired to share the love I had experienced with those who didn’t yet know the truth.”

This aspiration led her to temporarily put aside her other plans and dreams and apply to be a Public Campus Ministry (PCM) missionary. During this short period of about a year, her focus was to share the warmth of being in God’s church with local youth in Taiwan. She prayed they would treasure the love of God they experienced at church and remember it in difficult times. She also hoped that this would lead them to encounter God personally.

A Time to Learn

What began as an effort to bless others unexpectedly became a blessing for EunJin herself. Through the PCM mission work, she learned to rely on God rather than herself. She confronted her pride and self-reliance, realizing she was weak without God. This humbling experience made her more grateful for God’s presence and taught her the wisdom and courage of waiting for Him to act in His time.

These lessons gave her the strength to persevere through challenges and pray humbly at the foot of the cross in all circumstances, the most significant spiritual benefit she gained from her mission work, she says.

EunJin’s life now seems divided into before and after her PCM missionary service. The depth of her faith and her perspective on life have changed significantly through that year. She now understands the immense joy and fulfillment of empathizing with and contributing to others’ happiness. Even when the mission felt overwhelming to her, the sight of young people rejoicing in their faith through her efforts gave her the energy to continue and filled her with happiness.

Looking back, EunJin says she believes God, who had accompanied her like a shadow throughout her life, called her to be a “missionary” at the perfect time. Despite growing up in church and attending Adventist schools, her relationship with God had remained primarily her parents’ God or the God taught in school. She had made little effort to meet God personally.

The God she encountered in the mission field was not a conceptual or educational figure. He was always present, right by her side, she says. The PCM missionary experience became an opportunity to realize how precious and grateful she was for this faith.

“Perhaps if I had faced challenges in the past, I would have stubbornly tried to overcome them on my own or been someone who let go of God first,” EunJin says. “But the warmth of God’s presence and the Holy Spirit working in my heart led me to this mission field.”

‘Why Did You Apply?’

When asked about her most memorable moment during the mission, EunJin reflects on her interactions with others.

“There was one youth I thought would take a long time to accept God — or maybe wouldn’t believe. Judging by human standards, I doubted their spiritual journey. But I prayed fervently for them. One day, that person asked me, ‘Why did you apply to be a missionary?’ ”

EunJin happily and earnestly explained, in broken Chinese, the God she had encountered. This was the first time this individual had asked her about faith, and it was a significant moment, as she felt the Holy Spirit present and working in the person’s heart.

God’s Precious Children

Why is global mission work important for Adventist youth today? As a peer facing an era of intense competition and uncertainty, EunJin sees significance in this work through the lens of her generation’s struggles.

“Young people today are prone to relying on themselves rather than God amidst fierce competition,” she observes. “But this mindset often leaves them feeling lonelier and more vulnerable, making them more susceptible to emotional wounds from their surroundings.”

As someone who shares these struggles, she wishes to teach others how to depend on God. “Helping others understand that they are God’s precious creations and teaching them how to love themselves rightly is incredibly important and necessary,” she says.

EunJin wholeheartedly recommends the PCM missionary program to her peers. The experiences gained through this work are invaluable. She is confident that the lessons learned during this year will help her maintain her faith and live as an Adventist youth even after returning to Korea. Sharing her faith with others and discussing spiritual concerns has made her missionary journey deeply meaningful.

When asked what advice she would give to youth preparing for the PCM program, EunJin responded, “This is my advice. If you’re considering PCM, take time to reflect on your personal experiences with God and organize them in advance. Once you’re in the mission field, you might find it hard to set aside time for deep reflection amid the busy schedule.”

Perhaps even right now, EunJin is meeting with her personal God, walking with Him, and journeying on toward Him.

The original version of this story was posted on the Northern Asia-Pacific Division news site.