Three International Pastors Showcase Diversity in Southern US Church

Many challenges come with being an international worker, including language barriers, culture shock, and homesickness — not to mention the stress associated with visas and residency paperwork. Yet, these individuals left behind the world they knew in order to serve where God called them, learning to trust in Him wholeheartedly during the process. Following are highlights of the experiences of three international pastors and their journey to the Adventist Church’s Kentucky-Tennessee Conference in the United States.

David Corro, a pastor originally from Venezuela, began his journey by preaching evangelistic series across the United States. His powerful sermons in the Lebanon, Tennessee, Hispanic church captivated church members who had been eager to bring him over to help. Although Corro wasn’t actively seeking to move to a new country, he prayed for guidance, and the eventual approval of his R-1 visa after two years signified to him that it was God’s will for him to be in the US.

“I think of the miracles it took for me to get here, and of the churches we’ve opened and the growth that I have seen,” said Corro, who is now a pastor at the Lexington, Kentucky, Hispanic church. “To me, these results are further proof that without a doubt, God continues to show us that He is with us and brought us here.”

Daniel Yoon was a pastor who worked as a chaplain at the Sahmyook Language School in South Korea before moving to Andrews University in Berrien Springs, Michigan, in 2013 to pursue his Master of Divinity degree. He joined the Kentucky-Tennessee Conference in 2016 to work at the Nashville, Tennessee, Korean church. Like many international workers, Yoon’s biggest challenge has been the language barrier.

“Because of that, I have really learned to depend on God,” Yoon said. “He is my best friend and the one I bring my ideas and my problems to.”

Yoon fondly recalls the kindness of the members of Nashville First Seventh-day Adventist Church, who helped him out financially when he first moved to the area.

“They supported our Korean church, and, especially for me, since I started as a part-time pastor. They gave me a stipend until I got my green card,” Yoon said.

Alex Sozinov moved from Ukraine to the US in 2012 to study at Andrews University for his Master of Divinity degree. He first had to overcome the language barrier by taking English classes before enrolling in the seminary.

Sozinov began working as a pastor for the Kentucky-Tennessee Conference in 2017, bringing his passion and dedication to the Franklin, Tennessee, community. While the cultural differences posed significant challenges, Sozinov shared that being a part of the Adventist Church helped him feel a sense of belonging and family no matter where he was.

“You feel like you are part of something great, something really big,” Sozinov said. “I’m still learning the culture and better ways to minister to [the people here], but I’ve always felt like I belonged.”

The Kentucky-Tennessee Conference currently employs 18 international workers from 12 different countries. Steve Haley, conference president, shares that the knowledge, experience, and passion these workers bring are invaluable assets to the conference’s ministry and mission.

“I truly am convinced that the diversity of cultural background greatly enriches this conference,” Haley said. “It enriches me personally. The presence of these pastors and their families reminds us that God’s church is comprised [sic] of all nationalities, each of which brings unique gifts [and] unique contributions…. God has called us to serve in this conference with its increasing great diversity, and that mission is not possible without these pastors and their congregations.”

The original version of this story was posted by Southern Tidings.