Each spring, during final exams week, a group of Korean Studies participants arrive on the Grace College and Seminary campus in Winona Lake, Indiana, pursuing studies for master’s and doctoral degrees. This year, the participants begin their classes May 1 and conclude May 18.
For several years, Grace Seminary, in cooperation with the Holy Way Institute of Theology of South Korea, has offered a Doctor of Missiology, Doctor of Ministry, and Master of Arts in Intercultural Studies in the Korean language. Dr. Choong-Woong Jin from the Holy Way Institute is director of the Korean Study Program. Youngnam Theological Seminary in South Korea also has expressed interest in sending participants to the Grace program, according to Dr. Tom Stallter (pictured), chair of the seminary’s Department of Intercultural Studies and chair of the Department of Korean Studies.
To assist in the growth of the program, the seminary has started its new Center for Korean Studies. In addition to its administrative office in McClain Hall, the Center also will include a new Korean Studies Resource Room nearby.
Assisting Dr. Stallter in establishing the new Center is Grace College senior Cho-long Kim. She is translating written materials into Korean and is involved in recruiting and establishing a Korean language Web site, catalog, and promotional materials for the Center.
Grace sees great potential in using this program to train leaders who can teach and preach in this rapidly-growing part of the world.