Why We're Moving to South Korea

I try not to be overly personal in my blog posts, but I would like to use this forum to explain to those who know me what I'll be doing in South Korea.

The campus is surrounded by rice fields.

In February, I accepted a teaching position at Pyeongtaek International Christian School (PICS) in Pyeongtaek, South Korea, a city approximately one hour south of Seoul. Established in 1990, PICS is a fully-accredited, English-language school that operates on an American system and serves families that are native Korean as well as international. While it is an unapologetically Christian school, it is open to families of all religious preferences, which means there will likely be students who are Buddhist and/or atheist any given year. PICS is one school in the larger Network of International Christian Schools (NICS), headquartered in Southaven, Mississippi.

Though I expect that my role will be broadened when I arrive in August, I've been hired primarily as the senior high Bible teacher. My classes will include Old Testament/New Testament survey, worldview, apologetics, and systematic theology (doctrines).

(LtoR) Gavin, Charlie, April, Adaleigh (Addie)

My wife, April, and I are both "missionaries" for NICS and are excited to get there. Our hearts have been drawn to South Korea for a number of years now, as both of our children were adopted from South Korea. Through their adoptions, we traveled to Seoul twice and loved our experience. Now, God has called us to return there to serve His Kingdom, and we have signed a two-year contract, which may be extended annually after that.

As stated, I will be teaching at PICS, and April will be able, for the first time, to stay home full-time to care for our home and two children. In addition, she will likely be very involved with whatever church we join. Ideally, she will find some sort of orphan care ministry in which to serve, because God has broken her heart for the fatherless and motherless, and she clearly has the spiritual gifts of mercy and service. Our calling to Korea, like our marriage, is a joint calling.

We will be fully supported by a modest paycheck and provided housing in the nearby city of Songtan, which is near the U.S. Osan Air Force Base. However, we are in the process of selling everything we own in the U.S. in preparation for our move. Not only do we need to free up the assets in order to afford the move, but we simply do not want to have to ship much to Korea. As our former pastor used to tell us, it is better to be "high speed and low drag." And, there is something spiritually cathartic about purging your life of all of your possessions.

In the months before our move, we will be raising a relatively small amount of financial support in order to finance our move to Korea (mainly the cost of plane travel, shipping, and government forms, such as passports and visas). We would love for you to support us with prayer and words of encouragement. Additionally, if you would like to support us financially, let us know. All financial support is sent directly to NICS.



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