Newly appointed department directors of the Northern Asia-Pacific Division (NSD), and their spouses, gathered at the NSD Leadership Training Center in Jeju for an orientation and planning for the coming years until 2025. It was a series of two meetings, which were held from May 12 to 13, and June 8 to 10, 2021.
In the first meeting, the directors received job descriptions and department orientations. NSD president Kim SiYoung opened the meeting by sharing the word of God, emphasizing the importance of mission. For the coming years until 2025, the NSD would like to emphasize the following four areas: Implementation of the I Will Go Strategic Plan, Digital Evangelism, Strengthening of the Children and Youth Ministries, and North Korea Mission.
Dr. Richard Sabuin, NSD acting executive secretary, presented the job descriptions of each departmental director to prevent any overlap of functions, and to allow collaboration and teamwork among the departments. Pastor Kim SunHwan, NSD associate secretary, presented a review of the human resource related information which will help department directors conduct their jobs more effectively. In addition, Elder Lyu DongJin, NSD undertreasurer, presented an orientation about financial matters.
At the end of the meeting, Dr. Sabuin shared a devotional on servant leadership from John 13, highlighting the examples of Jesus in leadership and service: Jesus serves because He loves His disciples; He serves although He has all authority in heaven and on earth; He serves all including the one who has plans to betray Him; Jesus serves in demonstrating to His disciples how to serve; He serves in the context of the plan of salvation; Jesus serves although no one serves Him. He says, “Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them” (v.17, NIV).
The second meeting, held from June 8 to 10, 2021, focused on strategic planning. Department directors presented the strategic plans of their departments for 2021 to 2025. All were excited in looking forward to collaborating with the unions and attached fields to implement the plans.
Three directors, Jacob Ko for Health Ministries, Jonas Arrais for Ministerial Association and Chaplaincy, and Raquel Arrais for Children’s, Family, and Women’s Ministries, were not able to join the meetings as they are still in transition to the NSD.
At the meetings, the group conducted team building activities. In the afternoons, they played Jokgu (a Korean-style football) together. In addition, the group hiked Mt.Hallasan, the highest mountain in South Korea. Although they did not climb the last 200m to the peak of the mountain, they had a good time together which symbolized team spirit to collaborate and face challenges together.
News article by Richard Sabuin, NSD Acting Executive Secretary