UW Staff Updates

The first big event we held during New Student Outreach was specifically designed for non-Christians.  This event was meant to provide a context for Christians and non-Christians to dialogue about an issue that often is seen as taboo in religious contexts.  Many people have been hurt by Christians when it came to their sexuality.  We wanted the opportunity to build bridges where there were walls.

120 students (85 non-Christians) came for free pizza and stayed to watch three short drama presentations having to do with relationships and sexuality.  They were funny, yet realistic and thought provoking. Afterward, they were invited to break into small groups and discuss what they connected with.  Our student leaders spread themselves out to join in the conversations.

We were upfront about being a Christian organization and honest about how Christians are often seen regarding these topics and that we wanted to listen, whereas in the past we have not been good listeners.

Students' responses were overwhelmingly positive!  It was significant and even healing for many of the students to discuss such a meaningful topic openly and without judgment.  One girl who had been hurt by Christians in the past so much that she left her faith said, "This is the first time I've been around a group of Christians that I believe are not going to judge me for the mistakes I've made in the past."  Students thanked us for holding the event.

Many students signed up to be notified when our next event would be.  And several of our student leaders came away with new friendships and encouraged at how natural and life-giving it was to spend time with non-Christians! 

Written by Phil & Ellen Hoffman

Alumni Update
Featuring BUM YONG KIM (Class of 1993)

Bum Yong Kim studied art and biology at the University of Washington, graduating in 1993.  Although he had spent most of his life in Ohio, he moved to Seattle to attend UW.

During the first week of school, he discovered the Bible Study on his floor in McCarty Hall and got involved right away.  He also began the Mark study his first year and attended InterVarsity’s Large Groups. His small group leaders were really influential those first three years at UW, especially Bryan Connor, Connie Anderson (Parker), and Karen Luten (Gunhus). Reflecting back, he remembers having daily Morning Prayer five days a week during his junior year, which was a substantial influence in his life.

Prior to the summer of his junior year, Bum Yong majored in art with the intention of becoming a freelance artist, living in the burbs, and being a cultural Christian.  As the result of summer missions’ trips to East Palo Alto (EPA), Bum Young realized his need to be a part of God’s redemptive plan for the world.  Exposed to the brokenness of the world and systemic sin issues, the course of his vocation took a dramatic shift.  Looking back at the experience, Bum Young comments that the summer in EPA “opened up my narrow view of the world.” 

Although Bum Yong had been marginally involved with InterVarsity during his early college years, he felt God’s leading to become a worship leader and small group leader at UW with IV.  Not only did Bum Yong become more involved in IV, but he changed his art major to major in Biology with the vision of returning to EPA to become a teacher and impact the inner city.   Bum Yong also met Angela in Physics class.  She was his lab partner at the time and later became his wife and life partner!

Bum Yong is currently working with InverVarsity Christian Fellowship as the area director in Missouri.  He also enjoys preaching at Rooftop Community Church and Taiwanese Presbyterian in St. Louis, where he, Angela, and their three children- Tyler (7), Maya (4), and Ayla (10 months)- now live.  Bum Yong loves IV his staff team and enjoys working with them. 

Bum Yong enjoys competing in triathlons in his area.  He also tinkers with video editing and likes role playing games.

 But how did Bum Yong end up with IV when he had intended to return to EPA?  As he was approaching graduation, Scott Baker (his staff worker) approached him saying, “Bum, I’m sure that if you went to EPA now, you would have a lasting impact with your ministry with inner city kids.  But if you come on staff with InterVarsity, I can help you learn how to raise up leaders so that not only are you impacting the city, but you are able to multiply your influence through others.”