Jennifer Gentry (’13)

by | Oct 31, 2016 | Graduates Around the World, News

I am ministering in Songdo, Incheon, South Korea. I work under Pastor Mike Genger.
I have been serving as a junior church teacher, kindergarten teacher, and pianist for a little over a month now. I have been a church secretary now for a little over three months.
First, I live with a lady and her two daughters. I am their nanny, and I help with any household chores that need to be done. The lady’s name is MiEun, and her two daughters’ names are Gahyun (7) and Gina (4). MiEun got saved in September of last year. Her husband Mark lives in California and is an atheist, not wanting his wife or daughters to have anything to do with Christianity. IIBC is praying for his salvation.

In my kindergarten class, I have three students: Kyle, Hannah, and Evan. Kyle is in K5; Hannah and Evan are in K4. They have been such a joy and fun to teach so far. Kyle and Hannah’s mom was recently saved and baptized, and they have become members of the church. I also teach the junior church class on Sunday. Most of the kids can understand what I say when I tell the lesson; because even though some of the kids are Korean, they do understand English.

The church members here are such a joy to be around. They are on fire for God. Every third Sunday we have an all-church soulwinning. Soulwinning is a bit different here because it is difficult to go door-to-door when there are only apartment buildings. More often than not, the security guard will throw us out of the apartment building before we have a chance to tape an invitation to every door. It has been a challenge but also a blessing—challenge because we have to disguise our intent, but a blessing because if we do succeed, some of those people will come out to church. Some of our church members have to drive long distances to church each week, but they still take the time to spend the entire Sunday here at church. It is such a blessing to work with people who; even though they have a super busy schedule, have to leave early in the morning to get here to church; but they are still here on time each Sunday, willing to do whatever is asked of them.

Pastor and Mrs. Genger and their family have been so wonderful to work with. I still don’t know how they manage to get everything done with all they have to do throughout the week. On October 16, it will be IIBC’s 5th year anniversary. Everyone is working hard to get the news out to anyone and everyone. We are praying and hoping for more than a hundred at least. Evidently, having a five-year anniversary is not a big thing among Koreans.

I never realized how much fun teaching can be. Before this, just to get me in front of kids and talking or telling a story was like pulling teeth. I didn’t like it, and I wanted no part of it. Now, there is a joy there and also confidence in what I can do. If you had told me a year ago that I would be teaching a junior church class, playing the piano for the services, or even teaching kindergarten, (besides living on the other side of the world), I would have thought you crazy. Me??? Teaching??? Never! I don’t think I have ever been this busy before. My days begin at 6:00 a.m. and don’t normally end until around 10:30 to 11:00 at night.

I don’t know where God will have me in the future, but I look forward to anything He has in store for me. Before coming to Korea, I never babysat, taught a class, or even played piano. Now I do all that and then some!

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