Korean American Campus Mission (KCM), one of the largest Korean American college ministries in Southern California, hosted its first-ever "Winter Conference' from January 2 to 5.
The campus ministry, which has a presence in eight universities, has had a tradition of hosting an annual "University Retreat' during the winter break season, but this is the first time that the ministry has hosted the Winter Conference.
"The Winter Conference has many similar elements to the past University Retreats, but it was different in that it was a unique opportunity for all eight campuses to come together given the winter break schedule," explained Sam Bay, special events director of KCM.
Themed "Redemption,' the conference was also an opportunity for ministry leaders to "fully share the vision of KCM to all of the campuses and to push our Short Term Missions," Bay added. The conference focused on redemption from sin and shame during the first day, redemption from pain during the second, and redemption to the world during the last day.
"Through this conference, may Jesus lead you to deeper repentance, deeper healing, and a deeper commitment to take the gospel to the ends of the earth through Short Term Summer Missions," Richard Kim, lead pastor of Gospel Life Mission Church and director of KCM, said in a welcome statement to conference attendees.
Richard Kim; Steve "Bang' Lee, college pastor at Living Hope Community Church; Sam Bay; and Eugene Park, intern pastor at Gospel Life Mission Church and creative and missional director of KCM, were among those featured as plenary session speakers.
The conference also offered nine seminars on topics such as discerning calling; dating and marriage; choosing to stay or leave a church; friendships; "gray area' issues such as drugs and alcohol; and difficulties in the Asian American family context, among others.
Attendees were also sorted into mixed-campus small groups and game groups, the former which were also separated by gender.
KCM has a presence in universities including Biola University, Pepperdine University, UC Irvine, UCLA, UC Riverside, UC Santa Barbara, UC San Diego, and the University of Southern California.
