Ministry Journey Takes CST Alumna the Rev. InSun Lee to Rural Wisconsin

After InSun Lee met a missionary at vacation Bible school when she was 9, she dreamed of becoming a missionary herself. Born in Korea, she went to the Philippines as a lay Methodist missionary in 1992. “During the five years in the Philippines,” InSun said, “I realized that my concern was church ministry, and the ordained ministry would be effective for it.

“I received my Master of Divinity in 1996 at Union Theological Seminary in the Philippines and my Bachelor of Arts (majored in education, minored in English) at Sungshin Women’s University in Korea,” InSun added.

Serving as Korean Methodist missionaries in Mozambique (2004-14), the Rev InSun Lee and her husband, the Rev. SunJung Hwang, trained lay leaders through Bible studies and seminars in Sofala and Manica. Their focus was church planting. 

Returning to the United States, InSun studied at Claremont School of Theology (2015-17). After earning her Doctor of Ministry degree, she longed for a slower-paced community than where her previous pursuits had taken her, and asked to serve in a rural church community. She chose Wisconsin, which proved a good fit.

InSun’s first appointment was to Spirit and Tomahawk United Methodist churches. She was the congregation’s first cross-cultural pastor. Although the experience was challenging for both pastor and parishioners, she said, “they were patient and accepted diversity as a blessing. I acknowledged a truth that people need the Lord, even though their contexts are not the same.” She tried to focus on God’s amazing love and how Jesus’ followers live as disciples.

In June 2021, she moved to Darlington United Methodist Church, a town of 2,400 near the Iowa border. “We consider our church to be the perfect place for imperfect people to assemble to be inspired by the example of Jesus and empowered by God’s love for us,” the church website declares.

InSun is passionate about social justice, which she sees as a hallmark of The United Methodist Church. “The church,” she explained, “belongs to the world community. The church has to influence for good in the community where we live, and this transformative action could be extended to social justice.” 

The theme of InSun’s ministry is love. She encourages her parishioners to follow Matthew 5:13-14 and Mark 12:31 – to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world and to love their neighbors. Welcoming the stranger is imperative to her. 

“It is so simple to me,” she said. “Greet first, introduce myself first, smile always. Do what I can do for the stranger. Do not hesitate to talk with a stranger.”

When InSun has a chance to relax, she enjoys music, playing tennis, walking on nearby trails, and writing in her journal.

“I am grateful that God works through my life,” InSun said. “As far as God uses my life, I would choose to trust and obey, [with] joy and gratitude on the journey of faith.”