—GIT to Create New Legacy of Missionary Work

With the launch of the Global Institute of Theology (GIT) on March 3, a new chapter began in the storied history of missionary work by Yonsei University and the Korean Church. On this day, the welcoming ceremony for GIT’s inaugural class of future missionaries was held at the Christine Chapel on the International Campus (YIC) in Songdo. After receiving extensive theological training at GIT, the graduates will return to their home countries in Asia and Africa to perform missionary work, continuing the proud legacy of the Underwood family.

The GIT program, which is South Korea’s first theological graduate school for international students, offers full scholarships and fellowships to its students, all of which hail from developing countries in Asia and Africa. The idea for GIT was conceived last year, and its guiding principle is to give back to the global community through Christ’s teachings. In GIT’s first class, there are a total of twenty students: nine in the Master’s program and eleven in the Ph.D. program.

130 Years since Missionary Horace Underwood First Came to Korea

2015 commemorates the 100th anniversary of the College of Theology.  It is also the 130th anniversary of Yonsei University’s relationship with the Korean Church. The founding of GIT in Songdo is all the more meaningful, as it is located not far from the site where the missionary Horace Underwood first set foot in Korea. Among the distinguished guests who attended GIT’s opening ceremony were Yonsei President Jeong Kap-young, Chairmen Seo Joong-suk and Park Jeong-hwa, Senior Vice President of Administration and Development Park Jin-bae, Provost Shin Hyon-yoon, and YIC Vice President Oh Se-jo, along with a number of Korean Church leaders and scholarship sponsors. There were also a large number of students from the College of Theology in attendance, which filled the Christine Chapel to its full capacity.   

Associate Dean Kwon Soo-young of the Graduate School of Theology presided over the ceremony, and a choir composed of current students and alumni sang “Oh Happy Day” to celebrate the occasion. The singing was followed by a sermon from GIT Executive Committee Director Park Jong-hwa, which was entitled “Christian Witness.” 

At the ceremony, President Jeong praised the mission of GIT, while emphasizing the speed with which the institute moved from conception to realization. The successful opening of GIT, he said, would have been impossible without the distinguished sponsors of the program. Graduate School of Theology Dean Kim Sang-geun called GIT a true blessing, one that marks an important new chapter for Yonsei as it educates future global leaders who will spread Christianity in Asia and Africa. Seoul College of Theology President Yoo Suk-sung, who is also President of the Association of Korea National Colleges of Theology and of the Association of University Presidents of Korea National Colleges of Theology, offered his congratulations to the new students and the university on behalf of these associations. Vice Ambassador Chege Gathoga of the Kenyan Embassy in Seoul also congratulated GIT and the two Kenyan students who are part of the inaugural class.

As each new GIT student was introduced, the audience warmly applauded. Filipino student Victor Sandike, GIT’s first student body president, said to the crowd: “It takes a village to train leaders and you are our home village!”  The ceremony ended with a congratulatory prayer led by Pastor Sohn Dal-ik of the GIT Committee. Following the ceremony, which was conducted in English, there was a reception in Jinli Gwan C, where GIT is headquartered. The participants and guests were given a tour of the administrative office, faculty offices, classrooms, and other spaces designed for GIT.