For nearly two years, Central Territory officers Captains Derek and Heather Jung have been serving as corps officers in the scenic city of Gumi, South Korea. In the midst of challenges created by political conflict and a polarized population, they have kept their focus on God, trusting His guidance for their ministry.
“While there are many external factors hindering the corps’ growth, we have come to realize that the more critical aspects are internal and spiritual,” said Captain Derek. “Under God’s guidance, we have been working toward phased spiritual growth each year.”
In 2025, the tightknit corps family is pursuing God through learning to pray the scriptures, building on 2024’s theme “A Life that Awakens at Dawn” which led them through the Bible and encouraged a habit of meeting with God first thing in the morning.
For this year’s theme, “A Life of Prayer,” a new scripture-based prayer is shared each month, and the congregation and Captains Jung reflect on and pray it together regularly. On Sunday mornings, a prayer-focused group meets to write in gratitude and prayer journals, spending at least half an hour dedicated to talking with God individually before gathering to pray for the country, its leaders and for peace to prevail.
“We believe that when all the members of the corps grow spiritually through the Word and prayer, they will be able to share the gospel, and when new people join, they will be welcomed with God’s love, leading to outward growth as well,” said Captain Derek. The yearly themes, he said, have been designed to bring people closer to God and foster a deeper walk with Him.
Outreach can be difficult, but Salvationists in Gumi dedicate time, energy and resources to serving the community in Christ’s name, including distributing meals to those experiencing homelessness and visiting families with severely disabled members to deliver essential items.
In March, the Jungs joined with other corps in the Gyeongbuk Division to provide relief and minister to people affected by unprecedented wildfires in the nearby mountains. During the roughly seven days of wildfire, the division provided meals to approximately 2,000 people daily, along with water, blankets and other emergency supplies.
“Based on our experiences so far, we have observed that officers in Korea possess remarkable talent and strong dedication, doing their utmost in relatively challenging environments,” said the captain. “With God’s help, we hope that the Korea Salvation Army will grow both spiritually and numerically, enabling it to serve God and help more neighbors in need.”
