Kift Hyunjae Lee is our new Interim Youth Coordinator!
Many of you have seen Kift Hyunjae Lee on our Open Door Churches Sunday worship videos or met him where he attends at Morningside United Methodist Church. Brought into our community as a member in 2021, Kift is now our Interim Youth Coordinator as of January 1st.
For me, Kift is now a familiar face via the videos I put together but I’ve only had the pleasure of meeting him once in person before getting to know him over a Zoom call. His passion for spiritual formation is readily evident and his kind presence palpable even through a screen. He is a joy and I hope you take the time to talk with him in whatever form when you can meet him for yourself.
Kift is from Seoul, South Korea
Kift is from Seoul, South Korea where his family still lives. Growing up as the son of a Korean Methodist pastor, Kift grew up watching his father preach theology and lead traditional Korean worship services, both things Kift is also passionate about. His first teacher, his father, is for him, the best pastor in the world and it was from his father he learned what it means to be a minister of God.
Interested in traditional Korean instruments, Kift learned to play the Samulnori (traditional Korean percussions) and enjoys playing his music to this day. As a young man, Kift served in the Korean military as all young men in Korea are required to do. During his tenure, he managed the army church and supported other soldiers as a chaplain. He has also taught Sunday school, led youth groups, served as the Chairman for young adults, and worked in India teaching nutrition and hygiene to help improve people’s lives as well as talking about spirituality.
Kift often still chats with his parents in Seoul where his dad is still a pastor and with his older brother who works for Samsung.
Studying for his doctoral degree at Claremont
After earning his Masters of Divinity degree from Claremont School of Theology in California, Kift moved here to Oregon to study for his Doctorate degree in spiritual formation. Particularly interested in the spirituality of Koreans and Native Americans, he believes they have a lot in common due to both groups dealing with the oppression of colonialism, while they also have their differences. He wants to introduce the spirituality of the Cherokee tribe to other people in the world.
Invited to check out Open Door Churches through Pastor Wendy Woodworth, Kift has enjoyed taking part in our community and becoming involved in the food bank at Trinity United Methodist and social justice issues. When not taking classes, you can now often find him jogging in a park, at the Christian social club at Willamette University, or at his apartment downtown. His goal is to be a Methodist pastor here in the United States and to help the Korean and Native American communities here, sharing the love with others he has received from numerous church communities.
Our new Interim Youth Coordinator
Excited to be working with the youth, Kift has been serving as our Interim Youth Director since January 1st. He is always so happy to see the youth and his heart is filled with joy to see the image of God shining out in each face. It is evident to Kift that God is alive in the world and that, while we are each different, we are united in the experience of God.
We are so glad you are here as part of our community Kift!
Sarah Katreen Hoggatt
