Jonathan & Susanna Lee
Susanna
I was born into a pastor’s family, but I lived a life straddling the fence with one foot in the world and one foot in the church. In a nutshell, it was an anxiety-driven and guilt-ridden life as I could not enjoy the offerings of the world and I was not content with my religious life.
I entered UC Berkeley as a freshman in 1985 with a bad attitude as I saw myself as a loser for not making it to the top Ivy League schools of my choice. I struggled for two years at Berkeley wondering what is the purpose for living, often asking if there’s more to life than this “rat race.” After hearing Josh McDowell’s testimony at the UC Berkeley campus, I made the commitment to start from scratch by becoming a genuine seeker of Christianity for the first time in my life. My life was transformed during my junior year in college at UC Berkeley when I personally met Jesus as my Lord and Savior.
Starting my senior year in college, I joined the ministry with this new mission in my life to follow Jesus wherever he leads. I have served at UC Berkeley, UC Davis, and at UT Austin. I thank God for the partnership I have with my husband as we co-labor together, and we are practically attached at the hips as we are equally actively engaged in the same ministry. I marvel at how quickly time passed by as I am an empty nester with two adult children (but I still feel like I am in my 20s & I haven’t yet dyed my hair as it is still black!).
Jonathan
Rather than write an introduction, I’d prefer chatting over a slice of good pizza (Via313 is my current fav) and a nicely chilled Coke Zero. Or better yet, share an hour building Ikea furniture. l love building things and deciphering hieroglyphics.
I’m blessed to have been born into a godly family who took me to church for the first 17 years of my life. This set the foundation for me to yield my life to Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord during my senior year at UC Berkeley. That’s why I want to help college students in the same way and so, I’ve been in campus ministry since 1989. At first, I was a covocational minister for several years (teaching chemistry at UC Davis & Sacramento State University) and then entered into full-time ministry, equipped with an M.Div. from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary (which was way harder than any of my other studies!).
My wife and I oversee the Midwest region (acres of cornfields) and the great state of Texas (acres of ranches, with some good BBQ scattered throughout)! As empty nesters, we’re able to freely travel to Chicagoland, U of Michigan, The Ohio State University, Purdue, U of Minnesota, and UT Austin to help church plant teams.
Here’s my personal blog: joongwlee.wordpress.com
Myers-Briggs: My Myers-Briggs personality type is INFP and my wife Susanna is ESTJ, which made the first 10 years of our marriage a tad challenging, but after 30 years together (we celebrated this year!), we’re now able to cover the full spectrum of personalities!