Meet Scholarship Recipient: Sion Bae

The Multiracial Student Scholarship Fund is one of the strategies employed by the Office of Race Relations (ORR) to develop multiracial congregational leadership in the CRCNA. Recipients attend one of the higher learning institutions affiliated with the denomination—Calvin University, Dordt University, The King’s University, Redeemer University, Kuyper College, Trinity Christian College, and Calvin Theological Seminary. They have also expressed a strong desire to train for and to engage in the ministry of racial reconciliation in church and/or in community.

Through bountiful gifts given last year, the ORR was able to award scholarships to ten students for the 2021/22 school year. It’s our privilege to introduce you to Sion Bae, one of these ten recipients. Read his brief biography below and some of his thoughts on the importance of social justice.

Hello, my name is Sion Bae. I am from South Korea and I am an ordained pastor. I am married to Choi Sookyoung and we have one lovely daughter. Currently I am studying in the Master of Theology program, New Testament at Calvin Theological Seminary (CTS).

I had a great opportunity to travel around the world when I was in university. I wanted to experience God deeper than usual and comprehend his vision for this generation. I had a limited budget but I challenged myself with faith and prayer. I believed that God would lead me to his will if he is pleased with my decision. I began my world trip with only two thousand dollars from the United States. Eventually I travelled to 20 different countries in North, Central and South America, the Middle East, Europe and Asia. Consequently the trip took fourteen months. I met diverse people and cultures around the world and shared the gospel with those who I spent the time with. I was strongly compelled by the Holy spirit that God called me to prepare for Jesus’ Second coming by saving his lost souls. Then, I decided to be a pastor.

During my world trip, I had a good chance to join the food ministry for the refugees in Greece. The refugees had escaped from Syria, Afghanistan, Sudan and Iran. They were trying to go to Western Europe for their lives because of the Civil war in their countries. They had to endure persecution in Greece society and discrimination even within their refugee society. The gospel preached there in the refugee center was so powerful that these diverse people were able to be united regardless of their races.

There was full of joy and peace and even many muslim people decided to convert to Christianity. Some refugees who converted even found God’s calling to return to their countries someday to preach the gospel to their people. What I have realized from back then was that the gospel was the most powerful tool to unite peoples regardless of their races, cultures, ages and figures.

I have committed myself to serve those who are exposed to racism and need God’s mercy and justice around the world. After finishing the study here at CTS, I plan to go back to Korea and teach the Bible in the church and seminary. I will prepare for the unification between North and South Korea in the future.

If you feel led to support this valuable scholarship fund and students like Sion, please give online at this link. Your gift today will bless future students as they train for and prepare to engage in the ministry of racial reconciliation in church and in society. 

For those who wish to be considered for a scholarship from the Office of Race Relations, find information and an application.