From January 17-20, YISS high schoolers participated in Spiritual/Special Emphasis Week (SEW). Throughout the week, Chapel students attended sessions focused on developing their understanding of purpose while Oasis students took a new approach to how they think about life and work.

During HS Spiritual Emphasis Week, guest speakers unpacked the concept of “purpose” and challenged students to self-reflect on how they think about their purpose. There was also a time of worship each session led by the Gospel City Church Worship Band. On Tuesday, Cameron Scott, pastor and YISS family member, spoke about how what we desire shapes what we believe. On Wednesday, Eddie Chun, pastor of New Harvest Ministry, shared about how we are created to worship. On Thursday, HS counselor Joon Myong shared stories on how he found purpose in his own life and career. And finally, on Friday, Brian Gresham, Director of Operation Christmas Child at Samaritan's Purse Korea, wrapped up the week by speaking about the purpose of our lives.

HS Special Emphasis Week focused on the topic of “Trying New Things.” The sessions were about getting students to think about life and work in new ways. The featured speaker for these sessions was Chuck Chun, a restauranteur who owns multiple restaurants in the Yongsan Gyeongnidan neighborhood. Throughout the sessions, students felt encouraged and empowered to try new things!

As our high schoolers get closer and closer to graduation and branching out into new places and experiences, HS SEW continues to be an important week where they can take time to focus on more than excelling in academics, feeding their spiritual and emotional needs and taking time to self-reflect.