Introduction to Operations Department – by Lee Yong-Won

“We want to foster an environment where Jesus’ disciples are trained as pleasantly and comfortably as possible.”

 The Operations Department carries out the vital ministry of caring for and managing the campus so that students can be fully equipped as disciples of Jesus, walking in God’s calling for their lives.
Their service is more than simply maintaining buildings. Just as Jesus humbled Himself and took on human flesh, the Operations Department serves quietly and faithfully from a humble place, with the heart of Christ.

From landscaping and building maintenance to repairing housing and classrooms, maintaining internet systems, managing electricity, water, and sewage, ensuring fire safety, and overseeing the campus meals, there is no facet of campus life untouched by the hands of the Operations team.

Like Jesus washing His disciples’ feet, the Operations team serves the University of the Nations Jeju from unseen places, living out love through humble service. The faithful dedication of many staff members who volunteer each week has been a great source of strength, allowing them to continue this ministry with joy.

We believe that through the sweat and hands of the Operations team, God is creating a warm and welcoming environment where He transforms and raises up each student according to His good purpose.

Café TOV — by Do Hyun-Hee

TOV is a Hebrew word meaning “good” or “pleasing.” Just as God looked upon His creation and said, “It is good,” TOV Café was born out of the hope that it would be a space of goodness, where rest and meaningful encounters flow naturally in God’s presence. TOV is more than a place to drink coffee; it’s a place where God’s goodness is shared through relationships within the community.

The café opens from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., and on Wednesdays closes a bit earlier at 1:30 p.m. It proudly serves freshly roasted beans from Hebron Coffee (YWAM Pohang Base), where an Americano costs only ₩1,500. Staff member Yo-han Kang oversees the beans’ flavor and quality for the community, while Hyeong-yong, who serves with Hebron Coffee, regularly helps maintain the espresso machine, making even the work of brewing coffee a shared fellowship.

This summer was particularly hot, and many guests visited TOV during various camps and seminars. To better serve everyone, a new commercial ice maker was installed with the help of the School of Wooden Architecture staff. Thanks to that generous addition, the café became a refreshing haven; it was a small gesture that brought cool rest and joy to many hearts.

TOV operates through the service of different ministry teams each day: the Worship Department on Mondays, Prayer Center on Tuesdays, One Voice and From Youth on Wednesdays, CYP on Thursdays, and the Counseling and DTS Centers on Fridays. Each team lovingly tends the place, their hands and hearts weaving a quiet rhythm of service that sustains the community.

Even during the long Chuseok holiday, TOV did not close its doors. It became a self-service café where students and staff could rest and enjoy fellowship. During the Ohana Camp, children’s ministry leaders played and shared late-night snacks there. Sun-hee Choi, one of the operations staff, set out board games for anyone to enjoy freely. In the evenings, various schools used the café deck for barbecue gatherings where they could wash lettuce, grill meat, and share laughter that lingered in the air like music.

Inside TOV, students and staff often meet for one-on-one mentoring or simple conversation. After lunch, groups naturally gather around tables, filling the space with laughter, friendship, and stories of God’s goodness. TOV has become more than a café;it’s a place where time itself feels good.

Recently, Subin, one of the Worship Department staff, baked 30 egg tarts. The warm, buttery aroma filled the café, and they sold out almost instantly, to the disappointment of many who came late! She plans to bake more next time, experimenting with the café’s oven, which is unfortunately currently under repair. If anyone has an unused oven, perhaps it could find new life at TOV! Every small act adds another layer of warmth to this community.

TOV continues to be a space lovingly cared for by many ministries, a place where God’s goodness flows through shared life and relationships. We pray that every smile, every cup, and every conversation at TOV becomes a moment of “God saw that it was good.” May this café always be a place where every moment delights His heart.

Library — by Jung Woon-Jung

The library is a space of wisdom where faith and learning meet. It is a place of study grounded in the Christian worldview, where academic pursuit and spiritual reflection come together in harmony. Beyond the simple accumulation of knowledge, the library seeks to be a place where God’s truth is explored and where individuals of intellect are nurtured to become the light and salt of the world.

The library houses a wide range of resources, including literature, philosophy, counseling, religion, psychology, science, art, music, children’s books, and periodicals. It also offers a quiet reading room for focused study and open stacks where materials can be freely accessed.

Through the University of the Nations Jeju Library, we hope and pray that students will discover God’s calling and vision for their lives, and grow into whole persons who reflect His character and serve as light and salt in the world.

Guest Room — by Choi Soon-Hee

The Guest Room Ministry is founded on YWAM’s eighteenth value: Practice Hospitality.With a heart of prayer, we serve in this ministry so that everyone who visits the University of the Nations Jeju may experience God’s grace poured out in this community, and find rest and renewal during their stay on campus.

The guest rooms are used by a wide range of visitors, including school lecturers, YWAM staff, missionaries, and alumni. In 2025, we were especially blessed to welcome various external groups such as church retreats, which made this year even more fruitful. As a result, around 1,000 guests visited and stayed on the campus throughout the year, filling the campus with joy and grace through shared worship and fellowship.

Through this ministry, we hope that those who visit the University of the Nations Jeju will be inspired to join programs, such as DTS and other training schools, in the future and that they will continue to partner with us in the ongoing mission and ministry of the University of the Nations Jeju.

Volunteers — by Yoon Mi-Ok

 While everyone at the University of the Nations Jeju serves with a volunteering spirit, there is a specific group of people that holds the official title of “Volunteer.” These volunteers stay on campus for periods ranging from a few days or weeks to up to three months, and their primary responsibility is to prepare accommodations for students, lecturers, and guests visiting the University of the Nations Jeju. We call this work hospitality, which is affectionately referred to as “hospi” for short. Hospi has long been an integral part of YWAM’s culture and spirit and is a cherished value deeply rooted in who we are.

This culture of hospitality is a source of pride and a beautiful tradition that we are committed to continuing. We warmly invite you to join the Hospi Volunteer Ministry, where you can participate in the meaningful work of cleaning and setting up rooms, preparing bedding, and maintaining the Hospi Room, all with a heart of love and service.

Volunteer — by Won Seo-Eun

After completing the CDTS program at the University of the Nations Jeju in 2024, I had a time of deep gratitude for the grace God had poured out on me. With that heart of thankfulness, I decided to dedicate the first season of this new chapter of my life entirely to God, and from June 2025, I served at the University of the Nations Jeju as a volunteer for about three months.

During my time in the Operations Department, there were many moments when the summer heat and high humidity made the work exhausting, yet witnessing the dedication and hard work of the Operations staff filled me with even greater gratitude and learning.The role of a volunteer may seem very small and humble from the outside, but it is a precious position where one can experience the greatest joy given by God. I sincerely hope that many others will have the opportunity to serve in this valuable ministry.

마무리 글 – Change Maker Editorial Team

The unseen efforts of the Operations Department is another form of worship, contributing to the building of God’s Kingdom. In every neatly arranged room, every repaired pipe, and every carefully prepared cup of coffee, love and devotion to God are poured out.

Even today, these small acts of service come together to create spaces that reflect God’s delight, as He can look upon those places and say, “It is good.” May His smile rest upon every hand and every labor devoted to this work.