Introducing EAST’s Newest Faculty: Rev Jarred Jung

EAST’s newest Theology professor Rev Jarred Jung, his wife Shelley and three children TJ (Timothy John), Hannah and Ryn are preparing for their transition from the US to Singapore at the moment. EAST News interviewed him recently as to how God directed he and his family to EAST.

1. How did you and your family first heard about EAST and decided to move from America to Singapore to teach at EAST?

The first time I heard about EAST was when I was in a seminary class in Orlando, Florida and sat beside William Lim on the first day on class! It is a small world. But actually I learned more about EAST as I worked on the theological development team with Cru in East Asia and saw the work EAST was doing to help train our staff in that part of the world.

The first time my wife and I visited Singapore was for our 10th anniversary as a weekend getaway. At that time we had no idea that later that same year we would be visiting again, only to ask the Lord if it would be the place where we might move to live! When we had to consider a location change from East Asia, a few of our staff in East Asia recommended I consider EAST as a place to continue training church leaders and gospel ministers for GC ministry. After discussing the opportunities with Dr. Winkler, my wife and I prayed about it and asked the Lord’s guidance for the next chapter of ministry. So, we made a second trip to Singapore, that time to visit EAST and consider actually LIVING in Singapore. After guest lecturing on campus at EAST, meeting the faculty, and getting to join a chapel and MG time, we were very excited about potentially moving to EAST and felt that the confirmation left that we needed from the Lord was the welcome from the seminary for us to join. When we received that, we were excited to move to a Singapore and EAST!

 

2. Can you introduce more about yourself and your family by sharing a brief introduction to each member of the family?

Jarred is from North Carolina in the US and has served with Cru since 2006 in East Asia. In 2008 during an IBS course in Thailand he fell in love with studying and reading theology and the Lord has used that to grow him in a calling to teach theology. He enjoys fly fishing in the mountains (something he misses living overseas), swimming (something he looks forward to being able to do year round in Singapore), talking about theology, ministry, and life over meals and tea breaks, and spending time with his family.

Shelley is from Virginia in the US and she became a Christian through the ministry of Cru in high school, albeit indirectly. Her older sister became a Christian in college through Cru and when she visited home over a holiday break, Shelley saw her life change and decided she wanted to become a Christian too. She then grew much in her walk with God in college. She has served with Cru since 2006 in East Asia where she met Jarred. She enjoys building relationships and community over laughter and good food in her home, traveling, intentional conversations over tea or coffee, and creating family memories.

TJ (8yo) loves Italian food and dessert, sports (especially football), and reading.

Hannah (5yo) loves playing with friends, Chinese food, and is VERY excited to start kindergarten in Singapore.

Ryn (1yo) is the only Jung kid to ever reach age 1 before living overseas. She loves discovering the world around her and walks in her stroller.

 

3. Would you like to share one interesting story that has happened within the past year that has deepened your personal faith in God?

The past year has definitely deepened our faith in God as we have seen him provide beyond what we could imagine through a year filled with transition and uncertainty for our family. I was not sure how the pandemic would impact our ability to raise the support that we would need to prepare to move to Singapore. I could not meet with people and the economic outlook was very unsteady. Yet, God raised up everything we needed solely through appointments on Zoom to prepare for us to move to Singapore. We have so many supporters whom we have never met in person because of the pandemic but who are passionate about the work that EAST is doing. Whatever roadblocks we thought the pandemic presented to support raising were not roadblocks to our God who is never slowed down. Our faith was stretched and it has grown through this time.

 

Prayer Requests for the Jung Family:

1. Pray for our dependent pass applications to be approved. Praise God my EP (Rev Jarred Jung’s) had been approved already.

2. Pray for us to be able to receive entry permission when the time comes for us to travel.

3. Pray for the time of transition for our family, especially for our older two children who will almost certainly miss the beginning of their school year in Singapore as they adjust to a new school and country when we are finally able to travel.