From Resistance to Calling: How a Reluctant Student Became a Campus Pastor in Sydney (VIDEO)

Growing up as a minister’s kid, Sijin Yang didn’t want anything to do with church work. The fact that he is now four years into directing the Student Outreach to the World ministry with Harbour City Church in Sydney, is surprising and unexpected, even to him.
Sijin knew he was a Christian but for some reason it never translated to his purpose. At the end of high school, and beginning of college, he enjoyed the freedoms of not having a curfew and setting his own timetable. His faith was a little rocky. Even as he got involved with SOW campus ministry there was still a sense where on Sundays and at ministry meetings, he’d be one person, and then on Friday and Saturday nights, he’d be a different kind of person.
Over time that “sparkle” wore off and he began to hear about God’s mission, the Great Commission. Eventually it took root, and he took on student leadership roles. Now Sijin directs the SOW campus ministry, whose mission is to disciple students to love Jesus, serve His Church, and reach His world.
Now fully engaged in God’s mission, he still stops to ask, “Why did God save me?” One way to answer that question, Sijin says, is “because He loved me.” That’s true. “But,” he goes on to say, “another way that you could pose the question is for what purpose did God save me? And it is to participate in the amazing work of the gospel.”