Dr. Hyung-Ja Lee
March 9, 1944 ~ March 17, 2024
We received heart-breaking news over the weekend. Our long-time advocate, supporter, and friend Hyung-Ja Lee was called home to be with the Lord on Sunday, March 17.
Dr. Lee is the one who’s name is on the Lee International Center on Trinity’s campus. During the last thirty years, God has allowed our paths to cross and seek innovative ways to train pastors and students.
In her memoir, Lifelong Prayer, she writes, “My life can be summarized in one word, ‘Torch.’ I exist to lift up the ‘Torch for Christ.’ Even if I get ambushed from all sides, I will still raise this torch. A living-faith is not holding on to the past but trusting that God’s Torch is still ‘blazing hot,’ for this day.”
Dr. Greg Waybright, during his Trinity presidency, personally worked with Dr. Lee and started a graduate school of theology in South Korea. He says, “It was a blessing to participate with her in the beginnings of the school, now the Torch Trinity Graduate University.” Dr. John Woodbridge remembers a conversation he and his wife had with her and says, “We remember her remarkable faith in the reality that God answers prayer and that the Holy Spirit can change circumstances that, from our point of view, seem impossible to take place.”
Dr. Peter Cha, who has traveled to Korea numerous times to teach at Torch Trinity, says, “Dr. Hyung-Ja Lee’s deep love for God, faithful commitment to the mission of God, and her prayer-filled leadership played a key role in advancing the cause of the Gospel of Jesus around the world.” Dr. Peter Lee, Associate Director of Trinity’s Korean DMin program, summarizes her life, “We give all the glory to our God for Dr. Lee’s lifelong dedication to prayer, and unceasing labor for the evangelization of the world with the gospel are bearing precious fruit worldwide.”
With condolences and respect from all of us at Trinity, we entrust Dr. Hyung-Ja Lee to our loving heavenly Father. For we know, by the grace of Jesus Christ our Lord, death is swallowed up in victory. Therefore, we can embrace the words of Apostle Paul and “be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord [our] labor is not in vain” (1 Corinthians 15:58, ESV).
President-Elect Kevin Kompelien and Academic Dean David Pao.
