Newsletter from the Kwon's
- janastettler9
- Sep 19
- 5 min read
Hello everyone!
We pray that God’s peace fills your lives, and that through you, many would come to know the love of Jesus and see His Kingdom expand in every place.
Since Kalia was born, our family has been in a season of adjustment over the past three months, learning what it means to serve together as a family. It has been a time of stepping into new leadership responsibilities, continuing to train students and staff, and at the same time finding a new rhythm as family.
In this newsletter, we would like to share a little bit about the Korean ministry at YWAM Lausanne, our new season of family life and how our fall will look like.
Thank you for taking the time to read our newsletter and we appreciate all your love, support and care!
Korean Ministry
YWAM Lausanne began offering bilingual Korean/English DTS (Discipleship Training School) in the mid-1990s, which was the first one outside of Korea. At a time when many Koreans were dedicating themselves to missions and the Korean church was growing rapidly, this training was created to give young people the chance to step outside their cultural comfort zone, encounter God in a new way, and be challenged in missions.
Over the past 30 years, countless Korean students have come through Lausanne, dedicating themselves to live as missionaries who carry Christ’s love. Many now serve full-time as missionaries, as pastors, as worship leaders or are involved in the spheres and reflect God’s kingdom around the world and in Korea itself.
Here at YWAM Lausanne we had a group of Korean staff members who left last summer to pursue new callings. That left us as a base in a place of rebuilding the Korean ministry team from the ground up for the bilingual DTS that began in April this year.
At first, we were not sure if it would even be possible to restart these trainings without any Korean staff. But God spoke clearly to our whole community: “I have not given up on this ministry.” And He proved faithful—sending wonderful new staff members to join us.
SeoungEun has been supporting this team and together we were able to finish the April bilingual DTS with incredible fruit.
Looking ahead, we are excited for what’s next. In September, 15 students (10 Koreans and 5 from the US, Switzerland, and Germany) will join the 3-month DBS (Discipleship Bible School).
In 2026, we will run a full 9-month SBS (School of Biblical Studies), an April DTS, and another DBS in September—all bilingual in Korean and English.
As SeongEun is now overseeing all of YWAM Lausanne’s bilingual programs and ministries, there are certainly challenges. We need leaders, staff, and translators who are not only willing to help for a semester, but who also share the long-term vision of the Korean bilingual ministry here. Finding such people is not easy.
Yet we know this is ultimately not our ministry, nor YWAM Lausanne’s—it is God’s. He longs for Korean youth to know Him deeply and grow in Him. That’s why we trust He will send the right people, in His time, to carry this vision forward. Please pray with us for that!
Family
We are so blessed to have Kalia in our lives and there is no greater joy than watching her grow. Each day she expresses more—smiling, reaching out with her hands, and startling to respond to us. Being her parents has been such an incredible gift!
As we are arising in taking on more leadership roles at the campus we have also been learning how to function as a family of 3. As we have the privilege of working together we are able to take turns of being with Kalia which has been a great blessing.
Through Kalia, God is teaching us so much about His heart. She doesn’t earn love or repay love—we love her simply as she is. In the same way, we are learning the Father’s heart for us: His unconditional love, His longing for lost souls, and the immeasurable love He showed in giving His only Son.
Of course, there are stressful and difficult moments too, but please pray for us—that we may lean on our faithful God, encourage one another, and love each other with grace in this season.
Next Semester / Missions Night / Korea Visit
Ministry & Leadership Development School (MLD)
Next semester, we will be serving in the MLD, a school designed to raise up the next generation of leaders. Over the years, we’ve had the joy of walking alongside students in the classroom and in the field, watching them grow into strong leaders.
Though we’ll only be there for about six weeks before heading to Korea, we want to pour wholeheartedly into the students before returning to Switzerland just before graduation.
This semester, 15 students and 5 staff from 8 nations (Korea, USA, UK, Canada, Switzerland, Finland, Germany) will join us as one family. Over three months, they’ll receive training on topics like discipleship, YWAM DNA, vision and calling, fundraising, preaching and teaching, leadership character development, and cross-cultural communication. Afterward, they’ll complete a 9-month leadership internship to put what they’ve learned into practice.
We’ll also be teaching again in the DTS on the topic of hearing God’s voice.
Please pray that these students would grow into faithful leaders, like Paul encouraged Timothy in 2 Timothy 2:1–2.
instructs believers to be strong in the grace of Christ Jesus and to entrust sound teachings to faithful men who are capable of teaching others. - 2 Timothy 2:1-2
Missions Night
On Saturday, November 8, we’ll host our second Missions Night at my parents’ home in Zurich. This annual event is a chance to share testimonies of God’s faithfulness, reflect on the past year of ministry, and invite to partner with us.
As our family grows, so do our financial needs. We are praying for more financial partners while continuing to trust that God, as always, will provide in His perfect timing.
If you are interested in joining the Missions Night please let us know so we can share more details with you!
Korea Visit
We look very much forward for our time in Korea. We will be in Korea from November 12 to December 10. During those four weeks, we will meet with churches and supporters to share ministry updates and most importantly we will be spending time with SeongEun’s family as they have not yet seen Kalia in person. We are very excited for this time!
4. Prayer Request
As always, we want to thank you all for your prayers and support :) It means so much to us in the midst of ministry to know that someone is listening, carrying, and is praying for us. We ask that you continue to partner with us in prayer.
1. Please pray for wisdom and grace for us as we help in the MLD.
2. For a wonderful time in Korea where we can have some good refreshing moments with SeongEun's family.
We are so blessed to know that someone cares about our ministry and is praying for us, whether it's through financial support or prayer!
Thank you and we love you!
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How to support us:
If you would like to know more of how you can partner with us in giving financially please don't hesitate to reach out to us.
Many blessings
Jana & SeongEun with Kalia
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