David Lee, a student ministry coordinator, talks about how his faith is growing deeper as he meets people in his residence hall.
Growing up in a Christian household with a father as a pastor, David Lee lived out his faith in the family rituals of attending church every week, volunteering at events, and serving in various leadership roles. Over time, he found himself measuring his faith not by his relationship with God, but by his performance — how much he did and how well he served.
“Growing up, my dad integrated faith into many life lessons, which I didn’t always appreciate at the time,” Lee said. “But in retrospect, I see how valuable that foundation was in shaping my understanding of faith.”
Lee says as his faith deepened, he learned his relationship with God was not dependent on how much he is doing.
“I began to understand that God’s love and mercy wasn’t earned through constant ‘stellar’ performance as a Christian but freely given as a gift. This realization, in a way, freed me from the pressure of ‘doing’ more for the sake of earning God’s approval or acceptance. It sparked a desire to serve God more from a place of gratitude.”
At SPU, Lee began to look for opportunities to invest more deeply in a spiritual community and grow alongside other Christians, which is what led him to the student ministry coordinator position.
Each SPU residence hall has SMCs, and these students work alongside campus leaders to foster spiritual growth and build community by hosting small groups, planning events, and reaching out to residents individually.
We asked Lee, a senior majoring in electrical engineering, to talk about becoming an SMC for Arnett Hall and what he is learning in the role.
Q: Why did you decide to be an SMC? How has it shaped you?
I’ve always been involved in church leadership, particularly in the Korean immigrant church context. While that gave me a strong foundation in my faith, I wanted to branch out and experience spiritual leadership in a broader setting.
I believe that the SMC role will help me experience and meet people who come from different backgrounds and perspectives. Being an SMC has stretched me to lead in new ways, I see how God works differently within others! I love exchanging conversations about faith and worldview with different guys. I love being able to have a deeper understanding of how faith looks different in each person’s life.
Q: How do you see your role as SMC impacting your relationships here at SPU?
Being an SMC has connected me with a faith-based community of people who are also passionate about spiritual leadership and will support one another.
I’ve met so many residents who are in different places on their faith journey. I’ve found myself stepping into a “big brother” role for many of them — listening, supporting, and walking alongside them as they wrestle with faith and life.
Q: What is God teaching you since starting at SPU?
God is teaching me to let go of a legalistic view and perfectionism in my faith. I used to be strict with myself, feeling like I had to meet a certain standard to be a “good” Christian. But I’m learning that making mistakes isn’t the end of the world because I know that God’s love and grace is boundless.
I’m also learning that God’s ministry doesn’t depend on how “good” of a Christian I am. He still accomplishes his will in the background, even when I fall short.
(Interested in being a SMC or to learn more about SMCs, follow their IG: @spusmc)
