PACE International Seminary, Nagaland India

Faith: God’s Gift of Grace
(September 2025)

Dear Students, Faculty, and Staff of PACE International Seminary,

As we enter the month of September, I invite you to pause and reflect on the source of our faith. In today’s world, it is easy to assume that faith is something we build by our own decision, willpower, or intellectual effort. Yet Scripture reminds us that authentic faith is never self-generated; it is always a gracious gift from God.

The Apostle Paul writes in Ephesians 2:8–9:

“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God—not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”

Likewise, Jesus says in John 6:44:

“No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them.”

These verses remind us that faith is not the product of human striving, but the fruit of God’s calling, drawing, and enabling grace. Even the act of believing is a work of God within us.

This truth carries both comfort and responsibility. It comforts us because we know that our salvation does not rest on the fragility of our own decisions, but on the steadfast grace of God who holds us. It calls us to humility, for we cannot boast in our faith as though it were our own achievement. And it urges us to compassion, as those who are strong in faith are called to support those who struggle, recognizing that God is at work in each heart according to His perfect will.

As a seminary community, may we cultivate a spirit of gratitude for the faith we have received. Let us commit ourselves to prayer and to hearing the Word, trusting that “faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ” (Romans 10:17). May this semester be a time when our faith is not only confessed with words but lived out in service, humility, and love.

With prayers for God’s sustaining grace,

Dr. Rev. Kwangsong Jeon
President, PACE International Seminary
Nagaland, India

The Endurance of a Faithful Servant

Dear Students, Faculty, and Staff of PACE International Seminary,

As we enter the month of August, I greet you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, who endured the cross, despising its shame, and is now seated at the right hand of the throne of God (Hebrews 12:2). This month, I invite us all to reflect on a vital truth for Christian life and ministry: true faith is proven not in ease, but in endurance.

We live in a world that values speed, instant results, and visible success. But the work of God is often slow, hidden, and forged through suffering. Scripture does not merely call us to believe—but to persevere, to wait patiently, and to endure faithfully, even when there is no applause and no immediate fruit.

Faith is not quick enthusiasm—it is long obedience.
It is easy to begin well. It is much harder to press on when trials come, when people misunderstand you, when ministry feels thankless. Yet this is the soil in which genuine faith grows. “Let us not grow weary in doing good, for in due season we shall reap, if we do not give up” (Galatians 6:9).

Jesus endured the cross—so must we endure our crosses.
Our Lord did not avoid pain, nor did He retaliate when mocked and beaten. Instead, He entrusted Himself to the One who judges justly (1 Peter 2:23). In Christ, we see that endurance is not weakness—it is strength under control. It is the power to remain faithful when everything in us wants to quit.

Ministry requires a spirit of patient endurance.
To serve others, especially the broken and wounded, is to walk with them slowly. Sometimes progress is invisible. Sometimes the fruit of your labor will not appear for years. But God sees. God rewards. And God is honored by the servant who says, “Even if no one sees, I will not stop.”

Endurance is a mark of spiritual maturity.
“Let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking in nothing” (James 1:4). Every trial you endure in faith is forming in you the likeness of Christ. Each season of waiting, each hour of silent tears, is shaping a heart that more deeply knows the heart of God.

Dear brothers and sisters, I urge you: do not give up. Whatever burden you bear, whatever discouragement you face, remember that the Lord is not finished with you. Your labor in the Lord is never in vain. In every delay, every hardship, every silence, He is working something eternal.

So this August, let us walk the path of Christ—the path of patience, endurance, and trust. Let us fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on the unseen reward. And let us serve with a persevering heart that says, “Lord, not my will, but Yours be done.”

May you endure with joy, serve with faithfulness, and finish well the race set before you.

Grace and peace to each of you in Christ Jesus,

Dr. Rev. Kwangsong Jeon
President, PACE International Seminary
Nagaland, India

(Susan, USA)

Being a Christian Example: The E in PACE

As followers of Jesus Christ, we are called to more than just belief, we are called to be an example. Not just in what we say, but in how we live.

In 1 Timothy 4:12, Paul exhorts young Timothy, saying:
“Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.”
This verse isn’t just for the young, it's a call to all of us. Every Christian is being watched by someone: our children, coworkers, neighbors, or friends. And in a world where people are desperate for hope and truth, our lives may be the only Bible someone reads.

Of course, our ultimate model is Christ Himself. In John 13:15, after washing His disciples’ feet, Jesus said:
“I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.”

Jesus’ humility, compassion, obedience, and servant-heartedness show us what it means to live a godly life. He didn’t just teach truth, He embodied it. He fed the hungry, healed the broken, forgave the sinners, and spent time in prayer with His Father. If we want to be Christ-like examples, it starts with learning from the Master.

One of the most consistent parts of Jesus’ life was His prayer life. Even though He was the Son of God, He regularly withdrew to quiet places to pray (Luke 5:16). Before choosing His disciples, He spent all night in prayer. Before the cross, He prayed in Gethsemane. He taught His followers to pray, and showed them how essential it was.

If prayer was crucial for Jesus, how much more do we need it? Prayer keeps our hearts aligned with God. It fuels our love, sharpens our witness, and reminds us of our dependence on the Holy Spirit. Without prayer, we’re trying to represent Christ in our own strength and we will fall short every time.

In Colossians 4:2-3, Paul writes:
“Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message…”

Prayer isn’t just personal, it also opens doors for the Gospel. If we want to be faithful examples, we must start on our knees.

Few have championed everyday Christians living out their faith like Melvin Steinbron, the founder of the Lay Pastor Ministry. In his book Can the Pastor Do It Alone?, Steinbron laid out a vision that every church member could be trained and empowered to shepherd others, not just the professional clergy.

Steinbron believed that being a Christian wasn’t a spectator sport. Every believer is called to serve, to disciple, and to be a spiritual example in their sphere of influence. Lay pastors are not theologians or seminary graduates. They are everyday people who pray, care, and walk with others through life’s ups and downs. Living out the Gospel authentically and intentionally is part of being a successful lay pastor.

Being a lay pastor reminds us that the role of a Christian isn’t confined to a Sunday pew. It’s in homes, hospitals, schools, workplaces and wherever God has placed us. The body of Christ grows when ordinary believers embrace their extraordinary calling to reflect Jesus.
Being an example means letting our faith show in how we speak, how we respond to conflict, how we use our time and money, and how we treat people, especially those who can do nothing for us in return.

Philippians 2:14-15 gives us this charge:
“Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation. Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky.”

We are meant to shine. Not for our glory, but so others can see Christ in us.

One Sunday, I drove 100 miles to reach 8 people who could not come to church due to various illnesses. It was a communion Sunday, so I got some of the consecrated bread and juice and went to hospital rooms, nursing homes and homes of those who missed communion.

It took my entire Sunday afternoon. Had I viewed the visits as a task to check off a list, I’m certain I would have been grumbling by the end of the day, but I know the Lord was calling me to worship Him with these people. Instead of feeling cheated out of a Sunday afternoon, I felt the Lord’s presence and was overwhelmed with joy and gratitude.

You don’t need a microphone, a degree, or a title to make a difference. You need a surrendered heart, a commitment to prayer, and the courage to walk out your faith, even when it’s hard. Whether you’re leading a small group, caring for a neighbor, praying for your coworkers, or simply offering a listening ear, you are a light in a dark world.

As a lay pastor, be intentional, pray, love, serve, and be grateful God has assigned this call and service to you.

And may we live in such a way that people are drawn not to us, but to Christ in us.

https://youtu.be/5Zs7V7QKWJo?si=e9oArJIdKTqlUYDN

Good Friday Message#Jisu ye nixine kumllagho#Jesus our sin offering Good friday

https://pisnagaland.org/?p=1120

Graduating Speech 2025 (Dr. Jeon)
April 7, 2025 (The 8th Graduation)
Nagaland India
—
from Dr. Kwangsong Jeon, New York, USA
President of P*S

—

Dear Graduating Class of 2025 in Nagaland India,
Warmest greetings to you in the precious name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Today is a day of great joy, celebration, and sacred meaning. I bring you heartfelt congratulations from the heart of New York to the hills of Nagaland. It is my honor and privilege, as the President of PACE International Seminary, to address you—our five Master of Divinity and six Bachelor of Theology graduates—on this momentous occasion of your graduation.

You have studied hard. You have labored in prayer. You have wrestled with Scripture, theology, and the call of God. And today, you stand as faithful stewards of what God has entrusted to you—not only degrees, but dreams. Not only knowledge, but a holy calling.

Your graduation is not the end of a journey. It is the beginning of a mission. The world beyond these walls needs what you have received here—truth that sets free, love that redeems, and the bold vision of the Kingdom of God.

You are not merely graduates. You are God’s sent ones—disciples of Christ, builders of peace, and messengers of hope.

1. Hold on to your calling with courage.
The ministry will test your strength, patience, and sometimes your faith. But remember—you are not alone. Jesus, who called you, walks with you. The Spirit who filled you at this seminary will empower you in the wilderness. Do not be afraid to go where others fear to go. For God has not given you a spirit of fear, but of power, of love, and of self-discipline (2 Tim. 1:7).

2. Keep your heart anchored in hope.
In a world shaken by division, poverty, war, and despair, you must be people of hope. Not a shallow optimism, but a deep, unshakable confidence that Christ is risen, that love triumphs, and that justice will roll down like waters. Let your sermons, your service, your leadership be soaked in that hope.

3. Dream boldly. Vision widely.
Do not limit your ministry to what is safe or familiar. God may call you to plant churches in remote villages, to teach theology in seminaries, to care for widows and orphans, to stand for justice where there is none. Whatever your dream, let it be big enough to require God’s power. And whatever your vision, let it always point others to Christ, not to yourself.

4. Let your theology breathe through compassion.
All your studies—Hebrew, Greek, Systematic Theology, Church History—are not meant to remain in the library. They must become living bread for the hungry, healing for the broken, and light for those in darkness. Be theologians who love deeply. Be preachers who listen. Be shepherds who walk with the sheep.

5. Live the mission, don’t just preach it.
The mission field is not just across the seas—it is across the street. In every classroom, every church, every village, every pulpit, let your life be the message. Preach Christ not only with your mouth, but with your life.

Dear graduates, Nagaland needs you. India needs you. The world needs you. You were born for such a time as this. Let the fire of the Gospel burn in your bones. Let the cross of Christ shape your character. Let the Holy Spirit lead you into places you’ve never imagined.

You are ambassadors of the Kingdom. Go, and make disciples of all nations. Go, and shepherd the flock of God. Go, and love your neighbors as Christ has loved you.

And never forget—PACE International Seminary will always be your home. We believe in you. We are proud of you. And we pray for you.

May the Lord bless you and keep you,
May His face shine upon you and be gracious to you,
May He lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace.
Congratulations, Class of 2025. The world awaits your ministry. Go in power, go in love, and go in the name of Jesus.

Amen.

Spring Picnic of students