Reverend Im Hyon Jung (G-ETS 1993) and the Reverend Dr. Heather Heinzman Lear (G-ETS 2015) named 2024 Distinguished Alums
October 2, 2024
The Reverend Im Hyon Jung (G-ETS 1993) and the Reverend Dr. Heather Heinzman Lear (G-ETS 2015) have been named the 2024 Distinguished Alums of Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary. Each year the seminary chooses two alums to be honored as Distinguished Alums. One alum is chosen from the most recent 25 years of graduates, and one alum is chosen from alums who graduated over 25 years ago. Both Jung and Lear will be honored for their remarkable ministries at this year’s Homecoming at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary.
Reverend Im Hyon Jung
Master of Divinity, Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary, 1993
Rev. Im Hyon Jung (G-ETS 1993) serves at the Discipleship Ministries and Upper Room Ministries of The United Methodist Church as Director, International Relations, Asia, and Global Programs Manager. An ordained elder in the Wisconsin Conference of The United Methodist Church, Jung is a certified spiritual director, retreat and workshop leader, program developer, and ministry coach.
In her work, Jung travels internationally and engages congregations and leaders interdenominationally and inter-religiously. She truly practices what John Wesley proclaimed, “the world is my parish.” Jung has a passion for encouraging people to walk closer with God, be attentive to God’s presence in their daily lives, and be more like Christ as they grow deeper and wider in their faith journeys and ministry.
Jung received her Master of Divinity from Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary in 1993. During her time in seminary, Garrett-Evangelical widened and deepened her spiritual life, providing a space for her to encounter the organic spiritual formation and spirituality of Teresa of Avila. Soon, Jung became a devoted student of not only Teresa of Avila, but also John of the Cross and Ignatius of Loyola. These spiritual giants molded and guided her own spiritual life, strengthening and empowering her to love God and God’s people throughout her life and ministry.
Jung shares the early state of her faith journey in the book The Holy Seed of Calling: Korean-American Clergywomen’s Journeys toward Ordination, National Association of Korean American United Methodist Clergy Women (2010).
Among Jung’s daily spiritual practices is walking and hiking. She has hiked through the hills and mountains of several countries, including a pilgrimage to Annapruna Sanctuary and the Dingboche Himalaya Trekking Route in Nepal, four spiritual pilgrimages to Camino de Santiago in Spain, the Great Wall of China, and three of the highest mountains in South Korea. Through this spiritual practice, Jung finds God’s abiding presence, awe and wonder, comfort and peace, love and grace, beauty and delight, and strength and empowerment on the trail.
Jung lives in Columbus, Ohio, with her husband, Bishop Hee-Soo Jung, Resident Bishop of the Ohio Annual Conference, United Methodist Church. She is an avid gardener, maintaining both a vegetable and flower garden, and enjoys spending time with her two adult sons, daughter-in-law, and granddaughter.
Reverend Dr. Heather Heinzman Lear
Doctor of Ministry, Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary, 2015
The Reverend Dr. Heather Heinzman Lear (G-ETS 2015) is the Vice President for Grant Administration for the Foundation for Evangelism, located in Lake Junaluska, North Carolina. She joined the staff for the Foundation in 2019, and prior she served as an ex-officio trustee and member of the Grants Committee.
From 2013-2018, Lear served as the Director of Evangelism Ministries for the General Board of Discipleship for The United Methodist Church. An ordained elder and member of the North Carolina Conference of The United Methodist Church since 2008, Lear served three congregations in North Carolina from 2004 to 2012.
With her experience, Lear has brought a passion for teaching and training leaders. She has co-taught the online course “Evangelism for Non-Evangelists” with Reverend Dr. Mark Teasdale, Professor of Evangelism at Garrett-Evangelical, for numerous years. In addition, she has taught evangelism courses at several seminaries and United Methodist conferences.
Publications by Lear include her 2016 book, Evangelism: Share the Good News (Cokesbury 2016), and numerous articles, including “Making Disciples: Obstacles and Opportunities in Urban Congregations,” International Review of Mission (2016), and “Reclaiming Evangelism for the Local Church,” Witness: Journal for the Academy for Evangelism in Theological Education (2014).
Lear holds a Bachelor of Science from Boston University (2000), a Master of Divinity from Duke Divinity School (2004), and a Doctor of Ministry from Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary (2015). In addition, she earned her Professional Certification in Evangelism in 2014 and holds two certificates from the Center for Nonprofit Management at the Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University.
Lear’s Doctor of Ministry dissertation was titled, “Reclaiming Evangelism: Evaluating the Effect of Evangelism in Selected United Methodist Congregations on Fulfilling the Denominational Mission to Make Disciples.” In this project, Lear looked at and analyzed United Methodist congregational practices that specifically sought to form and equip disciples of Jesus Christ to engage the world.
Lear lives in Brentwood, Tennessee, with her husband Casey and their son Caleb.