Acknowledgements
I write this from a small study in my parents’ house in Atlanta, Georgia, where it all first began. From fieldwork, data gathering, writing, to revision, Undocumented Migration as a Theologizing Experience has been almost four years in the making and many more years in my heart. And it is truly a testimony to God’s faithfulness and steadfast love. I must begin by remembering and thanking God’s providential care throughout this wonderful journey of a lifetime.
While on this journey, I have encountered a host of teachers, mentors, friends, and helpers without whom this book would not have been possible. First and foremost, I am grateful to my teacher, Karen Scheib, who keenly and gracefully shepherded the enitre process of starting and nurturing this project. Dr. Scheib, I pray this book reflects the depth of your wisdom and guidance. Gregory Ellison judiciously guided me to integrate my intellectual questions with my genuine passion for compassion and justice. Thank you, Greg, for seeing and affirming the gift in me when I couldn’t see it myself. Emmanuel Lartey and John Snarey were also attentive readers of an early version of the manuscript and offered thoughtful, generous feedback. Truly, I have had the privilege and joy of being guided and mentored by these great scholars who are both intellectually insightful and pastorally encouraging. Because most of my fieldwork took place in the Greater Atlanta Area, the faculty at Candler School of Theology and the Graduate Division of Religion at Emory University were indispensable in the development of this project. I especially thank Kwok Pui-lan, Ted Smith, Jonathan Strom, and Roger Nam for their astute teaching and heartfelt mentoring.
This project would not have been completed without my remarkable colleagues at Boston University School of Theology (BUSTH). I thank Dean Sujin Pak and Academic Dean Bryan Stone for their unwavering support and encouragement for my scholarship, teaching, and service. In addition to being thoughtful mentors, Shelly Rambo, Steve Sandage, and Claire Wolfteich became wise conversation partners as I discern a path for myself as an emerging scholar. I also extend my warm gratitude to Dana Robert, Jimmy McCarty, Nicolette Manglos-Weber, Anastasia Kidd, Courtney Goto, Becky Copeland, Filipe Maia, Luis Menéndez-Antuña, Rady Roldán-Figueroa, Shively Smith, David Jacobson, Hee An Choi, Peng Yin, Debbie Brubaker, Charlene Zuill, Daryl Ireland, and Sangwon Yang. I am also grateful to Eric Brown and Dana Olsen-Getty for collaborating with Shelly and me on the Trauma-Responsive Congregation project. Because of everyone’s friendship, collegiality, and commitment to theological education, I feel incredibly blessed to call BUSTH my home.
Two fruitful years of postdoctoral fellowship at Brite Divinity School at Texas Christian University also enabled me to refine this project. Thanks to Joretta Marshall, Barbara McClure, Natalya Cherry, and Namsoon Kang for providing support and wisdom during those years. The Louisville Institute, the Forum for Theological Exploration, and the Wabash Center provided not only the educational and material support that made the book project possible, but also steady guidance over many years. I feel privileged to have been supported by imaginative leaders, such as Edwin David Aponte, Don Richter, Patrick Reyes, and Nancy Lynne Westfield through these beloved institutions. Furthermore, several academic guilds including the Society for Pastoral Theology, the Association of Practical Theology, the Philadelphia Pastoral Theology Group, and the American Academy of Religion granted opportunities for me to share portions of the book with fellow scholars and receive rich feedback. Thanks especially to Mary Clark Moschella, Robert Dykstra, Lee Butler, Michael Koppel, Hee-Kyu Heidi Park, Sophia Park, Ryan LaMothe, and Rolf Nolasco for their leadership and guidance that deepened my identity as a practical and pastoral theologian.
Publishing one’s first book can be overwhelming, but Bonnie Miller-McLemore and Elaine Graham, the series editors of Brill’s Theology in Practice, have made it not only a humane but enjoyable process. From day one, Bonnie saw the possibilities of this project and patiently accompanied me through the ups and downs. As a fellow pastoral theologian and a writing coach, Eileen Campbell-Reed read multiple portions of the manuscript. Her sharp mind and compassionate critique brought much clarity to this book. I also appreciate the enthusiastic support of my editors at Brill, Elizabeth Bento and Ingrid Heijckers-Velt who have brought this project to fruition.
I have been fortunate to meet colleagues and friends who have sojourned with me. Their timely advice to push forward, rest, and, above all, remain in God’s grace has helped me to clarify my vocational direction. For their companionship, dedication, and love, I express my deep gratitude to Bansouk Kim, Dongho Han, Seungjun Hwang, Hamin Kim, Jaeseok Huh, Jae Eun Hwang, Chulyu Kim, Eunjin Jeon, Garam Han, Eunchong Kim, Min Woo Nam, Shinyoung Kim and Hangyoon Cho. Jonghwa Kim, Jongkuk Park, Kyunghwan Woo, and Kab Boo Kim have been thoughtful mentors who always offer prayer, wisdom, and encouragement. Wonchul Shin and Hyun Woo Kim deserve a special shout-out for being thoughtful conversation partners in the theological academy ever since we first met at Candler. Moreover, church communities have been sacred places of refuge and renewal for me. Many thanks to Byeongho Choi, Taekhan Yoon, and Bermsoo Kim at Bethany Presbyterian Church; Young Ghil Lee, Su Young Kim, and Eun Taek Jung at Korean Church of Boston; Bonsung Ku at The Light Church of Frisco; Fritz Ritsch at St. Stephen Presbyterian Church; Hye Jin Lee at Atlanta Bethel Church; Kevin Park at Korean Central Presbyterian of Atlanta; and Warren Lesane and Tami Scott at the Synod of Mid-Atlantic. I also want to thank Elder Hyeon Chae Lee in Korea. His love and support have given me the strength to continue this journey.
I am also grateful for the classes of students at BUSTH, Brite, Candler, and Union Theological Seminary in New York who showed me wholehearted support as I learned how to navigate the heavy responsibility of research, teaching, and writing. In particular, when I found myself deep in the forest, tired and nervous, many BUSTH students encouraged and inspired me to keep going by affirming my gifts in teaching and mentoring. Special thanks to the School of Theology Student Association, the Korean Student Association, and the Chaplaincy Track Group at BUSTH. Moreover, I have been lucky to work with outstanding doctoral students and research assistants, Shelby Hall, Jeehyun Baek, Linda Kwak, Mary Page Wilson-Lyons, Kris Kohler, Krista Zobel, and Vaughn Nelson.
Finally, this book is dedicated to my grandfather, Jung-ho Cho, a Presbyterian minister and faithful servant of God, who first taught me that I am God’s beloved. I am a product of my loving, beautiful, and dedicated parents, Soosung and Mee Young Cho, who have been the most compassionate caregivers and conversation partners. To my older brother, Abe, I love you and am proud of you. His family—Youngjoo, Rachel, and Isaac—have been the most cheerful supporters. Last but not least, I give my deepest thanks to my extended family members both in the United States and Korea. I love you all.
Soli Deo gloria!