Helping to Bridge Cultures for the Gospel
Growing up as a missionary kid in South Korea and Central Asia, Hannah Kappler is well acquainted with the challenges inherent in cross-cultural ministry. But after participating in several short-term mission trips, she felt God pulling on her heart to dedicate her life to world missions. She now serves with One Mission Society (OMS) in the Asia Pacific region, where she equips fellow missionaries and national partners in leadership and cross-cultural training.
“Culture can be such a beautiful gift, but there are difficulties in interacting across cultures,” Hannah says. “One of my passions is helping people overcome barriers to hearing, accepting, and living the gospel, and culture is often a big part of this.”
In her varied role, Hannah helps build connections between missionaries and national partners, provides training in multiple countries throughout the Asia Pacific region, and helps set up systems to ensure that fellow missionaries have the support they need to carry out OMS’ mission: “To engage the one to reach the many, multiplying disciples, churches, leaders, and missionaries for Jesus Christ.”
One of my passions is helping people overcome barriers to hearing, accepting, and living the gospel, and culture is often a big part of this.
Hannah splits her time between Korea and Japan. With her family back in the U.S., she has developed a unique appreciation for what it means to be “home.”
“Home is more than a place,” she says. “It is where God has you at the moment, where he is growing and shaping you.”
On top of her ministry with OMS, Hannah is also a Global student at Western Seminary, where she is working on her Doctor of Philosophy in Intercultural Education. She is hoping to use her dissertation to explore the importance of looking at intercultural exchanges from a relational perspective. It’s a topic that closely aligns with her life experiences and God-given gifts.
“There is potential to have great relationships across cultures, but it’s often missed because of a different attitude towards interactions,” she says. “My desire is to help people on both sides understand where the other person is coming from.”
Hannah’s role with OMS is giving her the opportunity to practically apply what she is learning in her classes and assignments immediately to her ministry context. For her, earning a PhD is both a privilege and a responsibility to steward.
“How do I use the gifts and opportunities God has given me to better equip brothers and sisters in Christ around the world?” she asks. “Though earning a PhD was never a long-term goal, I want do this in a way that will glorify God and open up as many doors for the gospel as possible.”