Park’s ‘heart for students’ is shown through her genuine care, students say

A “diverse” ministry background—from teaching preschoolers to college students—has been used by God to equip Lilly Park for her role in “teaching, counseling, and discipleship” as associate professor of biblical counseling in the Jack D. Terry School of Educational Ministries at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.

Born in South Korea, Park lived in Maryland from age of two before making several moves for education and employment.

Park attended the University of Maryland to study business. A couple of years after college, she had a consulting job she enjoyed, but then she lost two colleagues during the terrorist attack at the Pentagon on 9/11. That was a turning point for her and “prompted my re-evaluation of life goals,” remembered Park. “That’s what the Lord used to redirect my path.”

Although she “enjoyed discipling women in college,” Park was unsure about ministry opportunities until she learned about biblical counseling. She only knew of men who attended seminary, but “God providentially” brought a couple to her church and the wife became the first woman she knew who went to seminary. “It gave me courage and influenced me to show that I could go to seminary, too,” she remembered.

“God seemed to continually remind me that He was directing my steps even when I felt like Abraham, leaving the familiar for the unfamiliar and not knowing what jobs would exist as a female,” Park recalled. “Then, my faith in God was tested again when I moved to Louisville to pursue my MDiv, because I was leaving a spiritually healthy community at church.”

After teaching at a Christian college in Indiana,, “God used several leaders to direct my path to Fort Worth” to teach at Southwestern Seminary, she said.

Park said she has learned “to make the most of each opportunity, because God will use it somehow in the future,” including the time she taught preschoolers at her church, which she said He used to “confirm my desire to teach.”

Park has also served at other churches where she trained and taught women, including a counseling role at a maternity house for women and teaching at colleges and seminaries.  She said her ministry background is “diverse” and she can see how “God used each role to equip” her for “teaching, counseling, and discipleship.”

There are many things Park appreciates about being a part of the Southwestern faculty and community. “Teaching at Southwestern has opened my eyes to its rich history of training men and women for ministry. I appreciate Southwestern’s global focus as can be seen on campus,” adding that “it’s a privilege” to teach students knowing they will  “train others around the world. It’s also exciting to learn how local students are making a difference at their churches. This, in effect, demonstrates one of the strategic opportunities for Southwestern in making disciples both in Texas and beyond,” she said.

She also appreciates the “collaboration among colleagues,” citing a cross-cultural ministry course she is teaching with Dean Sieberhagen, associate professor of Islamic studies, Vernon D. and Jeannette Davidson Chair of Missions, and director of the Islamic Studies Program.

“This course is intended to equip students who serve in cross-cultural contexts in understanding worldview differences, best practices for discipleship, and basic skills for select problems, such as anger, conflict, forgiveness, trauma, to name a few. This course is important because cultural differences require sensitivity and wisdom, and Gospel-centered care based on a biblical-theological perspective is needed. Also, this course is also useful in helping missionaries know how to respond to struggles in their own lives or among team members.”

Park teaches several graduate classes including Principles of Biblical Counseling, Marriage and Family Counseling, Scripture Application for Soul Care, Cross-Cultural Counseling, and the Biblical Counseling Practicum. She enjoys the topics in each course, but Principles of Biblical Counseling is one she enjoys most because “students realize the profound implications of Scripture and theology for their lives, relationships, and ministry. Often, they share burdens from their lives, which affect their relationship with God and ministry to others,” described Park.

“One of the highlights of being a professor is seeing the lights turn on among students and being a part of their Christian formation through classes and conversations,” she said.

Park is committed to helping her students live their callings in whatever way possible, including prioritizing “preparing well for classes so that students receive a strong biblical-theological foundation for any topics discussed.”

“I’m also considering contemporary and cross-cultural issues throughout the semester so that students are relating the Bible and theology for their lives and ministry,” she said. “Another important priority is meeting with students throughout the week- even students from previous classes. My desire is to be a reliable resource for my students, whether it’s for their life or ministry. I also enjoy sharing ministry opportunities with students and recommending students for positions that might be a good fit based on their goals, knowledge, and skills.”

Michelle Gee, a Master of Arts in Christian Education student, from Osceola, Indiana, is the part-time women’s minister at Meadowridge Church in Fort Worth. She is currently taking Biblical Counseling Practicum I and previously she took Family and Marriage Counseling from Park.

“She invests time into her students to ensure that they are prepared for their ministries,” Gee added. “She is patient and understanding. She encourages discussion and allows time for questions to better serve her students. She directs her students to focus on the heart and not just look at surface issues. She is dedicated to training up biblical counselors who love the Lord and can meet people in their needs and point them to Jesus.”

Gee said that she uses her biblical counseling training “almost every day” she works at her church.

“When I meet with women in the church, I am intentional about assessing where they are spiritually and how I can help them grow and become a stronger follower of Jesus,” she explained. “The principles I learn in Dr. Park’s classes help me to stay focused on the Word of God and how I can guide the women to apply it to their lives. The Gospel is so much more than just a plan of salvation. It is hope for daily living. I want to be obedient to the Lord and I want to teach others to do the same.”

Lauren Sheffield, a Master of Divinity student from Dallas, Texas, who is a student in Scripture Application and Counseling, appreciates Park’s genuine care and concern for her as a student.

“Not only does Dr. Park point us to Scripture, but she also brings a lot of good practical advice and that is very helpful to blend the two together,” said Sheffield. “She is always there for students, is very encouraging, helpful and I have been able to come to her with personal things and I really appreciate that about her.”

Students testify that Park doesn’t merely teach them how to care for people—she shows it how she ministers to them.

Gee said Park “has a heart for her students” as “she genuinely cares about helping people through biblical counseling.”