North America Mission Chronicle
Dedicated Ministry of Self-Supporting Lay Missionaries
“You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth”— Acts 1:8
UBF, which began in Gwangju, Korea in 1961, sent its first missionaries to Chicago and New York in 1971. Through the dedicated ministry of self-supporting lay missionaries, it has grown to approximately 100 chapters across North America.
September 1, Shepherd Samuel Lee and Missionary Sarah Barry co-founded UBF in Daein-dong, Gwangju. It began at a 'Christian Student Center' converted from a billiard hall
Began expanding nationwide
Headquarters moved to Seoul (Hyojae-dong, Jongno-gu)
'Daily Bread' Bible study devotional guide launched
First 3 overseas missionaries (Seo In-kyung, Lee Hwa-ja, Seol Dong-ran) sent to West Germany — establishing the model of self-supporting mission as nurses
🇺🇸 Chicago: Dr. David Lee and his wife, Dr. Yang Hyeong-seok and others — first missionaries arrive
🇺🇸 New York: Nurses Lee Myung-soon, Kim Jeong-suk, and Ko Ju-im arrive. Missionary Lee Myeong-gil becomes the first New York chapter director
Large group of nurse missionaries sent after 11 months of intensive training — 4 each to New York and Chicago
Additional nurse missionaries sent to New York
Sarah Barry arrives in the USA | 1st Summer Bible Conference held at Niagara Falls (230 Koreans, 81 non-Koreans) | First center building purchased in Rogers Park, Chicago | Washington D.C. pioneered | Nonprofit registered in Mississippi
Dr. Joseph & Esther Chung sent to Chicago as interim directors | Atlanta and Toledo pioneering begins
Missionary Samuel Lee relocates to Chicago with his wife Grace and three children — Chicago established as UBF World Mission Headquarters
Sarah Barry also settles in Chicago
'Calves' Team' — 6 women from Seoul National University Nursing School live together in a studio apartment in Evanston and pioneer Northwestern University
Geordan Griggs, first committed American member at Northwestern
Peter & Sarah Chang couple pioneer Columbus (Ohio State University)
Sam & Hannah Zun couple pioneer Cincinnati | Chicago UBF grows to approximately 90 members
🇨🇦 Canada first pioneered: 21 single women missionaries sent to Winnipeg as sewing machine operators
Multiple American house churches formed — Toh family (UIC), Griggs family (Cincinnati)
UIC (University of Illinois at Chicago) pioneering intensifies | Milwaukee pioneered — Augustine Park
Dr. Ben & Christy Toh run the largest American student gathering in Chicago without Korean missionaries
Prayer begins for Soviet Union mission | Prayer topic proposed: 'Let America be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation'
🇨🇦 Toronto pioneered — M. Joshua Lee & M. James Lee, sent from Winnipeg, begin ministry at University of Toronto
🇨🇦 Hamilton pioneered — M. Paul & Pauline Chang at McMaster University
Toronto holds first Summer Bible Conference | Triton UBF becomes independent | Seattle pioneered — Joshua Lee
🇨🇦 Montreal pioneered — relocated due to campus restrictions in Winnipeg | Russia/CIS mission begins after Soviet collapse
DePaul UBF pioneered | Penn State University pioneered
Raleigh (North Carolina) pioneered | Western Illinois University pioneered
John & Terese Bird sent from the USA to Wales (UK) as missionaries — first overseas missionaries from American UBF
🇨🇦 North York (Seneca College) pioneered | 🇨🇦 Humber College pioneered
January 8, co-founder Missionary Samuel Lee passes away (age 70)
Sarah Barry becomes the 2nd General Director. Appoints Ron Ward as Chicago pastor and Dr. Mark Yoon as International Coordinator
🇨🇦 York University (Toronto) pioneered
🇨🇦 University of Guelph pioneered — M. James & Grace Oh (sent from Hamilton)
Dr. John Jun becomes the 3rd General Director | Sarah Barry's autobiography 'My Grace is Sufficient for You' published
UBF 50th Anniversary — World Mission Report Conference in Seoul with approximately 5,000 attendees. 323 chapters worldwide reported
Dr. Abraham T. Kim becomes the 4th General Director
Dr. Abraham T. Kim re-elected as General Director
Pastor Moses Yoon inaugurated as 5th General Director
Chicago UBF establishes cross-cultural ministry certification partnership with Wheaton College
Pastor Ron Ward inaugurated as 6th (current) General Director, first non-Korean General Director
New York UBF pastoral generational transition — David B. to Pastor Juan S.
Philadelphia UBF dedicates new Bible House (November)
Columbia University (New York) ministry launched
Pastor Ron Ward re-elected as General Director
Nurse Missionaries — Pioneers of Self-Supporting Mission
In 1971, nurses Lee Myung-soon, Kim Jeong-suk, and Ko Ju-im arrived in New York. That same year, Dr. David Lee and his wife, and Dr. Yang Hyeong-seok arrived in Chicago. They created the prototype for self-supporting mission.
In 1973, a large group of nurse missionaries were sent after 11 months of intensive training. To New York: Yoon Hye-kyung, Kim Bok-soon, Moon Se-yoon, and Yoo Humble; to Chicago: Chung Rebecca, Shin Esther, Hong Mary, and Lee Deborah.
Calves' Team — Pioneering Northwestern
In 1977, six women missionaries from Seoul National University's Nursing School — Lee Sweetie, Choi Sarah B, Park Mary, Yoon Ruth, Park Pauline, and Choi Faith — lived together in a studio apartment in Evanston and pioneered Northwestern University.
This team's passionate campus ministry became the model for campus pioneering in North American UBF. In 1978, Geordan Griggs joined as the first committed American member, and the ministry began bearing fruit.
Missionary Samuel Lee & Sarah Barry — Relocation to Chicago
In 1977, UBF co-founder Missionary Samuel Lee relocated to Chicago with his wife Grace and three children. Sarah Barry also settled in Chicago the same year. This established Chicago as the heart of UBF world mission.
Missionary Samuel Lee proposed the prayer topic “Let America be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation” and cast the vision that North America should become a sending base for world mission. He directed world mission from Chicago for 25 years until his passing on January 8, 2002.
“His tombstone, inscribed 'Shepherd Samuel Lee,' testifies to a life lived as a shepherd who tended his flock to the end.”
Pioneering Canada — 21 Women Missionaries
In 1981, 21 single women missionaries were sent to Winnipeg as sewing machine operators. This was the beginning of UBF mission in Canada.
The Canadian ministry that began in Winnipeg expanded to Toronto in 1986, Hamilton in 1987, Montreal in 1990, London in 1992, and Waterloo in 1993, growing to 18 chapters today. This was the result of persistent ministry despite challenges and campus activity restrictions.
Co-founder, directed world mission after relocating to Chicago
Co-founder, managed missionary network of 1,430 missionaries in 85 countries
Former director of UBF Korea
Re-elected in 2015
Former director of Korea Jongno-Gwanak 3
First non-Korean General Director, re-elected in 2026
Current Organizational Structure (as of 2026)
The Gospel is being shared across the United States and Canada. Click on a country card to see detailed chapter information.
North America Coordinator
Regional Chapter Summary
🇺🇸 United States
🇨🇦 Canada
North America is home to some of the world's most influential universities. Students here become leaders who shape global politics, science and technology, business, and culture. Campus mission reaches future world changers. There are abundant opportunities for those who study here.
Over one million international students study in the United States and Canada each year. On nearly every college campus in North America, you can find students from all over the world. Reaching them multiplies the impact of the gospel in their home countries. Here, God's vision for you to be a prophet to the nations can be realized.
Despite material prosperity, many young Americans and Canadians are searching for meaning. Many are discovering purpose through studying the Bible. There are approximately 4,000–5,000 colleges and universities in the United States and over 300 in Canada. The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.
The Apostle Paul longed to go to Rome for world mission. Likewise, North America can be viewed as the Rome of this generation. The United States and Canada can once again serve as a launching pad for world mission.
Missionary Samuel Lee proposed the vision: “Let America be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.” It is the calling of UBF North America to use the abundant resources and talents of this continent for world mission. Come and help us realize this vision.
Our missionaries represent a diverse range of professions—doctors, nurses, engineers, scientists, professors, programmers, and accountants. You can come here as a student missionary while exploring your professional career path. North America offers abundant opportunities to serve as a self-supporting missionary.
- •Have accepted Jesus Christ as personal Savior
- •Have received or willing to receive discipleship training at UBF
- •Have a calling and passion for North America campus mission
- •Willing to study at universities as either undergraduate or graduate student to acquire skill for self-supporting ministry (nurse, doctor, science, engineering, business, etc) or have a profession or skill for self-supporting ministry (e.g. nurse, IT professional, teacher, etc.)
Your Calling is in North America
“Go and make disciples of all nations” — Matthew 28:19
North America Booth Board
Below are all the blog posts posted by the North America booth team.
Photos & Videos
Mission Inquiry · Express Interest
Have a question about North America missions? Submit your question below.