Dr. Matthew Lee

A ‘Sovereignly Orchestrated’ Move to LBC | Capital  

Have you ever experienced a moment where you could see God orchestrating everything just right? For Dr. Matthew Lee, Director of LBC | Capital’s Master of Divinity (MDiv) program, that’s how he ended up in Lancaster, Pa., from Seoul, Korea.

Born in Seoul but raised in Florida and California from the age of 13, Lee sensed a call to ministry in high school, leading him to earn a degree in Music Industry. “I wasn’t able to articulate it when I first sensed it,” he explained, “but I felt like God was calling me to make the gospel visible in culture.”

Lee then earned his MDiv and began serving as a pastor at a small Korean-American church plant in California where he wore many hats—part-time custodian, bus driver, youth pastor, college pastor and worship pastor.

His next move took him to a megachurch with a body of 8,500. It was here his true ministry passion emerged—apologetics. Serving in youth ministry “led me to deal with a lot of doubts, challenges and objections against the Christian faith.”

Lee went on to earn both his MA and PhD in Christian Apologetics. While pursuing his PhD, he was offered an opportunity to serve alongside his mentor at a church in Seoul. While he and his wife, Lindsey, were both born in Seoul, their home was in southern California, so they committed to praying for a year, after which the Lees felt a strong calling from the Lord to act on the opportunity.

“We felt that He was sending us out and calling us in at the same time,” Lee said. “It was sovereignly orchestrated.”

In 2013, the family moved across the globe to Seoul, where Lee began serving as a parish and worship minister at a 25,000-member church. He oversaw the worship music department, which included four 55-piece orchestras, four 160-member choirs and a 50-person worship band. “It was highly rewarding,” he said. “It stimulated so much of my growth—as a person, a minister, a theologian and a teacher. But at the same time, it was very demanding.”

Over nine years in Korea, Lee participated in several music recordings, most of which were modernized renditions of hymns. He also released an album of original songs—a few even making regular rotations on Korean radio.

“I began writing because what we sing becomes our theology,” Lee said. “Both in the States and in Korea, I really sensed that there is an imbalanced diet. We’re singing a lot of songs that center around me—how I feel, what I do—but lacked a lot of substance about God and His work. We sing a lot about what we want God to do, but we seldom sing about what He’s already done.”

While mentoring several young ministers, Lee began to consider transitioning to full-time teaching. “I realized that all of my knowledge, experience, networks, spirituality—everything I have—was a gift,” he said. “I can’t hoard this. I need to steward this. I need to impart this to the next generation of pastors so they can in turn grow and continue to thrive in their ministry and reach their capacity.”

Lee connected with LBC | Capital’s Church & Ministry Leadership Department, where a program director position was open. Once again, he found himself amidst a “sovereignly orchestrated” plan when, instead of the position he’d expressed interest in, Lee was invited to lead the MDiv program beginning in early 2023.

“It’s given me new opportunities to go deeper in my scholarship but at the same time draw from a well of my pastoral experience,” Lee said. “I believe in what we do. LBC | Capital’s MDiv has both robust scholarship and cultural relevance and enough practical training for anyone who is serious about wanting to faithfully serve the Lord in this day and age.”