Jin S. Kim - teacher
Jin is founding pastor of Church of All Nations (CAN) in Minneapolis, MN. He is also founder, chief cultural architect, and teacher of Underground Seminary. He grew up in the deep South after emigrating from Korea with his family at age 7. He went to Georgia Tech, Princeton Seminary, has a DMin from Columbia Seminary, and has served as a congregational pastor since 1993. He has always had a passion to equip Christians to be radical disciples. “We’re trained by seminaries to help people cope with empire rather than to prepare them for an alternative way of life that is a counter-imperial witness to our faith in Jesus. I see emerging generations wanting help navigating a dehumanizing society and in building healthy and diverse Christian communities, as a means of reshaping that world through prophetic resistance, engagement and action.” Jin’s family includes his wife Soon Pac and their grown kids Claire & Austin.
John Nelson - assistant instructor
John is co-founder and assistant instructor of Underground Seminary. He grew up on a farm in Blue Earth, MN, then went to Bethel University, Bethel Seminary (MDiv), and Luther Seminary (MTh). Serving as coordinator of the Internship Program at Church of All Nations (CAN) from 2009-13 taught him the importance of pastoral training that included intensive life together. John believes that “discipleship is essentially a decolonizing of the body from the reflex of fear to love, and that critical theological reflection coupled with daily life together as a seminary household can make discipleship real.” John currently serves as Parish Instructor at CAN and is an ordained pastor in the Presbyterian Church USA.
laura newby - pedagogue & catalyst
Laura is co-founder and serves as Pedagogue & Catalyst of Underground Seminary. She is a 5th generation European-American, of mostly Swedish heritage, raised in rural Wisconsin. Her commitment to decolonization began by recognizing the impoverishment of her own culture of origin and the unremitting trauma inherent to Western civilization. She has completed training in Sensorimotor Psychotherapy to support somatic healing for trauma and attachment wounds in our community, and co-leads permaculture work at Church of All Nations, where she also serves as Ministry Catalyst.
isaac sanborn - research assistant
Isaac is an apprentice of Pastor Jin and serves as Ministry Assistant at Church of All Nations (CAN) and at Underground Seminary as research assistant. He is studious and loves to laugh. He was born in 1991, grew up in the Mississippi Watershed (Twin Cities Area), and graduated from Underground Seminary in 2016. He co-leads the Corner House, one of two residences for the seminary.
