2012
Lou & Lisa, living in Virginia, U.S., develop interest in Korean culture through their youngest daughter, Alyssa
Lou & Lisa meet with a NK defector student for the first time, brings him into their home, which leads to a burden to pray
2013
Lou & Lisa host a concert at their home-church in VA to raise funds to rescue a North Korean orphan, who currently resides in the U.S.
2014
Lou & Lisa start NK Missions, a refugee education and assimilation ministry. They establish the Board of Directors in the U.S.
They visit Jangdaehyun School in South Korea, meeting students and staff members for the first time
2015
Lou & Lisa move to Busan, South Korea, taking up full-time teaching duties at Jangdaehyun School, the first partner school for NK Missions
Lou is invited to speak at Handong Global University on Reunification (invited back in 2016, 2017)
2016
NK Missions hosts first intern, Kelsey Neal, at Jangdaehyun School
2017
First annual senior class trip to the U.S. with Jangdaehyun graduating seniors
First short-term missions team from OneU, a ministry from American University in Washington, DC
Second intern, Amy Neal, joins NK Missions, to serve at Jangdaehyun School
2018
First full-time staff, Hannah Lechmann, joins NK Missions to serve at Jangdaehyun School
Second partner school - Yeomyung School, the largest defector school in Korea, agrees to join NK Missions as a partner
Second short-term missions team from Cornerstone Church, Fairfax, VA
2019
Third partner school - Heavenly Dream School, the oldest defector school in Korea, agrees to partner with NK Missions on two projects. The 2020 America Trip and an English Unification Camp to be held in July of 2020.
Began the Saturday English Program, serving children of North Korean Defectors. Wayne and Duckeun joined NK Missions to administrate the new, but promising program. Four new volunteers join as helpers.
NK Missions was invited to speak twice at the largest University in Busan, Busan National University.
NK Missions kicked off the first NK Missions Week at Antioch International Ministry. A daily prayer card guided members by providing prayer points, detailing the struggles of NK adults and students assimilating into the free society of South Korea. Seven Dancing defector Grandmas performed at the Wednesday Morning Worship Service. The week ended at the AIM Friday Night Prayer Meeting featuring Ji Seongho as the guest speaker.
NK Missions partnered with Antioch International Ministry and NAUH to hold the first NK Healing Camp for 7 new escapees. The purpose of the camp was to provide an opportunity for them to rest, tour, and enjoy the beauty of Busan. It was a very encouraging and healing time for them.
A fourth partner organization - The HanaCenter of Busan, agreed to work with NK Missions. The HanaCenter is a social welfare organization serving North Korean defectors in the city.
NK Missions spoke at the yearend event for The HanaCenter of Busan.
2020
NK Missions held its first One-Day English Camp with the HanaCenter of Busan. Thirteen new volunteers joined in conducting the camp in conjunction with Sooyoungro Church and Antioch International Ministry in Busan. Seventeen students were in attendance at the camp.