Billy Kim

Billy Kim
Personal details
BornBilly Jang Hwan Kim
(1934-07-25) July 25, 1934 (age 91)
Suwon, South Korea
NationalityKorean
DenominationBaptist
SpouseTrudy
Children3
OccupationFormer President of Baptist World Alliance and Far East Broadcasting Company Korea
EducationBob Jones University

Billy (Jang Hwan) Kim (Korean: 김장환; born July 25, 1934) is a prominent Christian evangelist and humanitarian. He was the president of the Baptist World Alliance from 2000 until 2005 when he was succeeded by David Coffey.[1][2]

Early life

Billy Kim was born in Suwon, Korea on July 25, 1934 into a poor farming family with three older brothers and an older sister.[3] When the Korean War broke out in June 1950, the Kim family could not escape and stayed in Suwon.[4] Billy worked as a houseboy for the U. S. military under Sgt. Carl Powers, who helped him go to America to get an education. He left Korea on November 12, 1951. Carl Powers enrolled Billy at Bob Jones University in Greenville, South Carolina where Billy converted to Christianity. Early on in his college career, Kim won a South Carolina speech contest with a speech entitled “I Speak for Democracy”. He began preaching at small country churches on weekends. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Biblical Studies in 1956.[5]

In August 1958, Billy married Gertrude "Trudy" Stephens whom he met at Bob Jones University.[5][6]

In February 1959, Billy was ordained at Dante Baptist Church, and in November of that year received his master's degree.

Career

Billy Kim first began to work with Suwon Central Baptist Church on January 1, 1960, when it had only 10 members.[7] In 2005, the congregation has grown to over 15,000,[8][9] including 100 members in an English speaking congregation founded by Billy and his wife Trudy. He retired from the post of senior pastor on December 19, 2004 and was succeeded by Rev. Myung Jin Ko, formerly senior pastor of Osan Baptist Church, on January 2, 2005.

Billy is the Chairman of the Far East Broadcasting Company in Korea.[10]

Ministry

The Days of Ministry

When Billy returned to Korea in 1959, he and Trudy began their ministry in Suwon.

Billy Kim translated for Rev. Billy Graham during the 1973 Crusade.[5][11]

Borderless Ministry

In 2000, Kim became the first Asian to be elected as President of the Baptist World Alliance.[1]

Family

Billy Kim and his wife Trudy have three children: Joseph Carl, Mary Kay, and John William. They have ten grandchildren.[5][12]

References

  1. ^ a b "Baptist Centenary Congress 2005 Ends Successfully with Hallelujah Praise". www.christiantoday.com. August 2005. Retrieved 2008-08-27.
  2. ^ Tammi Mallory, Billy Kim: from 'lowly houseboy' to Baptist World Alliance president Archived December 16, 2013, at the Wayback Machine Baptist Press Feb 5, 2002
  3. ^ Christian post, Billy Kim, christianpost.com, USA, November 22, 2002
  4. ^ Tammi Mallory, Billy Kim: from 'lowly houseboy' to Baptist World Alliance president, bpnews.net, USA, February 05, 2002
  5. ^ a b c d Bethany Bridges, Dr. Billy Kim Jackson Free Press Tuesday, April 23, 2013
  6. ^ Greeneville sun, Korean Pastor Billy Kim Visits Here, greenevillesun.com, USA, March 3, 2005
  7. ^ Robert E. Johnson, A Global Introduction to Baptist Churches, Cambridge University Press, UK, 2010, p. 272
  8. ^ C. Douglas Weaver, In Search of the New Testament Church: The Baptist Story, Mercer University Press, USA, 2008, p. 240
  9. ^ Wendy Ryan, Korean Billy Kim nominated to lead Baptist World Alliance Archived December 16, 2013, at the Wayback Machine Baptist Press Jul 26, 1999
  10. ^ Millie Rothrock, Korean Children's Choir performs in Wytheville, swvatoday.com, USA, April 29, 2013
  11. ^ David Aikman, Billy Graham: His Life and Influence, Thomas Nelson Inc, USA, 2010, p. 111
  12. ^ Leah MarieAnn Klett, Billy Kim, the 'Billy Graham of Asia,' Inducted Into NRB Hall of Fame, christianpost.com, USA, March 6, 2018
allikas: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Billy_Kim