Please join me in praying for the family and church family of Dr. Daniel Kim, who went to be with the Lord today.
I first met Dr. Kim when I was five years old. Dr. Jack Baskin, also now with the Lord, brought him to our home. I asked Dr. Kim to help me invite my neighbor friend to church, which he did.
When I was a teen and our family moved to Korea as missionaries, it was a difficult time for me. Dr. Kim extended kindness once and again.
Over the years, he has been a godly mentor, a kind friend, and a faithful prayer partner.
Dr. Kim was reached with the gospel in 1959 through the ministry of American missionary, Dr. Jack Baskin, to Korea. In 1961, he planted the Bul Kwang Dong Bible Baptist Church in Seoul and served as its pastor for over six decades. He helped to start many churches and interpreted in meetings for preachers from America, including G. B. Vick and Dr. Jerry Falwell in the 1970s.
Through the years, I have been privileged to preach at Bible Baptist in Soul. Dr. Kim hosted a Spiritual Leadership Conference there over twenty years ago. And he also preached at a more recent Spiritual Leadership Conference in Manila (pictured above).
Dr. Kim once told me that he prayed for me a length every Thursday night. When I told him how honored I was that he he would, he said, “How can I say ‘I love you’ and not pray for you?”
Dr. Kim loved the work of missions, and both he and his church gave generously to support missionaries around the world. For as long as I have known him, he has prayed fervently for the opening of North Korea, in particular, to gospel missions. On several occasions, I have visited the DMZ with him and looked across it to the country of North Korea. Each time, I could sense his great burden for North Korea as we prayed for its people. His church continues to set aside resources in preparation for the day when the doors open to the gospel.
We have been privileged to have Dr. Kim preach numerous times at Lancaster Baptist Church. His wife, Young Soon, has sung several times at our church. She is one of the most godly women Terrie and I have known. Their daughter, Grace, and son-in-law, Enoch, served on our staff for fifteen years. Enoch was recently called to pastor the Bible Baptist Church in Seoul. Dr. Kim’s grandson, Davide, serves as our children’s pastor, and his granddaughter, Herena, serves in our ministry as well.
Please continue to pray for Young Soon, and the Kim family during this time of loss. Please pray also for Pastor Enoch Kim and the Bul Kwang Dong Bible Baptist Church.
