Rev. Billy Kim delivers the chapel message at OBU Sept. 26.
The Far East Broadcasting Company Korean Children’s Choir performed during chapel services at Oklahoma Baptist University Wednesday, Sept. 26. The choir, filled with around fifty beautiful voices, sang hymns, songs about America and even “Oklahoma.” They entertained with dances, flags, fans and mingling with the audience.
OBU President Dr. David W. Whitlock (center, left) presented Rev. Billy Kim (center, right) with an honorary doctorate in ministry during the chapel service Sept. 26. They were joined by Dr. Susan DeWoody (far left), vice president for academic affairs, and Dr. Heath Thomas (far right), dean of the Hobbs College of Theology and Ministry. OBU photos by Heather Horner.
Rev. Billy Kim Gives OBU Chapel Message, Joined by Korean Children’s Choir, Sept. 26
September 26, 2018
On Wednesday, Sept. 26, Raley Chapel’s Potter Auditorium was filled with joyful noise and a powerful message when the Far East Broadcasting Company Korean Children’s Choir came to perform. Their appearance was followed by OBU President Dr. David W. Whitlock presenting Rev. Billy Kim with an honorary doctorate in ministry. Kim then delivered the chapel address.The choir, filled with around fifty beautiful voices, sang hymns, songs about America and even “Oklahoma.” They entertained with dances, flags, fans and mingling with the audience.
Kim then shared his life story, how he came to America and how he came to Christ. During the Korean War, an American soldier, Carl Powers, befriended Kim. Powers helped arrange for Kim to come to the United States to attend college. He studied at Bob Jones Academy in South Carolina, improving his English along the way. He entered his ninth-grade year of high school at the academy, where he came to Christ after a ministerial student shared the Gospel with him in his dorm room. He then went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in Bible and a master’s degree in New Testament and theology at Bob Jones University, dedicating his life to sharing the Gospel with others. He then married a Michigan native, Trudy, and in 1959 they returned to Korea where they have ministered for almost 60 years.
Kim is chairman of Far East Broadcasting Company in Korea and pastor emeritus of Suwon Central Baptist Church. He pastored Suwon for 45 years and saw the congregation grow from a dozen attendees to more than 15,000 members. He served as president of the Baptist World Alliance from 2000-05, the first Asian to hold that position. He is a world-renowned evangelist and broadcaster, and he has an extensive list of accomplishments and service in the worldwide Christian community. He has preached the Gospel of Jesus Christ all over the world to thousands of people in all walks of life, including military, diplomats, university professors, faculty, staff and missionaries.
He directs the Far East Broadcasting Company in Korea’s eleven radios stations, of which two are high-powered AM transmitters sending the Gospel to China, Russia, Japan and Korea. The Korea radio ministry began in 1956 to broadcast the Gospel message to North Korea, China, Russia and Mongolia where missionaries themselves could not go.
Kim also famously worked with Billy Graham and translated for him. The two worked together for many years and Kim highly respected Graham, speaking at the late evangelist’s funeral earlier this year.