[1]NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)–Billy Kim, president of Far East Broadcasting Company in Korea, is exhorting Christians to fulfill the Great Commission within their generation.
Kim, who was president of the Baptist World Alliance from 2000-05, spoke in conjunction with a four-state tour by the Changwon Children’s Choir, visiting Judson Baptist Church in Nashville, Tenn., Jan. 21.
“Billy Kim has not only walked as a giant among Baptists, but among evangelicals as well,” said Gene Mims, pastor of Judson Baptist Church, in his introduction. “He is a Christian ambassador who walks humbly with the Lord.”
The 45-voice Changwon Children’s Choir, consisting of students in grades two through seven, was organized in 1996 as one of the ministries of the Far East Broadcasting Company in Korea. The choir is under the direction of Sang Chul Lee. The children’s families paid their own way to the United States to “come and tell Americans thank you for sending missionaries to Korea,” Kim told Baptist Press.
“… This is a great experience for these children who will go back to their friends and tell them how wonderful America is and how grateful they are for the impact America has made on South Korea,” said Kim, who is pastor emeritus of Suwon Central Baptist Church, a congregation he led for more than 45 years.
During his sermon, Kim gave testimony of God’s power through his own life and said Christians have been given “all-supplying power to fulfill the Great Commission in our generation.”
[2]Referencing Acts 1:8, Kim said “all power” is given to Jesus to open blind eyes, walk on water and heal lepers. “And I believe when Jesus said ‘all power is given to Me’ He is speaking of the all-supplying power to fulfill the Great Commission within our generation.”
Christians have the resources to evangelize, he said, yet “lack commitment to get the Gospel to the ends of the earth.” Kim then cited an example of Christian commitment by naming a church in Ohio that supported his missionary work in Korea for more than 48 years. Kim, who interpreted for Billy Graham in the 1973 South Korean crusade, also told how he initiated a new church in one year that eventually grew from 10 members to 15,000 in 45 years.
“When Jesus said ‘all power is given unto Me,’ He is speaking of the all-supplying power to fulfill the Great Commission within our generation. The only thing left is the commitment on the part of the Christian. I have never been in missionary work where God didn’t supply the needs that we had.”
Kim noted, “We’ve been blessed so abundantly. The Scripture says ‘to whom much is given, much will be required.’ No other people on the planet Earth have been blessed by God Almighty as the people of the United States of America. May God grant a fresh vision, for ‘where there is no vision, people perish.’”
The Far East Broadcasting Company, established in 1954, distributes Christian programming to 54 regions with limited access to Christian ministry. The worldwide media network broadcasts the Gospel and Christian programming via FM, AM, shortwave radio and the Internet for more than 500 hours a day, 365 days a year in more than 150 languages.
From Korea, 10 stations broadcast 265 hours a day in five languages to reach China, North Korea, Russia, Japan and beyond.
“From China and North Korea there are a lot of people who are leaving the countries and are encouraged by listening to the Far Eastern Broadcasting Company,” Kim told Baptist Press. “Many individuals leave China and North Korea and come to South Korea, the Philippines or Thailand.”
The individuals come to South Korea not only for religious freedom, but also for “personal freedom,” Kim said. “The messages through the broadcasts help people survive in often-oppressive circumstances,” he said, mentioning that the broadcasts offer slow-speed Scripture reading so listeners in restricted areas can write down God’s Word.
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