INPERSON + INPRINT
PRESIDENT KIM VISITS KOREA
F
rom its inception, Westminster Seminary California has existed to bless and be blessed by the global church. This is captured in one of its earliest mottos: “Building a Base to Serve the West and Reach the World.” The seminary’s bylaws identify the unique opportunity afforded by its western location in participating in the global church, particularly in Latin America and the Pacific Rim. The institutional bylaws observe, “In its degree programs the seminary has the goal of making students aware of the issues raised by the increasing cultural diversity in their societies and throughout the world, and of educating them to approach theological and practical ministry issues with cultural sensitivity and discernment.” Such was and remains the missionary heartbeat of this institution. At the end of the 20th century, scholars in the field of missions not only looked back to evaluate the past century but also looked forward to anticipate what was in store for the new millennium. Even during the chaotic events during the 20th century, God in his sovereign control has had history in the palm of his hand. Despite the rise and fall of major ideologies and two world wars, the last century has seen, through God’s amazing grace, the tremendous growth and spread of Christianity throughout the globe. But the world is much different than it was in the early 1900s. A hundred years ago, 90 percent of the world’s Christians lived in North America and Europe. Only 10 percent of the world’s Christians lived in continents
south and east. Since the year 2000, there has been a dramatic shift. Nearly 70 percent of the world’s Christians now live in the non-Western world. WSC is committed to serving the global church in its changing landscape. This spring, President Joel E. Kim spent 10 days in Korea preaching, speaking, and meeting with pastors and leaders at Korean churches and schools. On April 27, President Kim spoke at Yullin Church in Seoul, Korea. Rev. Nam Joon Kim has served as Senior Pastor of Yullin Church for nearly three decades. In 2014, WSC was blessed to welcome Rev. Kim as the speaker at its commencement ceremony in Escondido. President Kim’s trip also featured speaking engagements at two Presbyterian schools located south of Seoul, Calvin University and Hapdong Theological Seminary. On April 30, he spoke at the Korean Evangelical Theological Society (KETS) meeting at Yullin Church. Protestant theology professors in Korea founded KETS in 1981 to promote Protestant theological scholarship and dialogue among Korean scholars. President Kim concluded his trip to Korea by preaching on the Lord’s Day, May 1, at Songwol Church, which is located in Incheon. Throughout his trip President Kim was humbled by the warm welcome by the communities at these Korean churches and schools as he brought greetings from Westminster Seminary California, delivered lectures, preached the Word of God, and learned about the Lord’s gracious work in South Korea.
UPCOMING ENGAGEMENTS MAY
1 | President Joel E. Kim preaches at Yullin Presbyterian Church (Seoul, South Korea). 1 | Dr. David VanDrunen preaches at Redeemer OPC (Santa Maria, CA). 8 | Dr. Bryan Estelle preaches at Bethel Reformed Presbyterian Church (Fredericksburg, VA). 8 | Dr. David VanDrunen preaches at Reformed Presbyterian Church (Los Angeles, CA). 15 | Dr. A. Craig Troxel preaches at Reformed Presbyterian Church (Los Angeles, CA).
JUNE
2-4 | Dr. A. Craig Troxel speaks at the OPC Deaconal Summit (Wheaton, IL). 5 | President Joel E. Kim preaches at Crossway Community Church (Brea, CA). 11 | Dr. David VanDrunen speaks at the Evangelical Reformed Church of Bucharest Conference (Bucharest, Romania). 13-17 | Dr. A. Craig Troxel speaks at the OPC Presbytery of Southern California Family Camp (Twin Peaks, CA). 14 | Dr. David VanDrunen speaks at Protestant Theological University (Amsterdam, Netherlands).
“Since the year 2000, there has been a dramatic shift. Nearly 70 percent of the world’s Christians now live in the non-Western world.” 20
UPDATE | SPRING2022
