Day 18 – Andrew Kim

1. What do you do for a living? (occupation/field of study)

I am the youth pastor here at Grace Church. I also work at Solomon Agency Corporation throughout the week as an insurance marketing specialist. I’m pretty sure I don’t qualify to be considered a “specialist” yet, but I will take it..

2. How do you like to spend your free time?

I love spending time with my wife watching movies and TV shows, playing with our two poodles (Barley & Teddie), watching and playing sports (even though I am very out of shape), and lastly playing games with our church brethren.

3. Share one interesting fact about you that most people don’t know!

The nation of Wales holds a special place in my heart. I received my calling from God to go into ministry during my first mission trip there back in 2013. It was also in Wales I met Pastor Gus and many of our Grace church members for the very first time. I believe without a doubt that I would not be here at Grace Church if God did not bring us together in Wales. So in other words, I encourage you brothers and sisters… Go to WALES!!

4. Do you have a favorite book in the Bible? If you do, which one is it and why?

The Gospel of John would be my favorite book of the bible. As you read this Gospel, you can just sense the love and intimacy John has for Jesus, but also Jesus’ love for His disciples. It was also the first book of the Bible I read after encountering God.

5. Is there a verse/passage in the Bible that has significantly impacted your life? If so, which is it and why?

Psalm 1 “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, no sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous; for the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.”

I remember I had to memorize the entire Psalm verse by verse at a youth retreat where if you don’t memorize Scripture you don’t get to eat. I remember as a kid I hated how they were forcing me to memorize the Bible, so being a rebellious kid I swore to my group leader I wouldn’t eat the entire retreat just so I could tell my parents they starved me. My group leader was wise and told me “that’s okay if you don’t memorize the Bible, fasting is a good Christian discipline to learn too!” Thinking back now all I can say is wow… He was good! I’m truly thankful though for that retreat because I did break my “fast” after one meal and I ended up memorizing the whole Psalm, which has lasted even to this day (If you do ask me to recite the Psalm at this point I probably will tell you the AKV or Andrew Kim Version). This Psalm ended up being so personal because I saw my grandpa as a perfect example of a man, who walked with the Lord, delighted in His Word, and was truly blessed by God living to 103 years old.

6. Is there a prayer request that has been on your heart recently? If so, please share with us.

Faith. I have been challenged by our church’s theme this year. Lauren and I are having a baby this year and I know life is going to get busier, crazier, and even more out of control. However, through it all I know God is going to stretch me in many ways as I prepare to be a father. I want to live each day by faith so I can teach and exemplify to my daughter what it looks like for someone to live their life trusting in the Lord, just as my parents taught me as they modeled after their own parents.

7. Tell us about how you met Christ? (feel free to share a brief testimony)

I met Christ at a youth retreat in 2011. I went to the retreat begrudgingly because my parents signed me up without telling me. On top of that, none of my church friends went to that retreat either. I remember sitting in the very back of every service slouching on my chair with my arms crossed pretending to be the cool kid in the youth group. I would judge everyone at the retreat for being so foolish and childish. I just couldn’t understand why everyone was lifting their hands, crying and praying out loud. My heart was so hardened because of this image I had created for myself and wanted to maintain. However, this image came crashing down as I personally encountered Christ during the last night. During our time of worship, the praise leader led us in worship with the song Second Chance. I never heard the song before, but as I read the words on the screen I could feel my heart opening up and I began to weep as I understood personally for the first time who Jesus was, what he had done for me, and the second chance I now have to live a new life in Christ. I felt His overwhelming love, something I had never experienced before, which led me to repent and make Christ my Lord and Savior.