Kyung Kim

Kyung Kim, clergy in the Mid-Texas Conference, shares his story which is one of faith, sacrifice, and unwavering dedication to answering God’s call. As a clergy member of the Mid-Texas Conference of the Global Methodist Church and an active-duty chaplain with the U.S. Army, Kyung’s journey reflects the challenges and blessings of serving both the church and the nation.

I am not from Texas. I moved to Texas in July of 2023, when I resigned from my church, UMC, in North Georgia Conference. I applied for the membership with Global Methodist Church prior to moving, but the process was not finalized until after moving to Fort Cavazos, Texas, once all the legal matters of disaffiliation in North Georgia was settled.

I moved to Fort Cavazos, Texas, to serve with US Army as an active duty chaplain. I had served with Army reserve for over five years while pastoring a church. My church, Jones Chapel in Danielsville, Georgia, was very supportive and understanding of my role as a chaplain with Army reserve. I loved pastoring Jones Chapel. We worked together to navigate through the challenges of COVID19 and through the challenges of disaffiliation. I loved Jones Chapel family and still love them greatly. I loved pastoring Jones Chapel, which is now a Global Methodist Congregation following the disaffiliation.

Currently, I am on a deployment with my unit to Europe. My wife and two children are in Texas. Leaving Georgia to move to Texas was a big decision and a challenge. I was ordered by the US Army to go to Fort Cavazos in the summer of 2023, and I knew that the deployment was in the schedule for the unit that I was assigned to. With an agreement and support from my wife (thank you!), we made a move. Moving to a new place, and then shortly after, being separated from the family. And, leaving a loving church family to be a chaplain for the Soldiers. Is this the cost of the call?

I have been asked, “Why did you decide to be a chaplain?” While serving as a reserve chaplain, I saw opportunities to be with people who wouldn’t come to the church. As an active duty chaplain, I have opportunities to work with Soldiers. Some are Christians. Many are not. Some have grown up or have church experiences but have drifted away from faith.God loves them all, and He seeks to find one more lost sheep.

While being with the unit in deployment, While being with the unit in deployment, I get to be a pastor to my Soldiers, 24-7. Every week, I lead Christian worship, preach, teach the Bible, provide pastoral counseling, and more. Active Christians, like Will, Ben and Mandy, are continuing their faith journey through the Chapel services and activities while on deployment. Then, there are those who are finding their way back to faith, like Jeremy, Issac, Jessica, Sean, etc. And, ones like Nate and Ashley have never heard about the love of God through Jesus Christ, and now heard the gospel. This is the field of harvest. To all Soldiers, regardless of their religion or interests in any faith, I have opportunities to do no harm and to do good all I can. As John Wesley said, “You have nothing to do but to save souls. Therefore, spend and be spent in this work. And go not only to those that need you, but to those that need you most. It is not your business to preach so many times, and to take care of this or that society; but to save as many souls as you can; to bring as many sinners as you possibly can to repentance.” – Conversation with Francis Asbury, Thomas Coke, and others, 1784. Being an Army Chaplain gives me opportunities to talk about God’s unfailing love and to invite the sinners to the sonship of our loving God who is gracious, full of compassion, and slow to anger.

The call comes with the cost. I will miss all the holidays with the family and the birthdays of my children this year. But the call is clear. Jesus said, “Go and make disciples of all nations”. (Matthew 28:19). First command is to go. Where are we going to make disciples? How are we reaching to those who would not come to the church? I have witnessed the setting of Army as a snapshot of the pluralistic and secular culture of the world. The spiritual battles are ongoing over the lives and the families. This is where God said for me and my family to “GO”, to witness boldly in order that the souls will be saved. And so, here I am.