By Sharon Mager
Robert Kim
COLUMBIA, Md.—Robert Kim will retire on Dec. 31 after serving almost a decade with the Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware (BCM/D), serving churches in the area of church multiplication, specializing in Asian church planting, evangelism and development.
Kim is known throughout the convention for his good-natured humor about English idioms, his humble spirit and his commitment to Christ.
Kim said that while studying the book of Acts, God impressed on him the emphasis that churches, not organizations, should start churches. Kim strove to impress that upon pastors and to share that the convention and other SBC entities were available to assist in that process.
Since Kim began his ministry with the BCM/D, he’s helped start a dozen new Asian churches including Korean, Chinese, and Burmese congregations. He’s also helped establish, for the first time for the BCM/D, a Japanese, Cambodian and a Thai church.
Kim also was instrumental in organizing the annual Asian Concerts of Prayer and Language Music Celebrations, both large gatherings of international churches who gather for prayer and worship together.
He’s also pleased to have assisted with bringing Chinese and Filipino pastors together for fellowship.
“I initiated lunches on a monthly basis and they began talking to each other, sharing and encouraging each other and discussing ways to begin churches,” he said. “The main thing I wanted to do was to let them know that they’re not alone.”
Kim also volunteered his time to teach English as a Second Language class. As a former English teacher in Korea, Kim wanted to help Asian pastors learn English, but most were just too busy, so he put an ad in a Korean newspaper. Several responded and Kim met them regularly at the Baptist Center.
In retirement, Kim plans to help people wherever he is needed. He will continue to minister where the Lord leads, and he hopes to have time to watch baseball, fish and travel.