O - Baptist Bible Tribune

Daniel Kim and
Bible Baptist Church
in Korea celebrate
milestone
By Jon Konnerup BBFI Mission Director
January 2, 2011, marked the golden anniversary
of the Bul Kwang Dong Bible Baptist Church
and Pastor Daniel Kim in Seoul, South Korea,
whose impact has been felt not only in the lives
of people on the Korean peninsula, but also
throughout many parts of Asia, Latin America,
the Middle East, Africa and Europe.
It was my privilege to participate in this
wonderful occasion alongside pastors from
South Korea, Japan, and missionaries from
around the world. There were two packed services
Sunday morning, and over 2,200 adults in
a rented hall on Monday night. It was amazing
to meet many of the people whose lives were
changed by this ministry through salvation
in Jesus Christ, and now God is using them to
influence others.
An added blessing was to be with Jack and
Shirley Baskin, who from the beginning worked
with Pastor Kim and his wife to start this
church. Together they would walk through the
neighborhood praying because there were no
gospel-preaching churches. Baskin recalls:
Early one morning we spent time in a
coal storage bin praying for a place to start a
Jack and Shirley Baskin
church. We went for the usual walk and came to
a kindergarten. We went in and met the owner,
a well-educated lady. We explained to her our
desire and goals and she said, “You can use
this building at no charge, and I would like to
become a Christian.” Needless to say, we were
assured our prayers had been answered so we
printed flyers and distributed them during the
very cold last week of December 1960. The following
Sunday a total of 165 adults and children
came! We soon outgrew our space so I asked
Dr. Donnelson if we could borrow money with
which to purchase land and build a building.
16 | Baptist Bible Tribune | March 2011