A Spiritual Journey from Soldier to Pastor – KyongJung Kim (MTS 2018)

KyongJung Kim is a Mennonite pastor who serves at two churches and also works as a school bus driver for students with disabilities in the Waterloo Region. His spiritual awakening occurred after meeting Anabaptist Christians in Winnipeg from 1994 to 1997. Since then, he has continued his journey with Jesus and has remained committed to his faith no matter where life takes him.

“It has been 30 years since the Lord opened my mind to understand his word,” he said. “He impacted my worldview and eventually led me to change my allegiance to follow Christ in God’s Kingdom." KyongJung’s journey continued upon in his return to South Korea in 1997, and when he continued working for the Korea Anabaptist Center in 2001. His story serves as an example of how faith can grow from adverse situations. Whether wrestling internally over biblical scriptures or opening his ears to surrounding peers, he has found purpose in a life devoted to God. “The most fulfilling aspect of my career and personal life is experiencing God’s love and wisdom through his Son, Jesus Christ,” he said. 

“The most significant turning point in my life was my decision to follow Christ and live according to his teachings,” explained KyongJung. While serving in South Korea, KyongJung had a strong view of patriotism. Due to the long-standing military conflicts between North and South Korea, he was taught to believe that violence was necessary to protect his country from enemy attacks. “National security was the highest priority, so I was loyal to my country and had no problem participating in military service if war was necessary.” However, KyongJung began to contemplate scripture text more seriously and question who exactly he was fighting. He began thinking of other avenues he could use to protect his country while preventing bloodshed. “I realized God’s word didn’t just apply to the world’s international relationships, but all my interpersonal ones too,” he said. “Since confessing Christ as the Lord and king of all, I no longer held the views of ‘us and them,’ or ‘an eye for an eye.’” This revelation was a product of KyongJung’s analysis of Jesus’ teachings, early Christian writings, and the Anabaptist beliefs of the Bible from the 16th century. To contextualize his change in beliefs, KyongJung pointed to Ephesians 6:12 as a concise representation of his avoidance of violence: “Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the power of this dark world and the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”  

KyongJung continued working at the Korea Anabaptist Center until 2015, when he yearned to return to school to gain a more complete understanding of his own faith and the world. “I decided to study in Grebel’s Master of Theological Studies (MTS) program because it offered various academic courses and practical study programs for my church ministry from an Anabaptist perspective,” he said. While an MTS student, KyongJung appreciated the supportive nature of his Grebel professors and peers. Through them, he found inspiration to continue analyzing scriptural text and apply class teachings to daily life and church ministry. “The staff and faculty were wonderful and always willing to provide support when I needed help with my studies,” he noted. Since English was his second language, KyongJung remarked that he sometimes had difficulties progressing through the course material. “Thanks to the support of the Grebel community, I was able to catch up on my course material and assignments. Although it was tough at points, I was able to cultivate soil for the seeds of my knowledge and understanding of Christ to grow,” he said. “It was a precious time.” 

Through daily analysis and contemplation of biblical scriptures, KyongJung continued to broaden his biblical knowledge and perspectives in several aspects of his life. Again, he credited Grebel for helping him deepen his understanding of Scripture and Christian life. "It was an instrumental experience in shaping my future,” he reflected. “The MTS program enriched my knowledge of theology and church history, while also equipping me with practical skills for my pastoral ministry. My critical thinking and analytical skills have also improved significantly. I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to complete the MTS program at Grebel. “ 

After graduating from Grebel, KyongJung widened his calling to serve God and began working as a school bus driver. “Working with students who have disabilities is a precious opportunity for me to gain insights into human suffering, patience, love, compassion, and more.” Engaging in service work and praying for his students and their families continues to provide KyongJung with great joy and allows him to strengthen his connection with God and his local community.  

Over his life, KyongJung has made tremendous efforts to understand and broaden his connection with God, his own beliefs, and his personal relationships. His persistent inner contemplation of biblical scriptures has helped him transform his life from militarism and patriotism to compassion and love. “Daily devotions, prayer, church ministry, and never-ending study opportunities have helped me deepen my faith,” he said. “There was a time when I didn’t understand why things didn’t happen the way I had planned. In my early 20s, I was so interested in military leadership that I spent a lot of time and energy to become a professional solder.” KyongJung vividly recalled being unjustly excluded from an annual commissioning service for the Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) in 1991. “I couldn’t help but ask God why things didn’t happen as expected. But it was precisely because of that incident that I pursued a different direction of my new life.” As a follower of Christ living with humility, KyongJung has fulfilled his calling for God. "I am so grateful for God’s love, deliverance, and guidance.” 

By Jiho Mercer 

Photo: KyongJung during his ordainment at Preston Mennonite Church in Cambridge. 

KyongJung Kim is a pastor at Preston Mennonite Church and Wanner Mennonite Churches, as well as a school bus driver for students with disabilities. After experiencing a spiritual awakening, KyongJung began intensely studying biblical scriptures and the Anabaptist movement of the 16th century. Recently, he was ordained at Preston Mennonite Church, indicating his long-term call to ministerial leadership and commitment to the Church. In his free time, KyongJung enjoys woodworking, exercising, reading, singing, and listening to music and faith stories. 

KyongJung's story is part of Grebel's 60 Stories for 60 Years project. Check out our 60 Stories page for more articles in this series. If you would like to nominate a Grebel alumnus to share about their experiences at Grebel, please submit a nomination form.