Adventist Church in Northern Asia Elects New President

Si Young Kim was elected as the new president of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in the Northern Asia-Pacific Division (NSD), a region that encompasses several Asian countries including Korea, Japan, China, Taiwan, and Mongolia, on September 19. Kim will replace Jairyong Lee, who is retiring.

On September 13, church leaders held a Special Executive Committee (EXCOM) session to elect a new church president for the region. NSD EXCOM members elected and recommended Si Young Kim to the General Conference Administrative Committee (ADCOM) and on September 19, ADCOM members voted Si Young Kim as the new NSD president.

Seventh-day Adventist Church president Ted Wilson traveled to Korea to chair this special EXCOM session made up of members from every country in the region.

“There is nothing too hard for the Lord,” said Wilson to the committee members in his morning devotional on September 19 while reflecting on Jeremiah 32:27. “Remember that the great gospel commission can be accomplished in this territory only by depending on God.”

Following Wilson’s devotional message, he and his wife, Nancy, called retiring NSD president Jairyong Lee and his wife to the platform. The Wilsons presented the Lees with flowers and gifts and thanked them for their great service and dedication to the gospel ministry.

During the three-hour NSD EXCOM meeting, members prayed and discussed together, and then elected Si Young Kim as the new NSD president. He received 24 out of 42 possible votes.

“Now I understand why Gideon said that he was the least in his father’s house,” said Kim after his election. “I believe that God will be with our Adventist church members in the NSD and me, just like He was with Gideon. This heavy responsibility is a God-given mission. I will fully trust in the Holy Spirit; He is the source of power. Please pray for my family and me.”

Kim was born on November 25, 1954, in Boryeong City, Korea. After graduating with a degree in theology from Sahmyook University, he began his pastoral ministry in the Middle-West Korean Conference. Kim then served as a conference youth director, hospital chaplain, 1,000 Missionary Movement director, and director of Seventh-day Adventist Language Institute.

Kim received a Doctor of Ministry degree from the Adventist International Institute of Advanced Studies, in the Philippines. He also served as the Korean Publishing House president. After joining the NSD in 2012, Kim served as Adventist Mission coordinator, PARL director, Pioneer Mission Movement coordinator, and North-Korea Mission director. Kim and his wife, Myeong Sook, are proud parents of two adult children.