World-renowned speaker motivates community

By Vanessa Lynch, U.S. Army Garrison-Hawaii Public AffairsJuly 29, 2010

World-renowned speaker motivates community
1 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – SCHOFIELD BARRACKS, Hawaii - Debra Zedalis, director, Installation Management Command-Pacific Region, and James Duttweiler, deputy garrison commander, U.S. Army Garrison-Hawaii, watch a performance by the children's choir from the Far East Broadcasti... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
World-renowned speaker motivates community
2 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – SCHOFIELD BARRACKS, Hawaii - U.S. Army-Pacific Command Chaplain (Col.) Jack Van Dyken presents the children's choir from the Far East Broadcasting Company in Korea with chaplain prayer coins, before introducing world-renown speaker Dr. Billy Kim at t... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

SCHOFIELD BARRACKS, Hawaii - Soldiers, leaders and community members gathered at the Community Prayer Breakfast highlighting world-renowned speaker, Dr. Billy Kim and the 50-person children's choir from the Far East Broadcasting Company in Korea, at the Nehelani, here, Tuesday morning.

"This was the best prayer breakfast I have seen in a long time here," said Debra Zedalis, director, Installation Management Command-Pacific Region. "The children's choir was creative, innovative and inspiring and (Kim's) message is a good reminder that one person can make a difference."

Kim is a pastor, evangelist and broadcaster of world renown. His list of accomplishments and service in the Christian worldwide community is extensive.

In his dedication and passion for evangelism, Kim has preached the Gospel of Jesus Christ all over the world to thousands of people in all walks of life, including military personnel, diplomats, university professors and missionaries.

Before his highly anticipated speech, the children's choir performed a variety of songs for those in attendance, and U.S. Army-Pacific Command Chaplain (Col.) Jack Van Dyken presented the group with chaplain prayer coins, before introducing Kim.

"We are indebted to our Soldiers and military personnel," Kim said, referencing the America's involvement in the Korean War in 1950. "Without you, there wouldn't be children singing for you here, today.

"Our nation honors her sons and daughters, who answered the call to defend a country they never knew and a people they never met," Kim said, quoting the words etched on the Korean War Memorial, which commemorates the service, commitment and sacrifice of the U.S. armed forces members who fought a war against communism a half a world away.

Kim was born in 1934, into a poor farm family near the end of the Japanese occupation. When the Korean War broke out in June of 1950, his family could not escape, so they endured the hardships of war in Suwon. Kim was able to get work as a houseboy for the U.S. military, where he met Sgt. Carl Powers, the U.S. Soldier who would change his life forever.

Powers helped Kim get to America and financed his education. Kim left Korea at age 17, and Powers enrolled him at the Bob Jones Academy in Greenville, S.C.

"(Kim) saw the destruction of his own country, but when the walls came down, and gospel was allowed to come through (it) not only saved him, but his entire country," said Chaplain (Capt.) Josh Llano, 45th Special Troops Battalion, 8th Theater Sustainment Command.

Following 45 years as pastor of the 15,000-member Central Baptist Church in Suwon, Korea, Kim was elected to serve a five-year term as president of the Baptist World Alliance from 2000 to 2005.

He currently serves as Pastor Emeritus, as well as the president of the FEBC in Korea. Kim is also the director of Christian Service, Inc., in Korea, and serves as chaplain of the Korean National Police. He is the founder of Suwon Central Christian Academy and Capital Bible College and Seminary in Korea, and the former director of Youth for Christ, Korea.

U.S. Army Garrison-Hawaii is committed to supporting Soldiers and civilians with physical, emotional and spiritual programs and support, like the Community Prayer Breakfast, which promotes resiliency and quality of life throughout the deployment cycle.

See the show: The children's choir from the Far East Broadcasting Company in Korea will perform at the Main Post Chapel on Schofield Barracks, 9 a.m., Sunday.

Dr. Billy Kim will be speaking at the Aliamanu Military Reservation Chapel, 10 a.m., Sunday, where the children's choir will also be performing.

Call AMR Chapel at 808-833-6831 or the Main Post Chapel at 808-655-9307.

See more photos from the prayer breakfast on <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/usag-hi/sets/72157624472411783/">Flickr</a>.

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More photos on Flickr