As we look back on the life journey of our beloved Missionary Un Kyong Kim, we remember her walk with God — a life of faith, love, and devotion. From her birth and growth, through her years of ministry and missionary service, to her final breath of faith and trust in God, every moment was filled with the grace of the Lord. We gather to recall the marks of love and faith she left on our family and ministry, and to give thanks together for the blessings and grace that God bestowed through her life.

 

1. Family Background

Missionary Un Kyong Kim was born on December 19, 1962, in Seoul, Korea, the third of four daughters of Kwang Yul Lim and Son Nye Lim. In 1979, she immigrated to the United States with her family and graduated from Cerritos High School in 1982. After helping her parents with their family business and attending Community College, she transferred to Biola University, majoring in Education.

 

2. WMC Ministry

During her college years, she joined WMC (World Mission Crusade), where she received discipleship training and devoted herself to campus evangelism and world missions. She served as a student staff member, leading evangelism and discipleship among high school and college students in the Cerritos and Cypress areas. In 1986, she participated in a short-term mission trip to Kenya, Africa, where she clearly heard God’s call to become a missionary.

 

3. Friends

Through WMC and Biola University, she formed many deep and lifelong friendships with sisters in Christ, which became a great blessing in her spiritual journey.

 

4. Engagement and Marriage with Missionary Paul J. Kim

After the short-term mission in Kenya in July 1986, she received a proposal from Missionary Paul J. Kim in Africa. With the blessing and approval of Rev. Jung Bok Kim (WMC), they were engaged on June 18, 1987, and were married on January 9, 1988, in the chapel of Biola University.

 

5. Honeymoon

A season filled with gratitude and joyful beginnings as they started their life and ministry together.

 

6. 요한과 요엘 출생

Their first son, Yohanan, was born on December 10, 1989, bringing great joy and blessing to the family. Their second son, Yoel, was born on December 14, 1990, doubling their joy. Missionary Kim lovingly and prayerfully raised her two sons with a mother’s faith and devotion.

 

7. Bethel Church Ministry (1988–1993)

During this time, Missionary Paul J. Kim was ordained by the Christian & Missionary Alliance (C&MA) on November 24, 1991, and served in various ministry areas at Bethel Church, including education, young couples, evangelism training, and missions. The Kim family remains deeply grateful for the love and prayers of the Bethel Church congregation.

 

8. Missionary Commissioning

On December 27, 1992, Paul and Un Kyong Kim were officially commissioned as missionaries by Bethel Church under the C&MA.

 

9. C&MA Missionary Training

In 1993, Un Kim completed her unfinished coursework at Biola University and received additional missionary training. She graduated from Nyack College with a double major in Bible and Education.

 

10. Language and Cultural Training in Russia

On September 2, 1994, the Kim family arrived in Russia, where she studied Russian language and culture at Rostov University for two years. They attended a local Russian church and participated annually in the C&MA Field Forum to develop field strategies for mission.

 

11. MK School for Yohanan and Yoel

After the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991, the local conditions made schooling difficult for missionary children. Following C&MA policy, their eldest son Yohanan went to Black Forest Academy (BFA) in Germany in September 1996 at the age of six, staying there through high school graduation. The following year, in September 1997, Yoel also joined his brother at BFA.

 

12. Ministry in the Republic of Kalmykia, Russia

Beginning in 1996, the family served in Elista, the capital of the Republic of Kalmykia, where the people practiced Mongolian culture and Tibetan Buddhism. Sharing the gospel there was not easy, but through English camps, cultural events, and medical outreach, they opened hearts to the love of Christ. As local seekers began studying the Bible in their home, they planted the Elista Joo-Sarang Church on Easter Sunday, April 19, 1998. By God’s grace, the ministry bore abundant fruit through prayer and the partnership of short-term mission teams. In December 2001, however, Missionary Paul J. Kim was expelled from Russia.

 

13. Ministry in Türkiye (Turkey)

In 2002, the Kims were called to Türkiye, beginning in Tarsus, the hometown of the Apostle Paul, where they studied Turkish language and culture for two years. In 2004, they moved to Ankara, serving under C&MA’s direction through Business As Mission (BAM) initiatives. Later, God led them to focus on intercessory prayer for the spiritually dry land of Türkiye, devoting themselves to the United Prayer Movement (UPM). Through collaboration with local and international churches, they also participated in Church Planting Movements (CPM), witnessing God’s kingdom advance across the nation.

 

14. Yoel’s Family

Their second son, Yoel, met Kelly Mulrey while studying at the University of Rochester. After a long and meaningful relationship, they were married on December 18, 2016, in Ohio with Kelly’s family, and again celebrated at Bethel Church on January 7, 2017. Their daughter Fern was born on February 1, 2023.

 

15. Yohanan’s Family

Their first son, Yohanan, met Bo Bae Lee, daughter of missionaries Rev. Seok Hee Lee and Hye Sook Park (missionaries sent by Onnuri Church to Indonesia). They were married on June 28, 2014, at Bethel Church. Their son Joo Ahn was born on December 16, 2022, and they await the birth of their daughter Joo Eun in December 2025 — a name lovingly given by Missionary Un Kyong Kim herself. Truly, the grace of the Lord!

 

16. Yoseph

After 15 years, the youngest son, Yoseph, was born on December 28, 2005. He was God’s precious gift and comfort to Missionary Kim, who had endured much sorrow after sending her older sons away at such young ages. During her esophageal cancer surgery in December 2008, she prayed earnestly that God would extend her life until Yoseph entered college. Even after collapsing in December 2023 and spending 70 days in the ICU, God graciously granted her two more years of life, for which the family gives heartfelt thanks.

 

17. God’s Grace and Blessings

Since their missionary commissioning in 1992, the Kim family has faced many trials and hardships in the mission field — yet every step has been filled with God’s grace and blessing. Through the years, they have experienced the faithful love of God and the unceasing prayers of His people. Now, Missionary Un Kyong Kim rests peacefully in the arms of her Savior, free from all earthly pain. The mission that she could not complete on earth will continue through her family’s faithful obedience to God’s calling. With heartfelt gratitude — To God be the glory.