Billy Kim’s Korean Children’s Choir at BJU

We have gotten some questions about the Korean Children’s Choir singing at BJU, especially since the choir is sponsored by well-known Korean pastor and evangelist Billy Kim.  There was a ministry split between Billy Kim and most of fundamentalism back in 1973 when he interpreted for Billy Graham in his Korean campaigns.  Since that time Dr. Kim’s associations have been broadly evangelical.  We asked Dr. Bob Jones III about the thinking that went into this choice and he kindly sent us this word of explanation.  He has given us permission to post it here.

Dear Kevin,

Your inquiry about the rationale for Dr. Billy Kim’s Children’s Choir appearing in a voluntary evening concert at BJU is appreciated and understandable.  There is a back story to it that I want to give you a synopsis of which explains the reason for the invitation and the nature of the event.

Almost two years ago I received an invitation from Dr. Kim to be his guest at a Carnegie Hall presentation of 500 Korean children in a two-hour long concert of patriotic and Christian songs thanking America and particularly the GIs who fought to keep Korea free (1950-53).  It was an amazing evening during which my wife and I had to keep reminding ourselves that these were children, grades 3-8, not adults.  It occurred to me then that if he ever brought a smaller version of this choir to America, I would like the students to see it.  When it is presented April 6, my wife will be with me on the way to ministry in Myanmar, but I have recorded an introduction for those in attendance.

If there is an opprobrium of inconsistency attached to the University by this, I bear the entire blame for my rationale that presenting a children’s choir under his aegis is in a different category than his chapel preaching, etc.  He knows we could not have him for that.  He understands the University had to put a ministry distance between us and him shortly after I became president when he was Billy Graham’s interpreter in Korea.  All these years since, his ministry has been in broad evangelicalism.

When establishing his own ministry philosophy, Dr. Kim made choices for ministry associations across lines that put him in fellowship with groups and people that his alma mater had to break company with for conscience sake.

However, Dr. Kim never let the University’s inability to walk the same ministry pathway keep him from being appreciative of what he received here during his BJA-BJU years.  His unapologetic pride in being a BJU graduate raised many eyebrows in his circle of friends.  Undoubtedly, their antipathy toward BJU was costly to him.

Over the years, he has pointed many Korean students here for their training.  He has generously supported his alma mater financially.  He has written about the school appreciatively in his books.  Some seven or eight years ago, after many years when there was little direct communication, he began a correspondence channel that has revealed an uncommon gratitude for his BJU roots, even in ways that many graduates who are strongly allied with the school, and share its fundamental and separatist convictions, do not.

Truthfully, it became embarrassing to me that the University had been so long on the receiving end of his friendship without tangibly returning it.  Presenting the choir seemed to me to be a way we could do that without doing wrong.  However, I do see why you may feel that the University’s decision to invite him, which began at my suggestion, is unfortunate and weak.  If I stood where you do without knowing the circumstances of which I now give just a little explanation, I, too, might be scratching my head wondering if we had changed our position on compromise.  The administration is not repudiating the school’s long history of biblical separation.  It is just trying to say thank you to a graduate for his years of many demonstrations of personal friendship toward his alma mater, while knowing that the university disapproves of his more inclusivist direction. Within his cultural context there are dynamics which determine choices he makes about how ministry should be done.

“Faithful are the wounds of a friend” (Proverbs 27:6).  “Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart: so doth sweetness of a man’s friend by hearty counsel” (Proverbs 27:9).

Kind regards,

Bob Jones III