My university honors me

Celebrating Dr. Yung Suk Kim: A Beacon of Scholarship and Mentorship at Virginia Union University

May 13, 2024

 

At Virginia Union University (VUU), we take immense pride in the accomplishments and contributions of our faculty members who not only excel in their fields but also profoundly impact the lives of our students. Among these esteemed educators, Dr. Yung Suk Kim stands out as a luminary in the realm of biblical scholarship and New Testament studies at the Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology. READ THE NEWS.

Bible Study Material

I share my bible study material which I used in the Bible Study at the American Baptist Churches of the South Conference, on May 2, 2024, in Richmond, Virginia (Marriott Hotel): "Proclaim Boldly the Word of God to All" (Acts 13:42-52)

Book production is complete

Book production is officially complete with the final book cover and proofs. It will go to press, and soon I will get author copies. I love all the endorsements on the cover. Feeling so blessed and boosted. Thanks to all my endorsers: Mitzi J. Smith, Demetrius Williams, Jeehei Park, Ekaputra Tupamahu, and Nick Elder. Musa Dube’s blurb is on the publisher’s website.

2024 President's Lifetime Achievement Award Yung Suk Kim, PhD

Loving enemies

"Loving enemies does not mean condoning injustices or evil."
-Yung Suk Kim

Bible Study at the ABC of the South conference

I led a 90-minute bible study at the ABC (American Baptist Churches) of the South conference held at the Marriott Richmond Downtown Hotel, on May 2. I was like a professor and a black preacher at the same time, rocking the house. It was like a mini-lecture and revival meeting. People were fully engaged and supportive of me.

Theme: Shout It Again
Text: Acts 13:42–48 (52) (NRSVue)

 "Proclaim Boldly the Word of God to All" (Acts 13:42-52)

Takeaways
-The great theme of teaching/preaching is “the grace of God.”
-Recognize the crowds’ thirst/need for the word of the Lord.
-The word of the Lord is about salvation in various contexts.
-Amid disorientation (jealousy) by Jews, don’t stay in arguments with them. Focus on the purpose of the mission, which is to satisfy real people’s needs.
-Be a light for the gentiles. You are “the aroma of Christ” (2 Cor 2:15-16). “You are a letter of Christ” (2 Cor 3:3). You are “ambassadors for Christ” (2 Cor 5:20).

Questions/Challenges
-What aspects of the word of the Lord will you preach and to whom?
-Are you ready to teach/preach the word of the Lord?
-What is the most urgent word of the Lord these days?

  

Reading broadly

The books I have read thus far will advance my interdisciplinary studies on the New Testament. I like "divergent thinking" rather than "convergent thinking," which limits our imagination and intuition. Note: "Convergent thinking" and "divergent thinking" are terms by Jaime Pineda in his book "Controlling Mental Chaos."

My colleague, Dr. Robert Wafawanaka, writes: "Reading is powerful. ... and learned that Einstein didn't finish high school and was a C student in college. But he read broadly and had an inquisitive mind fit for the genius he was. What a shame when our students want A's without the work. True, the mind is a terrible thing to waste!"

Uncharted waters

I discovered skeletons and nerve systems of the Lord's Prayer in Matt 6:9-13, part of the crucial texts I examine from cognitive science and interdisciplinary theological perspectives. I enjoy treading undeveloped territories to break ground on new possibilities of meaning. I don't mean that I shattered uncharted waters. Rather, I am going through them.

Photo courtesy: FreeImages

Pleasant encounter

A pleasant surprising encounter with John Kinney, retired Dean at our school, happened at the school's front office. He hired me in 2005. We have been aging well. Still, our topic was theology, life, and human destiny.  

I often ask myself: Who am I? What am I doing here?

I often ask myself: Who am I? What am I doing here? What kind of a scholar am I? Am I a biblical scholar or a New Testament scholar? Am I a biblical theologian or biblical interpreter? Am I a humanist who loves God and humanity at the same time? Am I a minority scholar struggling day by day? Am I a marginalized scholar voicing bold voices yet breathing short sometimes? I am very self-conscious and conscientious in all my walks and work. A year ago, Professor William P. Brown at Columbia Theological Seminary told me I was like Walter Brueggemann because my scholarship's breadth and direction are close to his. I agree. Some years ago, Larry Welborn at Fordham University told me I was like Dale Allison because of his critical scholarship with contextual concerns. All I know is I am I am. All I know is that I live in the present. I open my mind to hear new voices and follow them. I am not in low spirits. I am confident and curious about the future that holds for me.