Rev. James Kim, pastor of youth and outreach at Trinity Christian Reformed Church in Anchorage, Alaska, had a tough assignment. He was to build a youth program from a group that had dwindled to two high school students and a handful of children.
Four years later, Kim reaches dozens of kids of many ethnic backgrounds every single week.
Kim oversees after-school Bible clubs at two elementary
schools. Some of the 65 children who attend also come to GEMS and Cadets, the church’s girls’ and boys’ clubs.
Kim began the after-school program with just his own two kids. He made a sandwich-board sign out of a refrigerator box and walked the streets, inviting children to the Bible club.
Kim also leads a high school youth group of 20 students. By talking to young people on the streets and playing basketball with them, Kim was able to form meaningful relationships. He meets with students in a local high school for Bible study.
“My youth ministry is very special to me because I am dealing mostly with street kids who are not accepted by other churches because other churches have rules and regulations,” he said.
“I picked up all these resented kids,” he said.
Kim was born in South Korea and came to the United States to attend college and seminary. “[The] Trinity family accepted me and supported me. I feel really welcomed and accepted and found a home,” Kim said.
About the Author
Amy Toornstra is a freelance news correspondent for The Banner. She lives in Salem, Oregon.