Retired Covenant pastor Rev. Jea Tae Kim passed away on December 31, 2022. He was 87.
Jea Tae Kim was born on November 12, 1935, to the Rev. Jong Wan Kim and June Ha Won. He followed his father’s footsteps and became a pastor after attending the Methodist Theological University in Seoul, South Korea. He then studied English at Seokyeong University (previously Kookje University) and earned a master’s degree in education at the Yonsei Graduate School of Education.
Rev. Kim married Chu Ja Kim in 1967 and the couple embarked on a life dedicated to serving wherever God called them. In early life, Rev. Kim was a bivocational minister, planting three churches in South Korea while teaching English at the Somyong Girls High School in Bucheon.
In 1979, Rev. Jea Tae Kim and his family immigrated to the United States, where he began to serve as the senior pastor at Korean Covenant Church (Smyrna) in San Francisco, California. There, he continued to pursue his spiritual and academic passions, graduating with a PhD from Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena in 1984. After serving God faithfully for 28 years as the senior pastor at Korean Covenant Church, Rev. Kim retired in 2007.
Though in official retirement, Rev. Jea Tae Kim did not stop ministering to others. He helped establish Podonamu Mission, a Christian nonprofit dedicated to supporting the education of children of Korean missionaries attending universities in the United States. To date, Podonamu has sponsored 22 students from countries in Africa, Middle East, Southeast Asia, and South America and disbursed more than $100,000.
Rev. Kim was truly a man of God who lived to share God’s love for the world and the good news of forgiveness and eternal salvation through the death of Jesus Christ on the cross. Throughout his life, Rev. Kim loved God and his family and led numerous lives to Christ. At the end, he was surrounded by his loving family, prayers, and favorites hymns such as “Heralds of Light, Speed Away.”
Rev. Jea Tae Kim is survived by his loving wife of 55 years, Mrs. Chu Ja Kim. He also leaves behind three sons, Isaac (Linda), Peter (Seung Mi), and Moses (Linda); eight grandchildren, Isaac Jr., Juliana, Alison, Micah, Joanna, David, Wesley, and Nathaniel, and one grandson-in-law (Kyuho Lee). While grieving, the family looks forward to seeing our beloved husband, father, and grandfather again in heaven.
Rev. Jea Tae Kim’s memorial service and wake was held at the Newall Chapel in Colma, California, on January 8, 2023. He was buried the next day at the Hillside Peony Garden.
Memorial gifts in his honor can be sent to the Podonamu Mission (Wells Fargo, Acct# 6746761110, Routing# 121042882).
Peace be to his memory.
