Meet Jang Ki Lim, the New President of the Alliance of South Korea

Rev. Jang Ki Lim, newly elected president of the Alliance Church Korea, brings decades of pastoral ministry and theological leadership as he guides the rapidly growing national church toward stability, partnerships, and global mission.

When Rev. Jang Ki Lim once prepared for a career in architecture, he expected to spend his life designing physical structures. But during his spiritual journey, God confronted him with a deeper calling: “Which is more important and valuable? Physical architecture, or spiritual architecture?”

Rev. Lim answered, “Yes, Lord! The spiritual architecture, which builds up your house.”

That moment redirected his life and ministry, leading him from architectural studies into decades of pastoral leadership, theological education, and now national service as president of the Christian and Missionary Alliance (C&MA) of South Korea.

Elected in April 2026, Rev. Lim begins his two-year term at a significant time for the South Korean Alliance church. His life story reflects both personal surrender and long-term preparation for this role.

Rev. Lim accepted Christ in 1975 while studying at Korea University through the Navigator Student Ministry. Though he later traveled to the United States to study architecture, God’s call to ministry became clear in 1985. He pursued theological training at Alliance Theological Seminary in Nyack, New York, where he earned his Master of Divinity, later completing his Doctor of Ministry at Fuller Seminary in Pasadena, California.

For 32 years, Rev. Lim served Korean churches in the United States as an ordained Alliance pastor while also teaching for 20 years at Nyack College and Alliance Theological Seminary. Since returning to South Korea in 2019, he has served as dean of the Korea Alliance Institute of Theology and as an Executive Committee member of the national church.

South Korea’s Alliance church remains one of the newer members of the global Alliance family, yet its growth has been rapid. Founded only eight years ago by seven pastors, the denomination has expanded to about 200 pastor members. The national church also includes 73 churches, approximately 800 members, 80 ordained ministers and 25 missionaries.

This growth takes place within one of the world’s most significant Christian and missionary-sending nations. South Korea has long played an important role in global evangelical outreach, with churches actively engaged in missions, discipleship, and theological training throughout Asia and beyond. As part of the Asia-Pacific region of the Alliance World Fellowship (AWF), the Alliance Church Korea is positioned to contribute both nationally and internationally.

Rev. Lim said the church’s current priority is clear: “The current priority of C&MA Korea is to stabilize itself more qualitatively and systematically.”

His leadership will focus on strengthening spiritual maturity while developing the structures necessary for long-term denominational health. Rapid expansion has created the need for greater organizational stability, deeper leadership development, and sustainable ministry systems.

At the same time, the Alliance Church Korea is broadening its ministry partnerships. Rev. Lim noted that the denomination is actively establishing cooperative agreements both within South Korea and internationally, including mission organizations and fellow Alliance churches throughout the AWF APAC (Asia Pacific) Region.

These partnerships reflect the broader mission of the Alliance World Fellowship, which unites churches in 88 countries to advance the gospel globally through cooperation, leadership development, and missions.

Throughout this journey, Rev. Lim’s family has remained a steady source of support. “My family always has been supportive!” he said.

As Rev. Jang Ki Lim begins his presidency, his life offers a picture of God’s redirection—from designing buildings to helping build Christ’s Church. His vision now centers on guiding South Korea’s growing Alliance church into a more stable future while expanding its spiritual and missionary influence across the region and the world.

Please pray for Rev. Lim, his family, and the Alliance Church Korea as they seek spiritual strength, organizational maturity, and fruitful partnerships for the advancement of the gospel.