Korean Minister’s Daughter Shares Her Father’s Spiritual Journey During the Japanese Occupation of Korea


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After the passing of Rev. Kim Yoon Jeom, his youngest daughter, In-Sil Kim, happened to come across his personal diary and she learned many things about his personal life. In-Sil always considered her father to be a peaceful, quiet, sweet and taciturn man and minister of the church. As a little girl, she did not realize that he had experienced various hardships, struggling in spirit and suffering during the Japanese occupation of Korea. In-Sil has edited and translated her father’s diary to continue his legacy. “Diary of Faith: The Spiritual Journey of a Korean Pastor in Japanese Colonial Days” by Rev. Kim Yoon Jeom shares his spiritual life and everyday living experiences.

One day, Yoon Jeom heard a quiet but clear voice coming from somewhere outside of this world. From that time on, he heard God’s voice directly. His life was guided by communication with God, and he received visions from God asking that he write. These revelations persuaded his daughter that his personal narrative should be shared. Though Yoon Jeom struggled throughout his life and often confessed himself to be unworthy as a minister of the church of the Lord Jesus Christ and as a servant of God, he was a minister with sincerity and consciousness of self, called by God to accomplish the mission of eternal salvation.

Readers will be inspired by Yoon Jeom’s life story and experiences. His daughter hopes to spread her father’s message and honor their family’s Korean heritage.

“Diary of Faith: The Spiritual Journey of a Korean Pastor in Japanese Colonial Days”

By Rev. Kim Yoon Jeom

ISBN: 9781489732064 (softcover); 9781489732057 (hardcover); 9781489732149 (electronic)

Available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble and LifeRich Publishing

About the author

Rev. Kim Yoon Jeom was born on February 17, 1874 in Whang Hai Province, North Korea. After teaching at several church-affiliated private schools, he attended Pyongyang Theological Seminary and was ordained as a minister in 1917. From then on, he worked as a messenger of Christ in the churches of Whang Hai Province. He was serving as the pastor of Suh Heomg Presbyterian Church when he was called to heaven on March 30, 1944.

In-Sil Kim is the diary’s translator and editor. She is the daughter of Rev. Kim Yoon Jeom and began serving as an organist in her father’s church at age thirteen. She continued working as an organist throughout her life in Korea and the United States up to the age of 71. She majored in organ at Westminster Choir College and received her B. M. degree and M. A. degree in education from Columbia University. She did theological studies at Sung Hwa Seminary in Pyongyang, North Korea and at Presbyterian University and Theological Seminary in Seoul, South Korea. She also studied Religious Education at Biblical Seminary in New York. Subsequently, she majored in education at Harvard University and received her Ed. M. and Ed. D degrees. She has taught at Keimyung University in Daegu and Hanil University and Presbyterian Theological Seminary in Jeonju, South Korea. She currently resides in Anaheim, Calif.

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Meghan Bowman

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mbowman@lavidge.com

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