Paul Kim, a businessman and a minister, shared his views on standing up to challenges at a recent luncheon.
Contributed By Winnie Pua
Paul Kim is a successful and influential minister and marketplace entrepreneur. PHOTOS: Gay Sen Min.
Sixty privileged professionals and businesspeople were invited by The Marketplace Ministry to Suntec NUS Guild House on Aug. 12 to meet and hear from Paul Kim.
The founding and managing partner of Parakletos Ventures, which focuses on Asia-centric investments, Kim is also an elder for Yoido Full Gospel Church in Seoul Korea and head elder of Jubilee Christian Center, a 14,000-member church community in the heart of Silicon Valley in San Jose California. The congregants are of varied nationalities and backgrounds.
Despite his heavy work schedule and spiritual duties, Kim finds time to advise multiple enterprises. He is the founding investor and chairman of GCT Semiconductor, a leading semiconductor company in the 4G wireless industry; he is also chairman of the board of Anapass Inc. and Brovis Networks, among other companies. In fact, his success in the technology industry has led him to be called the “technology deal maker” between Korea and Silicon Valley in John Naisbitt’s best-selling book Megatrends Asia. Kim has also served on former President George W. Bush’s National High Tech Advisory Committee.
Kim began by walking around the room, going table by table to speak with attendees. Guests were privy to a glimpse of the personable and sharp man, who charmed savvy businessmen and ladies alike at every table with his keen interest in people and surprisingly good command of Bahasa Indonesia.
After a rousing welcome introduction by Goh Yock Kiang, chairman of The Marketplace committee in CHC which organized the luncheon, Kim took to the stage and immediately delved into the topic of challenges, drawing examples from the experiences of YFGC. Throughout its years of growth, YFGC and its founder Dr. Yonggi Cho, have faced a multitude of challenges, from a very personal feud during which Cho was disowned by his own father and siblings, to the time when the church was sued over a dismeanor of one of its young pastors. Kim noted that the challenges grew in proportion to the growth of the church. But as the church overcame these challenges, it saw that its blessings also grew. As the people moved toward God’s vision, they discovered manifold blessings.
Kim taught on dealing with challenges.
The truths Kim shared hit close to home for the room of business owners and leaders, all of whom face challenges—business and personal—daily. Kim’s message of perseverance was definitely applicable to all of them.
Challenges, said Kim, are not always negative. “Let’s see challenges as opportunities to receive blessings through our work,” he said. Finally, Kim spoke on faith—the necessary quality every Christian businessman must have, stating that it is absolutely imperative to have the faith “that this is what we are meant to do, and that God will lend us success and victory over adversaries.”
Kim’s compelling message underscored his reputation as an enigmatic and inspirational leader. “The capacity of Dr. Kim really impacted me. His ability in managing business and ministry truly exemplifies what a ‘Kingdom businessman’ is. He serves as a great role model for me,” said Ee Boon Kiat, 31, a businessman who attended the session.
