David Jang

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For the politician, see Jonah David Jang.
David Jang
EducationB.Th., M.Div. Hanshin University
M.A. Yonsei University
Ph.D. Dankook University
Occupation(s)Professor
Theologian
Minister
ReligionEvangelical Christian

David Jang, Ph.D., (born October 30, 1949) is a professor, theologian, and pastor. He is currently a member of the North American Council of the WEA (World Evangelical Alliance),[1] the president of WOA (World Olivet Assembly),[2] and international president of Olivet University.[3] He has founded several Christian organizations, including Olivet University in San Francisco, Christian Today, Christian Daily Korea, and Christianity Daily in Los Angeles, CA. Jang serves as the President of the Holy Bible Society.[4] Jang was also the 88th President of a denomination of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Korea.[5] His mission work has taken him around the world, including East and South Asia, Europe, Africa, North and South America, networking and giving strategic advice to churches, educational institutions and ministries.[6][7][8]

Life and Career

Jang grew up in South Korea in a Christian family and was raised in the Presbyterian tradition. Starting from his youth, he devoted himself to studying the Bible, attending vigil prayer meetings, and witnessing the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He pursued theological studies from Hanshin University and received two degrees – B.Th. and M.Div.[5] He further broadened his expertise into media and social welfare with additional advanced degrees from Yonsei University and Dankook University.[5]

While he was studying, Jang actively participated in mission, teaching, serving in campus fellowships, churches, and as a theological professor for many years.[9] In 2000, Jang founded Christian Today, including Christian portals and a broadcasting network, which quickly became the most read religious newspaper in Korea. With the media company, Jang saw potential for an online, real-time system updated with in-depth coverage across all areas in Christianity.[10] This media company would also help encourage a spirit of unity and reconciliation within the church, while promoting international recognition of Christian culture and contributing to global mission work.[10] CT has continued to be the most popular religious publisher for over 14 years since 2000.[5]

Olivet University

In the year 2000, Olivet Theological College and Seminary (OTCS) was established in both Los Angeles and in Seoul, Korea, which was held jointly with the Southern Cross College Korea Campus. Jang was a member of the faculty of Southern Cross College and the first director of its Korea campus.[9]

By 2004, the seminary expanded and incorporated into a university with five colleges - Olivet Theological College & Seminary, Jubilee College of Music, Olivet College of Journalism, Olivet College of Art & Design, and Olivet Institute of Technology - in the institution’s new home in San Francisco.[11] Jang’s choice of location and expansion plan were inspired by the advice he received from the late Dr. Ralph D. Winter. Winter later served as the honorary chairman of Olivet University, and the institution’s library was dedicated under his name.[12][13]

Jang was moved by Winter’s dedication to training ministry-bound men and women as biblical scholars and leaders in their respective mission fields.[14] By combining this focus on field ministry with Jang’s own commitment to equipping the network generation with the practical skills to preach the Gospel effectively, Olivet’s mission was born - to prime students as leaders with the ability to revolutionize the world through Christian mission.[14]

The university moved into the former University of California Berkeley Downtown Extension Campus, steps away from the Moscone Center in 2005.[15]

Other Career Highlights

David Jang speaks at an international Christian conference

In 2006, Jang decided to pursue his passion for mission-field work fulltime and handed over the presidency to Dr. David James Randolph.[16] Jang continues to serve at Olivet University as a professor of theology and international president.

Jang’s involvement with global evangelization has grown since then. In 2007, Jang joined the North American Council of the WEA[17] and continues to serve in the position today.[1] The same year, he also began work with the Holy Bible Society for the purpose of making the Bible more accessible to all people by using digital technology and the Internet, especially in unreached mission frontiers.[4] Over the years, he has engaged in deep discussions to help establish churches in challenging mission fields such as China.[18]

Jang has completed over 20 scholarly works.[5]

Education

Jang received his Bachelor of Theology (B.Th.) and Master of Divinity (M.Div.) degrees from Hanshin University. He also earned an M.A. in Communications from Yonsei University and completed his formal studies with a Ph.D. in Public Administration of Social Welfare from Dankook University.[5]

Confession of Faith

Jang made the following confession of faith which was published on The Christian Post:

"By the grace of Jesus Christ, I accepted Jesus as my one and only Savior, and since I was forgiven of my sins, I have never abandoned faith in Jesus Christ. Also, I have never preached any other gospel other than that of Jesus Christ. Furthermore I have never taught that I am Christ."[19]

He made a public confession of faith on several other occasions, such as for Christian Today in 2012,[20] an earlier statement from Southern California in 2008,[21] and for Christian Today Japan.[22]

Jang has held the same confession of faith for over 40 years.[19]

Criticism & Defamation

Despite his longstanding publicly available confession of faith, political and business opponents[19] have continued to subject Jang to targeted political and social attacks over the years. He has also been the victim of defamation from his political opponents in multiple countries.[23] He has been cleared of all accusations in multiple court cases, including the Supreme Court in Korea, with materials from various international locations.[24][25][26]

Personal

Jang is happily married to Sarah Lee (Ph.D. in Theology for a study on Henri J. M. Nouwen) and has two sons (John and Joseph) and a granddaughter (Hannah). He considers the late Dr. Ralph D. Winter and Dr. Jang Sik Lee (Korean, 이장식) among his mentors.[27]

Just as Jang has been mentored by widely respected mission and theological leaders of his time, he has also become a mentor to aspiring leaders of the next generation, drawing from his broad background, ranging from, but not limited to, theology, pastoral, mission, education, administration, media, and Biblical living.[28]

See Also

References

  1. ^ a b "Who we are, Governance". World Evangelical Alliance. Retrieved 2014-04-03.
  2. ^ "About Us, Leadership". World Olivet Assembly. Retrieved 2014-04-03.
  3. ^ "About the Founder of Olivet University". Olivet University. Retrieved 2014-04-03.
  4. ^ a b "About Us". Holy Bible Society. Retrieved 2014-04-03.
  5. ^ a b c d e f "David Jang Profile". Retrieved 2014-04-03.
  6. ^ "Interview with Dr. Geoff Tunnicliffe on his recent visit to China". World Evangelical Alliance. 2008-05-06.
  7. ^ "WEA Vice Chairman, Chancellor Meet in New Delhi". Olivet University News. 2008-02-14.
  8. ^ "Olivet University Representatives Tour Evangelical Institutions in Europe". Olivet University News. 2006-01-27.
  9. ^ a b "David Jang Bio". Retrieved 2014-04-03.
  10. ^ a b "회사소개". Christian Today Korea. Retrieved 2014-04-03. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)
  11. ^ "About Olivet, History". Olivet University. Retrieved 2014-04-03.
  12. ^ "Library". Olivet University. Retrieved 2014-04-03.
  13. ^ "Dedication Service Marks Renaming of Library". Olivet University. 2007-09-11.
  14. ^ a b "About Olivet, Mission". Olivet University. Retrieved 2014-04-03.
  15. ^ "Olivet University Public Statement to Recent Media Publications". Olivet University Seminary Blog. 2012-08-23.
  16. ^ "David Randolph Named Olivet University President". Olivet University News. 2006-07-04.
  17. ^ "WEA Welcomes Dr. David J. Jang to the North American Council". World Evangelical Alliance News. 2007-04-26.
  18. ^ Young, Eric (2009-11-17). "WEA, China Church Leaders Meet for In-Depth Talks". Christian Post.
  19. ^ a b c Vu, Michelle (2012-08-17). "Sources in 'Second Coming Christ Controversy' Face Scrutiny". Christian Post.
  20. ^ "장재형 목사의 신앙고백문 전문". Christian Today Korea. 2012-10-21. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)
  21. ^ "Confession of Faith in Southern California (Korean)". Christian Today Korea. 2008-06-21.
  22. ^ "信仰告白" (PDF). Christian Today Japan. 2007-06-07. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)
  23. ^ Vu, Michelle (2013-11-13). "Tokyo Judge Convicts Yamaya Makoto of Defaming Christian Today in Japan; Ordered to Pay Compensation". Christian Post.
  24. ^ "CCK Heresy Investigation Committee's Result on the Investigation of Rev. Jae-Hyung Jang" (PDF). Christian Council of Korea, Heresy Committee. 2011-01-18.
  25. ^ "CCK Heresy Investigation Committee's Results on the Investigation of Rev. Jae-Hyung Jang" (PDF). Christian Council of Korea. 2011-01-14.
  26. ^ "Judgement on 2009 Ko-dan 271" (PDF). Seoul Central District Court. 2009-07-09.
  27. ^ "David Jang Mentors". Retrieved 2014-04-03.
  28. ^ "Dr. Ralph Winter Visits OU". Olivet University News. 2005-08-27.

External Links

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