Today we’d like to introduce you to David Kim.
David, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Hello, my name is David Kim, and I currently serve as the lead pastor of The Cross Church. I was born in South Korea, and at the age of 18, I moved to the United States to study abroad. During my journey, God called me to serve the local church, with a special focus on the next generation of the diaspora—biblically understood as the “scattered” people, often immigrants or migrants living in diverse cultural contexts.
While I was completing my doctoral degree and praying about the next step, God placed a clear calling on my heart to plant a new church for the next generation. In February 2020, The Cross Church began as a small “house church” in the Fort Worth area.
Our vision is to embody and share the gospel values of Jesus’ community. As a result, our church embraces the identity of “community builders,” grounded in Isaiah 58:11–12. Today, our congregation is beautifully diverse, made up of people from many different ethnic backgrounds, including Korean, Hispanic, Caucasian, and African American brothers and sisters.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
My initial plan for ministry was very different from where I stand today. Having experienced notable success in a large and thriving church, I assumed that God was leading me into a similar ministry setting. With a doctorate degree in hand, I even envisioned serving as a professor at a Christian institution such as a Bible college or seminary. Yet, God redirected me with an unexpected and humbling call—church planting.
When this journey first began, only five people, besides my family, gathered for worship in my small apartment. Less than two months later, the COVID-19 pandemic struck, and we were forced to close immediately. For nearly eight months, our church could not meet in person, and it often felt as though the future of our ministry was uncertain, even to the point of collapse.
The early years of church planting were also marked by deep financial hardship for my family. Since the church could not provide any salary, I served as pastor without pay for three years. My very first monthly support amounted to only $300. Still, despite the challenges and sacrifices, I could not step away, because God’s call to this ministry was unmistakably clear.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
My calling is to pastor people. As a pastor, my primary work is meeting with people and sharing the gospel with them. In a world full of darkness, I seek to introduce Jesus—the One who is my Lord, Savior, the Truth, and the Way. In particular, I serve as a church planter, dedicating myself to starting new churches through preaching, training, teaching, and nurturing God’s people.
If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
I have always loved people – observing them, spending time with them, and building relationships. Because of that, I was usually surrounded by others and lived in close connection with many people. Looking back, I can see how God used this part of my personality to call me into pastoral ministry, where I can continually meet, serve, and walk alongside people in community.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://tccdfw.org
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/tccdfw
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/poyun.kim
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@tccdfw
Image Credits
The Cross Church DFW
