David Jang

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David Jang
Djang1.jpg
Born
Jae‐Hyung Jang
EducationB.Th., M.Div.
Hanshin University
M.A. Yonsei University
Ph.D. Dankook University
Occupation(s) Professor
Theologian
Minister
Religion Presbyterian Christian

David Jang is a South Korean professor, Christian theologian, and pastor. He has founded several Christian organizations, including Olivet University in San Francisco, Christian Today headquartered in Korea, Christian Daily Korea, and Christianity Daily in Los Angeles, CA. He served as a member of the North American Council of the World Evangelical Alliance (WEA) from 2007 [1] to 2018, [2] [3] the former president of World Olivet Assembly, [4] the founder and first international president of Olivet University, [5] [6] and current president of the Holy Bible Society.[ who? ] [7] Jang was also the 88th President of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Korea. [8]

Contents

Career

Jang grew up in South Korea in a Christian family and was raised in the Presbyterian tradition. As a young man he spent much time in Bible study, vigil prayer meetings, and evangelism. He pursued theological studies at Hanshin University and received two degrees, a Bachelor of Theology (B.Th.) and a Master of Divinity (M.Div.). [8] 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. [8] While he was studying, Jang participated in missions and teaching, serving in campus fellowships and churches, and lectured in theology. [9]

In a 2002 message, Jang explained that the world has entered a modern deluge: instead of water, modern society is drowning in information. Information is everywhere, but “there is no water to drink.” To rescue it, his community would build a new ark to raise the truth above the flood, including evangelical groups, Olivet University, and media outlets, supported by various business activities. [10]

Christian Today

In 2000, Jang founded Christian Today, which came to have the highest number of visitors among religious news websites in Korea. [11] Jang aimed for the media company to provide online in-depth coverage across all areas in Christianity, [12] encourage a spirit of unity and reconciliation within the church, promote international recognition of Christian culture, and contribute to global mission work. [12]

Olivet University

In the year 2000, Olivet Theological College and Seminary (OTCS) was established in both Los Angeles and in Seoul, Korea, where it was co-located 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 comprising 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. [13] The university moved into the former University of California, Berkeley Downtown Extension Campus, near the Moscone Center in 2005. [14] They also founded Olivet Business School, which offers MBA programs [15] and opened extension sites in Nashville, TN (at 141 Belle Forest Circle), New York City (at 6 Barclay Street in Lower Manhattan), San Francisco (at 1025 Howard Street), and Washington, D.C. (at 1400 Eye Street NW ). [16] Olivet combines Winter's focus on training men and women in biblical scholarship and leadership with Jang’s emphasis on practical skills for preaching. [17]

In 2006, Jang handed over the presidency of the university to Dr. David James Randolph in order to concentrate on mission field work. [18] Jang continues to serve at Olivet University as a professor of theology and international president.

Other activities

From 2007 to 2018, Jang served as a member of the North American Council of the WEA. [3] [19] Also in 2007, he began work with the Holy Bible Society whose mission is to make "the Bible more accessible to all people by using digital technology and the Internet, especially in unreached mission frontiers." [7] Over the years, he has engaged in discussions about helping to establish churches in difficult mission fields such as China. [20]

In 2012, a Christianity Today article [21] raised questions whether Jang had any connections with the Unification Church and his being seen by some people as the "Second Coming of Christ", [22] accusations that have been disputed as baseless by the Christian Council of Korea [23] [24] [25] [26] and the World Evangelical Alliance, [27] [28] among others. The Christian Post , founded by students from Olivet University, issued a detailed response [29] to the various allegations raised in the Christianity Today article, raising doubts about the sources and also questioning the timing of the publication during a review of an offer Olivet University made to Lifeway for the purchase of a campus property.

In 2014, Mother Jones published an investigation into a group of Jang's followers calling themselves “the Community”, who worked as low-paid interns to support Jang's evangelization efforts, Jang-affiliated media companies such as IBT, and Olivet University. [30]

Personal life

Jang is married to Dr. Sarah Lee and has two sons. He considers Ralph D. Winter and Jang Sik Lee (이장식)[ who? ] among his mentors. [31]

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References

  1. ↑ "WEA Welcomes Dr. David J. Jang to the North American Council – World Evangelical Alliance". worldea.org. 26 April 2007. Retrieved 1 December 2021.
  2. ↑ "WEA Integrates North American Council Functions into International Council, Thanks NAC Members for their Service – World Evangelical Alliance". worldea.org. 29 March 2018. Retrieved 1 December 2021.
  3. 1 2 "Who we are, Governance". World Evangelical Alliance. Retrieved 3 April 2014.
  4. ↑ "About Us, Leadership". World Olivet Assembly. Archived from the original on 24 April 2014. Retrieved 3 April 2014.
  5. ↑ "Founder | About Olivet | Olivet University". www.olivetuniversity.edu. Retrieved 1 December 2021.
  6. ↑ "About the Founder of Olivet University". Olivet University. Retrieved 3 April 2014.
  7. 1 2 "About Us". Holy Bible Society. Retrieved 3 April 2014.
  8. 1 2 3 "David Jang Profile". Davidjang.org. Retrieved 3 April 2014.
  9. 1 2 "David Jang Bio". Davidjang.org. Retrieved 3 April 2014.
  10. ↑ Dooley, Ben. "Why are Newsweek's new owners so anxious to hide their ties to an enigmatic religious figure?". Mother Jones. Retrieved 4 October 2024.
  11. ↑ "Ranking of religious news websites in Korea". Rankey.com. April 2014. Archived from the original on 25 April 2014. Retrieved 25 April 2014.
  12. 1 2 "회사소개" [About Christian Today]. Christian Today Korea. Retrieved 3 April 2014.
  13. ↑ "About Olivet, History". Olivet University. Retrieved 3 April 2014.
  14. ↑ "Olivet University Public Statement to Recent Media Publications". Olivet University Seminary Blog. 23 August 2012.
  15. ↑ "Olivet Business School". Olivet University.
  16. ↑ "About Olivet: Extensions". Olivet University. Archived from the original on 19 November 2015. Retrieved 19 September 2015.
  17. ↑ "About Olivet, Mission". Olivet University. Retrieved 3 April 2014.
  18. ↑ "David Randolph Named Olivet University President". Olivet University News. 4 July 2006.
  19. ↑ "WEA Welcomes Dr. David J. Jang to the North American Council". World Evangelical Alliance News. 26 April 2007.
  20. ↑ Young, Eric (17 November 2009). "WEA, China Church Leaders Meet for In-Depth Talks". Christian Post.
  21. ↑ Smith, Ted Olsen and Ken (16 August 2012). "The Second Coming Christ Controversy". ChristianityToday.com. Retrieved 1 December 2021.
  22. ↑ Ted Olsen and Ken Smith (16 August 2012). "The Second Coming Christ Controversy". christianitytoday.com. Retrieved 10 November 2016. Ted Olsen is CT's managing editor, news and online journalism. Ken Smith is an independent journalist based in Washington State
  23. ↑ "Public Statement of The Heresy Investigation Committee of the CCK (English)" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 23 August 2012.
  24. ↑ "Public Statement of The Heresy Investigation Committee of the CCK (Korean Original)" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 23 August 2012.
  25. ↑ "Public Statement of CCK (English)" (PDF). 2011. Archived (PDF) from the original on 23 August 2012.
  26. ↑ "Public Statement of CCK (Korean Original)" (PDF). 2011. Archived (PDF) from the original on 23 August 2012.
  27. ↑ "WEA Statement on the Public Conversation on the Nature and Role of Olivet University and its Founding President Dr. David Jang – World Evangelical Alliance". worldea.org. 21 August 2012. Retrieved 1 December 2021.
  28. ↑ "Letters to the Editor". ChristianityToday.com. 11 October 2012. Retrieved 1 December 2021.
  29. ↑ Vu, Michelle A.; Reporter, Christian Post (17 August 2012). "Sources in 'Second Coming Christ Controversy' Face Scrutiny". The Christian Post. Retrieved 1 December 2021.
  30. ↑ Dooley, Ben. "Why are Newsweek's new owners so anxious to hide their ties to an enigmatic religious figure?". Mother Jones. Retrieved 4 October 2024.
  31. ↑ "David Jang Mentors". Davidjang.org. Retrieved 3 April 2014.


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