America Evangelical University held a worship event during which it celebrated and thanked God for its associate membership with the ATS.
America Evangelical University held a worship event on Sunday thanking God for their recent associate membership in the Association of Theological Schools (ATS), and also to ask the church to support their school prayerfully and financially. The event, which had an atmosphere like that of a huge celebration, was organized by members of the Korea Evangelical Church of America (KECA) denomination, which is also the denomination to which the university belongs.
The KECA celebrated the beginnings of America Evangelical University in January of 2001, and since Jong-Kil Ryu became the president of the university in 2011, it has been experiencing rapid growth. In 2012, the university received candidacy for membership in the Association for Biblical Higher Education (ABHE), and in 2013, it received permission from the California Department of Education to include an ESL program, and received approval from many in regards to its degrees. In September of 2013, the school submitted an application to be an associate member of ATS, and became approved in June of 2014.
The school is planning to receive initial accreditation by the ABHE, which is the most significant accreditation that the school can receive, in November of this year, and is also planning to become fully accredited by the ATS in spring of 2016.
At the time that Pastor Ryu was inaugurated as president, he set a goal to recruit 100,000 people to be prayerful supporters and 200 to be financial supporters of the seminary, and continues to pursue that goal. He also had the vision of raising not only theological and pastoral leaders, but Christian leaders who can be a godly influence on society. Hence, he has been praying and preparing to establish schools for nursing, law, and business management.
This particular event featured Pastor Suk-Sung Yoo, the president of Seoul Theological University, which is also part of the Korea Evangelical Holiness Church, the mother denomination of Korea Evangelical Church of America.
"Today is a historical turning point, a new advancement, and a launching point," Pastor Yoo said during his sermon. "I thank God for allowing this growth, with the efforts of President Ryu, along with Jong-Kon Cho, the chairman of the board, and the prayers and financial support of many. I'm looking forward to collaborations between Seoul Theological University and America Evangelical University to serve together in the gospelization of the world."
Susan Truitt, a missionary and the Korean representative of One Mission Society (OMS); Dr. Richard Yoon, the president of Underwood University; and other organizations who are also in partnership with America Evangelical University were present to celebrate together, as well as leaders from within the KECA, such as Reverend Byung Gon Kim, the general superintendent of KECA; Reverend John Hur, the previous general superintendent; among others.
"I'm incredibly blessed to be serving God's university with such faithful people," said Ryu. "Now, it's time to start stepping on the future that has been built on the foundation of the amazing growth that we've experienced thus far."
Fuller Theological Seminary, Talbot School of Theology, Azusa Pacific University, and many theological schools have been accredited by the prestigious ATS, but it had long been regarded as an insurmountable wall for Korean seminaries. However, recently, after World Mission University became the first Korean seminary to be fully accredited by ATS, America Evangelical University, Presbyterian Theological Seminary in America, Grace Mission University, and others have also become associate members of ATS.
