Jean Kim’s Bio

Jean Kim was born in North Korea in 1935 and took refuge in South Korea with her family at 11 years of age and emigrated from Korea to the United States in 1970.

Ever since most of her career life in the U.S., she has been serving the homeless people up to the present.

She was ordained as the Minister of Word and Sacrament by the North Puget Sound Presbytery in1987 (now NW Coast Presbytery).

Jean Kim is a retired minister and former staff member of the Presbyterian Church (USA) for the issue of homelessness. Presbyterian Church (USA) sent her out on a speaking tour for six years to raise consciousness and educate the whole church to be actively engaged in the mission of ending homelessness in the U.S.

Education

Jean Kim is a graduate of Han Shin Graduate School of Theology, Korea (BD in 1959), Dan Kuk University, Korea (BA in 1960), St. Louis University (MSW in 1977) and San Francisco Theological Seminary (D. Min in 2006).

Credentials

She holds a Washington State certified social worker license and a certified mental health counselor’s license.

Jean Kim is a founder and/or co-founder of 11 homeless church/mission programs. She served on dozens of church and/or social service committees including the Washington State Governor’s Advisory Council on Homelessness.

She is an organizer, preacher, lecturer, workshop leader and writer on homelessness, domestic violence, women’s leadership in church, and clergy sexual misconduct.

Work History

2015 to present:  Founded and serves the Jean Kim Foundation for the Homeless Education in Lynnwood, WA.  as a Minister/Social Worker/Mental Health Counselor.

2006-2016: Served 10 years for Nest Mission for the Homeless in Lynnwood, WA. as a Minister/Social Worker/Mental Health.

2005-2006: Organized and served for the National Network to End Homelessness.

2000-2004:  Served 4 years for the Presbyterian Hunger Program as an Associate for the Homeless Issues.

1998-1999:  Served as an Associate for the Homeless Issues for Women’s Program Area of Presbyterian Church (USA).

1991-1998 Served as the pastor/Mental Health Counselor and Social Worker for the Church of Mary Magdalene/Mary’s Place in Seattle, WA.

1987-1994: Served for the U.W. Campus Ministry as a Minister/Social/Mental Health.

1985-1990: Served the Korean Community Counseling Center in Seattle, WA as a Social/Mental Health Worker.

1983-1985: Served as a Mental Health Counselor at the Presbyterian Counseling Service in Seattle, WA.

1980-1990: Served as a Mental Health Practitioner at Harborview Community Mental Health Center in Seattle, WA.

1977-1979: Served as a  Day Treatment Coordinator at St. Clair County Community Mental Health Center.

1971-1974:  Served as an Assistant Social Worker for Good Samaritan Home in St. Louis, MO.

1965-1970: Served  for CARE-Korea as a social worker/Accountant.

1962-1965: Served for the 8th U.S. Army Accounting Office in Korea as an accountant and a head cashier.

1960-1961: Served as an interpreter of children’s letters for Christian Children’s Fund in Korea.

Experience in Organizing Homeless Mission

Jean Kim is a founder and/or co-founder of the following mission programs:

  1. Founder of Olive St. Social Club (a day center for the homeless).
  2. Cherry St. Social Club (a day center of the homeless).
  3. The Church of Mary Magdalene (of homeless women).
  4. National Korean American Coalition for the Homeless.
  5. National Presbyterian Network to End Homelessness.
  6. Northwest Presbyterian Network to End Homelessness.
  7. Seattle Presbytery Network to End Homelessness.
  8. Olympia Presbytery Network to End Homelessness.
  9. North Puget Sound Presbytery Network to End Homelessness.
  10. Nest Mission [for the homeless] in Lynnwood, Washington.
  11. International Ministry at the University of Washington Campus Ministry.
  12. Co-founder of the Agape Church for the Homeless, New Haven, CT.
  13. Co-founder of the Korean Community Counseling Center, Seattle.

Awards

She received 22Community Service Awards/Appreciation including Human Rights Award from Seattle Chapter of U.N. Association, Woman of Faith Award from the Presbyterian Church (USA), Medal of Honor from the Korean government, National Presbyterian Network to End homelessness, and Community Voice Award from the International Examiner in Seattle and many more.

Authorship of Books

  1. Jubilee Manual: Jean Kim’s End Homelessness (2000 in English) published by the Hunger Program of the Presbyterian Church (USA).
  2. Video: Jean Kim’s End Homelessness (2000 in English) published by the Hunger Program of the PC (USA).
  3. Plant the Cross: Reality and Root Causes of Homelessness (2008 in Korean) published by the National Council of Korean Presbyterian Church (USA).
  4. Is Women’s Leadership Acceptable as is Now (co-authored, 2009 in Korean), published by the National Council of Korean Presbyterian Churches (USA).
  5. Is Women’s Leadership Acceptable as is Now (co-authored, 2012 in English) published by the National Council of Korean Presbyterian Churches (USA).
  6. People in Purple,’ an audiovisual books in 12 sessions in Korean.
  7. People in Purple,’ an audiovisual books in 5 sessions in English published by Vision Distance Learning Academy, Korea, 2015.
  8. “Hope in Color Purple” (autobiography) in Korean published by withjesus, Inc., Korea, 2017.