A Life Transformed
J. D. Kim is a pastor, theologian, and disability ministry advocate whose life and work have been shaped by a conviction that the hope of the gospel remains present even in the midst of suffering.
Born in South Korea in 1982, J. D. moved with his family to Denver, Colorado, at the age of thirteen. Although raised in a Christian home, he struggled to navigate the cultural differences between Korea and the United States and the growing distance between his upbringing and his personal choices. As the son of a pastor, he was familiar with the language of faith. Yet for many years, he pursued a life increasingly disconnected from the God his parents served.
An Unexpected Turning Point
On December 13, 2004, at the age of twenty-two, J. D. experienced a snowboarding accident that changed the course of his life. A spinal cord injury at the C5 vertebra left him paralyzed and dependent on a wheelchair. When doctors explained that his paralysis would be permanent, he believed that his future had come to an end.
In the midst of despair, he remembered what he had learned about Jesus as a child. What began as a return to the faith of his upbringing became a personal encounter with the grace and hope of Christ. His circumstances did not suddenly become easier, and the challenges of disability did not disappear. Nevertheless, he discovered that the presence of God is not determined by the absence of suffering.
A Calling to Theology and Ministry
Following his injury, J. D. began rebuilding his life through education and a growing commitment to Christian ministry. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in psychology from the University of Colorado Denver, a Master of Arts in pastoral and spiritual care from Iliff School of Theology, and a Master of Divinity from Denver Seminary.
In 2016, he was ordained as a teaching elder in the Evangelical Presbyterian Church. His desire to understand suffering more deeply led him to pursue doctoral studies at the University of Aberdeen in Scotland, where he completed a PhD in systematic theology in 2021. He continues to serve as an adjunct thesis supervisor at Denver Seminary. J.D. Kim Ministries is affiliated with Joni and Friends and shares its commitment to serving people affected by disability.
His dissertation, “Constructing a Mediating Theology: Affirming the Impassibility and Passibility of the Triune God,” examined how Christians may speak faithfully about God’s relationship to human suffering. Through teaching, writing, and ministry, J. D. has sought to help churches and individuals understand suffering and disability through Scripture and recognize the dignity of every person.
A New Chapter in South Korea
After nearly three decades in the United States, J. D. and his family moved to South Korea in 2026 to begin a new chapter of ministry. There, he founded King’s Table Asia, a Christian ministry committed to helping churches become communities where people with and without disabilities worship, learn, serve, and belong together.
Through King’s Institute, the ministry provides theological education and resources addressing suffering, disability, and the life of the church. Through King’s Mission Network, it seeks to support disability communities through ministry partnerships, wheelchairs, rehabilitation equipment, and other practical assistance throughout Asia. J.D. Kim Ministries continues its work in the United States by developing biblical and theological resources and supporting ministry partnerships, including King’s Table Asia.
Hope That Continues
J. D.’s story is not simply about overcoming hardship. It is a testimony to the faithfulness of God, the dignity of every person, and the hope that remains even when suffering does not disappear. His calling remains to proclaim the hope of Christ and encourage churches to recognize that every member of the body is needed, valued, and called to participate.
“Though I am in a wheelchair, the one who rides on the chariots of fire carries me.”
J. D. Kim is an ordained teaching elder in the Evangelical Presbyterian Church and holds a PhD in systematic theology from the University of Aberdeen. He continues to serve as an adjunct thesis supervisor at Denver Seminary. He is president of J.D. Kim Ministries, which is affiliated with Joni and Friends, and founder of King’s Table Asia.
Korean interview with English audio and captions available.