Jack Graham, right, the pastor of Prestonwood Baptist Church in the United States, speaks during a regional evangelism rally organized by the Far East Broadcasting Company (FEBC)-Korea at Hyupsung Kyungbok Middle School in Daegu, May 10. Left is Rev. Joseph Kim who provided interpretation for the event. Courtesy of FEBC-Korea
Jack Graham, the pastor of Prestonwood Baptist Church in Texas and a prominent leader of U.S. evangelicalism, said the fundamental role of a pastor remains unchanged even in the rapidly evolving era of artificial intelligence (AI) and digital technology.
"I wouldn't say that the role of the pastor is changing," Graham said in a recent interview with The Korea Times. "What I do as a pastor and preacher is different than what someone in the 19th century would have done, but it has nothing to do with changing the responsibility of the role of the pastor overall."
Billy Kim, right, chairman of the Far East Broadcasting Company (FEBC)-Korea, speaks during a regional evangelism rally at Hyupsung Kyungbok Middle School in Daegu, May 10. Courtesy of FEBC-Korea
Graham recently visited Korea at the invitation of the Far East Broadcasting Company (FEBC)-Korea to celebrate the broadcaster’s 70th anniversary. His visit was facilitated by his longtime friend, Billy Kim, the chairman of FEBC-Korea.
"This is my first time over. I don't know why I've waited so long to get here," Graham said. "My good friend, Billy Kim, has invited me many times through the years and it just never worked out. But right now is the best time, the right time, and I'm so glad that we have the opportunity to experience the rich culture of Korea."
Jack Graham, pastor of Prestonwood Baptist Church / Courtesy of FEBC-Korea
Born in 1950, Graham was ordained as a Southern Baptist minister at the age of 20. He shares a last name with the famous Southern Baptist pastor Billy Graham (1918-2018), but the two are not related.
During his visit, Graham served as the keynote speaker for an evangelism rally held in the southeastern region of Korea. The May 10 event in Daegu attracted approximately 7,000 people from cities including Busan, Ulsan and Pohang. According to FEBC-Korea, the rally resulted in 1,508 people deciding to accept the Christian faith, which was a significant outcome for the regional church community.
"Jesus Christ is not just a religious leader but a living savior who works even today," Graham said during his sermon at the rally. "In this confused age, the only answer for humanity lies in the gospel. When the church focuses back on the gospel, it will lead to a new era of spiritual growth.”
Source: Korea Times News
