Bong Rin Ro Explained

Bong Rin Ro is an American theologian and missiologist. He is a founding leader and former executive secretary of the Asia Theological Association[1] as well as former dean of the Asia Graduate School of Theology.[2]

He served as the director of the World Evangelical Alliance Theological Commission from 1990 to 1996.[3]

Early life and education

Ro was born on 1935 in North Pyongan, Korea and grew up during the Korean War.[4] Following the death of his father, Ro lived in extreme poverty with his mother and five siblings.[5] He completed a year studying philosophy at Seoul National University before moving to the United States with only fifty dollars. In 1956, Ro moved to South Carolina only knowing a few words of English. In 1957, Ro spent three months in New York City and was inspired by a Billy Graham crusade to pursue a liberal arts education.

Ro holds degrees from Columbia Bible College (B.A.), Wheaton College (B.A.), Covenant Theological Seminary (B.D.), and Concordia Seminary (S.T.M. and Th.D.).[6]

Career

Ro served with the Overseas Missionary Fellowship for thirty years and was the first Asian to be sent as a missionary by the organization.[7] [8] [9] As a missionary he lived throughout Asia including Singapore (1970–74), Taiwan (1975–89), and Korea (1990–2000).[10] [11] In his early teaching days, Ro taught at Singapore Bible College.[12] While working in Singapore, Ro was crucial to the founding and development of the Asia Theological Association,[13] serving as executive secretary (1970–1990) and dean of the Asia Graduate School of Theology.[14] He played a significant role in shaping the program and structure of the Asia Theological Association as the organization emerged in helping develop evangelical theological education in Asia.[15] Billy Graham noted how Ro's book Korean Church Growth Explosion "gives insight into the dynamics of the Korean church and suggests ways churches around the world can profit from its example."

Then after moving to Taiwan he taught at Taiwan Seminary and Tunghai University. Ro also went to teach as a professor at Wheaton College.

Ro then served as the academic dean of Torch Trinity Graduate University.[16] [17] Since 2000, Ro has taught at Hawaii Theological Seminary and Pacific Rim Christian University. He is also now the president of Hawaii Theological Seminary[18] and president of the Pacific campus of the Asia Graduate School of Theology.

He was named alumnus of the year by Columbia International University.[19]

Since 1990, Ro has been ordained by the Presbyterian Church in America.

Selected publications

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2016-09-12 . Dr. Bong Rin Ro '62 . 2022-05-18 . magazine.wheaton.edu . en.
  2. Web site: Bong Rin Ro . 2022-05-18 . The Gospel Coalition . en-US.
  3. Web site: About – Theological Commission . 2022-05-18 . theology.worldea.org.
  4. Web site: "인간은 하나님을 떠나서는 온전하게 살 수 없는 존재... 어려움에 처했을 때 더 하나님을 찾아야 하는 이유" - 미주 한국일보 . 2022-05-18 . m.koreatimes.com.
  5. Web site: Bong Rin Ro Columbia International University - Alumni . 2022-05-18 . alumni.ciu.edu.
  6. Web site: OUR FACULTY . 2022-05-18 . Pacific Rim Christian University . en-US.
  7. Web site: Leadership & Faculty – Bible Institute of Hawaiʻi . 2022-05-18 . www.biblehawaii.org.
  8. Web site: 2014-05-06 . "아시아 미전도종족 복음화 답은 '민족복음화운동'이다" . 2022-05-19 . 기독일보.
  9. Web site: History of the China Inland Mission and OMF International . 2023-07-09 . OMF Mission among East Asia's people . en-US.
  10. Web site: 싱가포르·대만서 20년/노봉린박사(해외선교 개척자들:6)-국민일보 . 2022-05-18 . news.kmib.co.kr.
  11. Web site: 来自韩国宣教领袖的观察 差派20,000名中国宣教士. 2022-09-25 . eats.ac.
  12. Ro . Bong Rin . 2008 . A History of Evangelical Theological Education in Asia (ATA): 1970–1990 . Torch Trinity Journal . 11 . 1 . 27.
  13. Web site: ataasiaadmin . 2021-01-07 . Developments Leading to ATA Formation . 2022-05-19 . Asia Theological Association . en-US.
  14. Web site: Lee . Rachael . 2014-11-25 . Missionaries and Churches Must Focus Efforts in Building Leaders in Asian Countries . 2022-05-19 . Christianity Daily.
  15. Web site: Chen . Yaopeng . October 2015 . 亞洲神學教育的馳騁者──盧鳳麟博士 . ABS Resources.
  16. Web site: 2015-01-29 . TTGU in Media - Dr Bong Rin Ro Special Lecture on Wednesday . 2022-05-18 . www.ttgu.ac.kr . en.
  17. Web site: 2004-11-01 . 인터뷰 / 선교연합운동 앞장서는 노봉린 목사 . 2022-09-25 . 기독신문 . ko.
  18. Web site: EWC Mission Seminars . 2022-05-18 . ewcenter.org.
  19. Web site: Alumni of the Year Columbia International University - Alumni . 2023-09-10 . alumni.ciu.edu.

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