Betzer, Kim Honored

ORLANDO, Florida — The two longest-serving Assemblies of God nonresident executive presbyters who are retiring received recognition as honorary general presbyters Aug. 3 as their terms near an end. 

Dan C. Betzer has served as Southeast Area EP since 1995. Nam Soo Kim has been a Language Area (other) presbyter since 1999. They are part of the 21-member AG Executive Presbytery, the Fellowship’s top policy-making body. The pair were grandfathered in before the implementation of new rules took effect on office lengths.

The General Council enacted 12-year term limits, or three consecutive terms, for the 15 nonresident EPs, effective with elections in 2017.

Betzer, 82, has been senior pastor of First Assembly of God, a congregation with over 10,000 adherents in Fort Myers, Florida, since 1987. Betzer also served as speaker on the weekly AG syndicated broadcast Revivaltime for 17 years ending in 1995. He also has been a board member of National Religious Broadcasters, written 21 books, and recorded 17 albums as a solo artist.

Terry Raburn, superintendent of the Peninsular Florida District, gave a health update on Betzer, who suffered a brain-stem stroke July 10.

“It’s a joy to report that Dan’s life is no longer in danger,” Raburn said. He explained that Betzer is undergoing therapy after being hospitalized, and he has recovered speech skills. Betzer is thinking and communicating clearly, Raburn said, and although he has a long way to go, doctors hope he will recover completely.

Kim, 85, served as senior pastor of Promise Church, a congregation of more than 3,200 in Flushing, New York, for 40 years. In addition, he served as superintendent of the Korean District for eight years as well as on the boards of Central Bible College and Valley Forge Christian College. He still is a member of the World Assemblies of God Fellowship Executive Council and international facilitator of the 4/14 Window Movement.

Delegates approved a resolution about Kim that stated, “This Fellowship is blessed by his spiritual leadership, practical wisdom, distinctiveness, and faithfulness in ministry and service.”

Kim expressed his appreciation for the expanding ethnic minority footprint of the U.S. Assemblies of God. The Fellowship now has 20 ethnic minority districts and 22 distinct ethnic and language fellowships.