Korea Nazarene University (KNU) celebrated its 70th anniversary with a ceremony led by Dr. David Kyung Soo Kim, KNU president. The anniversary was held on 21 October 2024 with the theme “70 Years of Memory, 100 Years of Promise.”
The celebration was divided into a Thanksgiving service and a vision declaration ceremony. The Thanksgiving service included a worship service led by Chung Moo-sung, the KNU Chaplain; a representative prayer by Cha Deok-young, the alumni association president; a special song, “I Have No Riches,” by Lee Ji-won, the first graduate with a developmental disability; and a Scripture reading by Yang Hyun-hong, the vice president for administration and innovation.
Lee Ho-jung – the first president after KNU became a university, gave an inspirational message. His message was, “We Must Go Our Way,” taken from Luke 13:31-33. He challenged the faculty and staff to joyfully fulfill the mission entrusted to them by God in God’s way, as God is the Lord and Father. He also emphasized through a song that it was time to determine the mission by following the footsteps of the Lord, who went all the way to the cross. The message was followed by congratulatory videos from former presidents and closed by Rev. Kim Young-baek – 2nd chairman of the Board of Trustees.
The second part of the celebration was a visioning ceremony. The ceremony began with a congratulatory performance by KNU graduates, including Hwang Dae-yeon. It was followed by opening remarks from Sung Jun-mo, head of the Planning and Coordination Office. Dr. Shin Min-gyoo, former KNU president, and Dr. Donald Owens, founder, shared a video message. Rev. Yoon Moon-ki, District Superintendent of the Korea National District, gave an inspirational message. Other guests gave congratulatory messages, including Chairman Hong Sung-Hyun of Chungnam Provincial Assembly, Cheonan City Mayor Park Sang-don, Governor Kim Tae-heum, and National Assemblyman Lee Jung-moon.
The ceremony was also celebrated with a video highlighting the institution’s history from its inception to its growth and development. Sung Jun-mo shared the Vision 2030 Development Plan as a new leap toward 100 years of KNU. KNU President Kim Kyung-soo also declared KNU’s vision of “Specializing in Smart Rehabilitation and Welfare,” which leaps into the world beyond the boundaries of the university and the region.
KNU was founded on 14 September 1954 in Sajik-dong Jongno-gu Seoul, as Nazare Bible School, with the purpose of training pastors. on 27 May 1981they moved to their permanent home in Cheonan City, until they were accredited into a university in 1996. KNU has 12 faculties (Christianity, Rehabilitation Sports, Human Rehabilitation, Rehabilitation Independence, Social Work, Special Education, Healthcare Rehabilitation Therapy, Police Administration, Social Science, Arts and Sports, Broadcast Visual Design, IT Artificial Intelligence). There are 30 majors and 14 departments within the four graduate schools (General, Theology, Future Rehabilitation, and Social Work). KNU is educating more than 6,000 students as ministers and elders.
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Article from https://news.na.or.kr/gyodan/222?page=3
