Bishop Seong-Bok Kim, Guest Preacher

Bishop Seong-Bok Kim is bishop of the Seoul Annual Conference. He was inaugurated as the 23rd bishop of the Conference on November 1, 2024.

His pastoral experience includes serving at Christ United Methodist Church in Hawaii, USA. He also served as the senior pastor of Sungil Church in the Jungnang District and Eunhyun Church in the Eunpyeong District of the Seoul Annual Conference. Additionally, he served as the district superintendent of the Seongdong-Gwangjin District of the Seoul Annual Conference. Currently, he is the senior pastor of Kkotjae Church. He was ordained as a full-member pastor of the Korean Methodist Church in 1998.

Kim earned his bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree from Methodist Theological University in Seoul, South Korea. He earned a Doctor of Ministry degree from Claremont School of Theology in Los Angeles, California.

Bishop Mande Muyombo, Ordination Preacher

Bishop Mande Muyombo was elected to the episcopacy in 2017. He is the Resident Bishop of the North Katanga Area, which includes North Katanga and Tanzania conferences in the Congo Central Conference of The United Methodist Church.

Muyombo was born in a poor family in Kambove village in Haut Katanga province. His father had two wives and 16 children.

Muyombo was an executive of the General Board of Global Ministries when he was elected on the fourth ballot during the Congo Central Conference in 2017. He is the first graduate of Africa University to be elected bishop and the youngest episcopal leader in the central conference.

Bishop Muyombo holds a Bachelor’s (Department of Theology) and master’s Degree (IPLG) from Africa University as well as master’s Degree in Theology and Doctor of Ministry from Saint Paul School of Theology, Kansas City, USA.

After working as President of Kamina Methodist University, he served as the Executive Secretary for Africa at the General Board of Global Ministries and was subsequently promoted to Assistant General Secretary in the Missions and Evangelism Department.

Bishop Muyombo is married to Blandine Mujinga, an Africa University alumna and they have three daughters and a son.

Ray Buckley, Bible Study Leader

Ray Buckley is the Center for First Nations Spirituality director and longtime faculty member of The Academy for Spiritual Formation. He has served The United Methodist Church as a United Methodist Publishing House staff member, director of the Native People Communication office, and director of Connectional Ministries and Native Discipleship for the Alaska Missionary Conference.

A teacher, preacher, lecturer, and author of multiple books and resources for all ages, Ray is of Lakota/Tlingit/Scots descent and makes his home in the Matanuska-Susitna Valley of Alaska. His stories, poetry, and art have appeared worldwide in numerous journals, periodicals, and books. He has lived and taught in Nigeria and Ghana and is a traditional basket-maker and woodcarver.