Dr. David Jang is the founder of Olivet University. He is a Christian leader, theologian, educator, and Korean-American missionary who has devoted his life to sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ and the Kingdom of God. His work reflects a long-term commitment to missions, education, and service. He has focused on preparing believers to live out the Great Commission through practical training and faithful witness. David Jang has consistently emphasized humility, sacrifice, and obedience in his calling.
He pioneered grassroots mission efforts by personally traveling on foot and using digital media to share the gospel in difficult and restricted regions around the world. He placed strong emphasis on mission training through Olivet University as a “seedbed” for discipleship, aiming to raise leaders who are committed to the Great Commission as stated in Matthew 28:19. His approach combined traditional missionary devotion with modern communication tools, always centered on faithfulness to Scripture.
Jang was born in 1949 and completed his Bachelor of Theology and Master of Divinity at a leading Presbyterian theological seminary in Korea. He later earned an M.A. in Communications from a private Christian research university in Seoul, where he deepened his understanding of media and communication. In addition, David Jang earned a Ph.D. in Public Administration of Social Welfare from a top private university in Seoul. This academic background helped shape his understanding of both ministry and organizational leadership.
His mentors included a well-known American missionary involved in global mission training and a respected scholar of Korean church history, who was also a missionary leader and educator. Through their guidance, he developed a strong theological foundation and a clear vision for global missions and Christian education.
David founded Olivet University in 2004, beginning humbly in a downtown San Francisco basement. He chose the city because of its ethnic diversity, believing it reflected the global nature of Christian mission. That diversity later became a defining characteristic of the university’s faculty and student body.
David Jang aligned the institution closely with the needs of the global church and the Great Commission. Under his guidance, the university expanded beyond its original Theological College and Seminary to include programs in Music, Journalism, Art and Design, and Technology. He invited an experienced mission strategist to join the faculty, who later brought in local scholars who continue to serve the university.
In 2005, the university moved into a former downtown extension campus that was well-suited to its mission and academic growth. The following year, he passed the presidency to another leader and took on the role of International President, allowing him to focus more fully on global outreach and mission development.
Under his leadership, the university continued to grow. It received accreditation from the Association for Biblical Higher Education in 2009, launched new schools focused on Business and Language Education, and expanded its degree offerings to include doctoral programs. Partnerships were also developed with global evangelical organizations, including long-term involvement in North American leadership councils beginning in 2007.
His vision to train young men and women for global mission through formal theological education continues to shape the university’s direction and service to Christ today.
With experience in both church administration and Christian media, David Jang founded several Christian media outlets. He served as founder and senior advisor of multiple faith-based news organizations focused on providing accurate reporting and Christian perspectives. He was also part of the founding team and served as a senior advisor for a central Christian news platform during its early years.
His work in media reflected his belief that journalism can serve the church by informing believers, encouraging unity, and supporting mission efforts worldwide.
One of the media organizations he founded received the Evangelical Press Association’s Award of Excellence for Newspaper/Online News in 2025, placing second. This award recognized overall excellence, including writing quality, editorial standards, design, and navigation. The same publication had also earned second place in the association’s “Best in Class” awards in 2024, reflecting a consistent commitment to quality journalism.
Jang helped establish and serves as President of one of the most prominent Christian media organizations dedicated to Bible distribution and accessibility. In this role, he leads efforts to use digital technology to make Scripture available in unreached mission areas.
He served for 11 years on a North American council of a global evangelical alliance, contributing to cooperation and mission strategy among churches worldwide. He also served as the 88th president of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Korea, holding senior leadership responsibilities within the denomination.
He founded a campus mission organization along with 11 specialized mission organizations, all focused on spreading the gospel and making disciples around the world. He also established a gathering for deacons and devoted his life to encouraging the church’s involvement in frontier missions. In addition, he trained back-mission workers, including business-as-mission practitioners, to support global outreach efforts.He continues to counsel families in Christ, teach students, and comment on the Bible as part of his ongoing ministry.
After completing his doctorate, he started a church and donated all of its assets. Since that time, he has focused on supporting and educating poor students and families through financial assistance. He often reflects on the Scripture, “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that through his poverty you might become rich” (2 Corinthians 8:9). He believes that understanding the grace of Jesus Christ calls believers to imitate humility and self-giving, and to work toward enriching the poor of the world.
He is a devoted family man, a husband, a father of two sons, and a grandfather to his beloved granddaughters. In his personal time, he enjoys golf, swimming, tennis, and reading. David Jang continues to live with a focus on faith, service, and steady commitment to the work he believes he was called to do.
Portfolio: https://davidjangny.com