Obituary of Meesaeng Lee Choi
In Loving Memory of Meesaeng Lee Choi
Meesaeng departed this world on January 11, 2024, in Lexington, Kentucky. Born on October 24, 1958, in Seoul, South Korea, she moved to Wilmore, KY, in August 1989, in her early 30s, and married in June 1991. Meesaeng was unwavering in being a diligent learner, devoted wife, dedicated educator, and determined follower of Jesus Christ. She was a loving, caring, and self-giving person who deeply prayed for her church, seminary, students, and many others.
Meesaeng’s academic journey was marked by her commitment to theological studies. She majored in English Literature at Ewha Womans University (Seoul, Korea), earned her M.Div. at Seoul Theological Seminary (Seoul, Korea) and her Th.M. in Missiology at Asbury Theological Seminary, and received her Ph.D. in Theological & Religious Studies (Historical Theology) from Drew University (Madison, NJ). She continued her scholarly pursuits at the University of Chicago, Princeton Theological Seminary, and Oxford University in England. She wholeheartedly gave herself as a professor at Asbury Theological Seminary (Wilmore, KY), teaching Church History, Historical Theology, and Spiritual Formation. Despite battling cancer for over 15 years, she achieved the rank of Full Professor in 2012 and continued to impact the lives of her students until her retirement in September 2023.
Meesaeng’s commitment to ministry extended beyond the classroom. She served tirelessly as a pastor’s wife, taking on numerous roles. Deeply concerned with the well-being of missionaries and pastors, she founded the All Nations Mission Center in Lexington, KY. Her life had an impact beyond borders, committing to the global Christian community by serving as Chief Editor for “World Christianity” and an editor for the Sub-series on “Early and Patristic Christian Studies.” A polyglot with fluency in English and Korean, Meesaeng possessed a reading knowledge of Theological Latin, French, German, Greek, and Hebrew.
Meesaeng Lee Choi is survived by her husband, Rev. Hunn Choi; four siblings, six in-laws, five nephews, and four nieces. She was preceded in death by her parents. She leaves behind a legacy of academic excellence, compassionate ministry, and a dedication to the global mission. Her life was a testament to the transformative power of education, service, and unwavering faith in Christ. Her memory will be cherished by all who had the privilege of knowing her.
A service to celebrate Meesaeng’s life will be held at 7:00 PM, Tuesday, January 16, 2024, at the Church of All Nations (1075 Ashgrove Road, Nicholasville, KY 40356), with Rev. Canon Professor George Iype Kovoor officiating. The service will be live-streamed on the All Nations Church platform. She will be cremated the following day and laid to rest in the family burial site in Seoul, Korea, soon. Visitation will be held from 6:00 PM to 6:50 PM.