Dr. Ire Timothy Sim is a graduate of the College of Music at Seoul National University. He earned the Master of Church Music and the Master of Divinity degrees from Houston Graduate School of Theology, and completed the Doctor of Ministry degree at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, located in the Dallas–Fort Worth.

He served in the United States for nearly nine years as a Minister of Music and for seven years as a Senior Pastor. Prior to being commissioned as a missionary to China, he also served for two years as an Associate Pastor in Hong Kong. During his ministry in the United States, he conducted the Houston Civic Orchestra and served as Music Director and Conductor for multiple major performances, including three complete performances of Messiah by George Frideric Handel, two complete performances of The Creation by Joseph Haydn, and one complete performance of Elijah by Felix Mendelssohn—widely regarded among the world’s three greatest oratorios.

Dr. Sim also taught students and engaged in campus ministry for two years at the Institute of Korean Studies of National University of Uzbekistan. During this time, he conducted the Uzbek National Choir and led the first-ever performance in Uzbekistan of Handel’s Messiah, in collaboration with the Uzbek National Orchestra.