I 
was looking for a song to sing for a coffeehouse. A ‘cool’ song. One that people didn’t really know yet. And so, I knew who to turn to. I chatted with my friend who knew a lot of cool songs before they were ‘mainstream.’ (He had the 1st Jars of Clay album before anyone knew who they were.) He told me about this little known song by a little known band called ‘I Can Only Imagine’ by Mercy Me.
The story of the meaning of this song for me was published in Mercy Me’s book ‘I Can Only Imagine: Stories of Eternal Hope.’ I emailed (at my wife’s behest) Mercy Me about the significance of this song to me. I didn’t hear back from them until April 2004 saying that they would like to use my quote in the book. For the usage of that quote, I received an autographed copy of the book, which I still have in my office today. You’re welcome to stop on in and look through it.
Here is what I wrote:
I was first introduced to “I Can Only Imagine” in February 2001. I was looking for a song to sing for a church coffeehouse when my friend told me about it. He bragged on and on about how awesome the lyrics were. He because famous for his passion for this song and it became “his” song. He would wonder and wonder about what it would be like to go to Heaven and see Christ.
It is that song that has helped me mourn his death.
On the morning of September 11, 200, on the 93rd floor of the North Tower of the World Trade Center, Andy J. Kim stopped wondering. Andy’s death, though tragic and untimely (he was only 27), reminds me of the promise that we have in Christ that we will one day be “surrounded by His glory.”
Richard J Lee
Every 9/11, I think of Andy. Every 9/11, I miss Andy. I hope that is always the case.
I was going through my old videos on my computer and I found this video of Andy playing the guitar and singing. If you knew him, you might want to get some tissues.
Andy, I miss you man.
Andy Kim – I Can Only Imagine from Richard j Lee on Vimeo.
What was your experience? What are you memories of Andy? Post it in the comments.
andy, I remember singing this at the top of our lungs in your red vw GOLF. i remember the tears that we wept as we sang this song on our many rides home from church. I guess your imagining has stopped. I miss you buddy.
hey pastor rich. was wondering if there’s a way you can send me this video? this is dave park.. the one that was best man for dave kwon.
@Dave – I believe you can download it from my Vimeo page. If that doesn’t work, let me know.
Thanks for sharing that Rich.
I miss Andy very much.
Great rendition of I Can Only Imagine. It is very Andy.
i never knew/saw andy but i’ve heard nothing but GREAT things about this brother. of all the things i’ve heard about him there was a reoccurring theme: Andy loved God.
in man’s eyes this brother’s life was tragically cut short but i can only imagine how proud God must’ve been with the way His son lived his life in the short time he was here.
thanks for posting this… hearing him sing again brings back so many good memories. see you soon andy!
Richard, I just followed a link from your FB page and found this video. I didn’t know that your quote was included in MercyMe’s book. Very cool.
I also think of Andy every 9/11. Though he was only an Upper West Side neighbor & friend to me for maybe 2 years, I have fond memories of him. The way his face brightened when sharing praise & worship songs. The way he would earnestly seek God with all his heart when making decisions. The purity of heart he had. I am now reminded what it looks like to have an undivided heart for God, no matter what the circumstance. RJL, Thank you for sharing this video. I’m deeply moved.