Dear Friends,

"Zdrasvstvite!" (Hello, how are you?) Greetings from Moscow again.

The long snowy Russian winter seems to have finally given into the sunnier and warmer days of spring. Seasonally we are experiencing the death and resurrection: gone is the dry, deathly winter, and now signs of new life are visible.

During this last Christmas holiday, the Moscow Presbyterian Theological Academy moved to its new location, which has much more space for classes and worship. Many of you in the States would not understand the problem of securing such a space or building in Russia. It is, in fact, a most difficult problem. Eight years ago, for example, the Reverend Jung Hee Kim, who was commissioned to Moscow as an evangelist by the Presbyterian Church in Korea (PCK), started a new church in Moscow through a group meeting for "discipleship training." Now the membership of the church has increased to 130 and is composed of Russians and Korean-Russians. For this congregation, lack of worship space has become a prime issue. They were at first worshiping on Sundays in a rented office space, but have had to move four times since then. They are now left with little choice but to get their own building. For this project Rev. Kim has access to funds through the ECO account (E051647, Support of Rev. Jung Hee Kim). She still needs to raise more money to meet their target. Yet finding an appropriate building or land in Moscow is still a great challenge. The Academy, however, has been blessed with sufficient space for its full operation. Although this newly purchased building was built during the Stalin era, the Academy managed to repair and transform it into very nice classrooms and offices with a big chapel that can hold 150 to 200 people easily.

Joe has enjoyed teaching two subjects during the last academic year: the synoptic Gospels and the Johannine literature. Along with these regular classes he has also been teaching the military officers class, which happens three evenings a week. Hannah’s library work has been delayed due to the current renovation project of the new Academy building. The library needs more work done to it. Perhaps Hannah will be able to operate the library beginning in September.

On May 24 the Academy will hold its 6th graduation, this year with 20 graduating students. Some of the graduates plan to remain at the Academy and continue in the advanced degree program, while most will seek ordination for ministry in a church: Presbyterian, Baptist, or Pentecostal. We humbly ask you to join in our prayer that in the near future theological training at this Academy and many other institutions here would bear abundant fruit by creating strong leadership in the Russia Protestant churches. Despite the many areas still needing improvement, we are convinced that by doing what we are doing now—training future Russian church leaders—we are planting the mustard seeds of the New Humanity that God had originally intended at His creation, and now through Jesus Christ.

Our PC(USA) missionary families in Russia are also growing. There are three families in Moscow (the Marsdens, the Smiths and ourselves) and two in St. Petersburg (the Mollers and the Kims). It is a blessing for all of us to have Gary Payton appointed as coordinator of Russian mission. In early March there was a wonderful and refreshing four-day retreat at the Finnish Bible Institute in Helsinki for our PC(USA) missionaries in Russia. The 14-hour night train-ride from Moscow to Helsinki was quite an enjoyable experience.

On a more personal note, our third grandchild (John and Agnes’s first child, Rachel) was born on November 15. She was recently baptized, and we were happy to receive her cute pictures. Our grandson Peter is now three years old attending a Montessori pre-school. His younger sister Sara celebrated her first birthday this past October 26. We miss them a lot but are grateful that they are all doing well and growing healthy and happy. Please accept our sincere thanks for your continuous prayers and support for our work and family. Your prayers mean a lot to all of us. May the risen Lord keep you, your family and your work in abundant blessings!

"Do-svidanya!" (Bye for now!)

Yours in Christ,

Joe & Hannah Kang

The 2001 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 91.