Dear Friends,

The way we look at security will never be the same, since the September 11 horror halted our unquestioning technological and economic optimism. Although our celebration of the birth of our Prince of Peace is just around the corner, our hearts feel rather heavier than ever with the continuation of carpet bombings and consequent casualties of human lives in Afghanistan. This year our seasonal greetings to all of you comes with a special prayer for world peace as well as for health and well-being for each of you.

We will never forget one evening right after the September 11 incident, how deeply we were touched by our students and high-ranking Russian military officers at the Moscow Theological Academy when they voluntarily offered prayers before the classes began for the victims and their families. You may have heard that the sidewalk and security fence outside the U.S. embassy in Moscow was lined with flowers, handwritten prayers, and lighted candles from Russian sympathizers.

Moscow Presbyterian Theological Academy opened its new academic year in early September with nine new students added to the existing student body. Since its opening, the Academy itself has been running rather uneventfully, with exception of Dr. Chang Whan Park’s departure on November 29 after five years of service as president and full-time professor. He will be missed by many of us in Moscow. Currently Joe is the only remaining full-time professor, and his teaching load became quite heavy. Along with the three evening classes for the military officers during the week, he teaches three different subjects: Pauline writings for all the students, interpretation of Luke’s Gospel to the third- and fourth-year students and introduction to the Bible to the first- and second-year students. Adding a couple of more teaching staff would make teaching at the Academy much more effective. Hannah’s library work is still delayed due to renovation of the space. She is, however, grateful for such a break because she can have more time for Russian language studies.

One October Sunday Hannah and I were invited to a worship service at a Baptist Church in the outskirts of northeast Moscow, where one of this year’s graduates is serving as an evangelist. This nine-year-old congregation has been using part of the first floor of an old apartment building as its worshiping place. We were told that the membership of the church is about 150 and growing. The pastor of the church was quite old and ready to retire, but had a good sense of humor and a good command of English. He and the whole congregation warmly welcomed both of us. The pastor didn’t have any problems interpreting my English sermon. We were very much encouraged when this old Russian pastor made such highly commendable remarks before his congregation about our theological training of much-needed church workers in Russia. Later the pastor explained to us that their new church building is under construction with their own funds. After the service we were taken to the site of construction. The foundation was complete and they are currently raising more funds in order to erect the walls.

Concerning our family back in the States, Rachel, our son John and his wife Agnes’ first child, celebrated her first birthday on November 15 in the absence of us, her paternal grandparents. We are told that she is attempting to take her first steps nowadays and babbles a lot. On the side of our daughter Ruth and her husband Mike, our grandson Peter will soon be four years old. His younger sister Sara celebrated her second birthday on this last October 26. They are also expecting the arrival of another sibling near the end of this year. While we miss them greatly, we give thanks to God because they are all doing well and growing healthy and happy.

Again we thank you all for your continuous prayers and support for our work and family. Your prayers and support are always remembered in deep appreciation by both of us. May God and the Prince of Peace keep you, your family, and your work in abundant blessings in this time of the Lord’s SHALOM!

Yours in Christ,

Joe & Hannah Kang

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