Dear Friends,

This year’s Easter Sunday for the Russian Orthodox Church fell on the first Sunday of May, exactly four weeks after ours in the West. This year’s celebration very successfully and impressively gave witness to the full revival of the church’s old glory. Many dignitaries of the Russian government, including President Vladimir Putin and the first lady attended the Easter eve and Easter morning Masses. The services were broadcast live by major TV stations. It may be a good sign for the Russian Orthodox Church, as it seeks to recapture the church’s traditional and privileged role as the official national church. For many other Christian groups in Russia, however, this seems to indicate a bumpy road ahead for their own freedom of religious faith.

Joe gave his last lecture at Moscow Presbyterian Theological Academy (MPTA) on the second Wednesday of May. After the morning class there was a farewell service and party for us. The Worldwide Ministries Division decided to transfer us to Lutheran Theological Seminary in St. Petersburg starting next academic year. As you may already know, the PC(USA) has a partnership relationship with the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America (ELCA). And the Lutheran Church’s history in Russia goes back almost 400 years. Of course, the Lutherans had to go underground during the 74-year long Communist rule, and at that time all the church buildings and their property were confiscated by the Marxist regime. After Perestroika, the Lutherans were also able to reopen their churches. Now, hundreds of churches have been newly opened and there is every sign of growth in this church all over Russia and in other states of the former USSR. Just three and half years ago this church opened its theological seminary in St. Petersburg, with help from the Lutheran Church in Germany and the ELCA. Under this partnership, Joe will be teaching Biblical studies while Hannah will be working as the librarian at this seminary, beginning when our new academic year begins this September. We are very excited by this new challenging mission. If time permits, Joe may occasionally do some short-term teaching at MPTA.

The administration and students at MPTA are very sorry for our departure, particularly the students, who did not want to bid farewell to us at all. One middle-aged female student from a charismatic church in Siberia has been studying here at the Academy since past year. She formerly worked as an evangelist. She came to Joe’s office after learning about our departure to tell him how she has been transformed by his teaching. She told Joe that sitting in his class for the first few months was like an earth shattering experience, where she felt her world was being turned upside down. She said that in the beginning she could not accept his interpretation of the Bible and was very rebellious. She almost gave up her study at MPTA because of the great shock she felt. She explained that after a few months, however, Joe’s interpretation of the Biblical texts slowly opened her eyes to read the Bible in a completely different way. She wanted to say, “Bolshoi spasiba!” (Thank you very much!) for such a revolutionary experience in her theological studies.

Joe also bid farewell to military officers, whom he has been teaching three evenings a week. They were also very sorry for losing him as their professor. One officer stood up to make a very touching farewell remark on behalf of other officers. He said that Joe’s teaching of the Bible was very different from other pastors who visited them before, but quite convincing to them. Remember these are Russian high-ranking military officers (from captains to colonels). A military officer’s cap was given to Joe as a souvenir.

We will be back in the States for a few months during the summer to join our children and grandchildren, while getting ready to move to St. Petersburg. Our three grandchildren (Peter, Sara and Samantha) from Ruth and Mike and one-year-old granddaughter Rachel, from John and Agnes, are all doing well. We have been missing them. We are grateful for being able to have some time together with them during this period of transition.

Our new address in St. Petersburg effective from September 1, 2002, is:

Evangelical-Lutheran Church
Theological Seminary
Joe & Hannah Kang
Nevesky Prospect 22-24
191186 St. Petersburg
RUSSIA FEDERATION

Please allow us to express our sincere gratitude for your continued prayers and support for our ministry in Russia. Please also know that you are always remembered in our daily prayers. May the Lord of our new life keep you, your family, and your ministry healthy, meaningful, and fruitful!

Yours Fraternally,

Joe & Hannah Kang

The 2002 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 94