Spring 2007
Dear Friends,
Privet, dorogi druzia! (Greetings, dear Friends!)
Although the Neva River right next to our seminary is still frozen,
the dark and cold winter is slowly giving way to the bright and
full-of-life spring, even in this part of world! We have more
daylight every day, and soon the white nights will be here. So
this city is busy again getting ready for another tourist season.
(Left to right) Joe Kang, Gary Payton, and Jon Chapman of the
PC(USA) pay a visit to Archbishop Edmund Ratz of ELCROS.
It has been blessing for us to live on campus. This winter Joe
didn’t have to drive back and forth in the snow and contend
with the messy roads and traffic jams. We’re just a few
miles outside the city, surrounded by serenity and fresh air.
It was such a great joy for us when the PC(USA)’s area coordinator
for Europe, the Rev. Jon Chapman, and the regional liaison for
Russia, Gary Payton, came to visit with us and partners in early
February. We believe that they enjoyed the environment here as
well as solid partnership between the PC(USA) and the Evangelical
Lutheran Church in Russia and Other States (ELCROS).
During January, Joe taught another two-week session for students
of the extension program. The course was called, “The Word
of God and the Word of Human Beings.” This theme was studied
in three major fields: biblical theology, systematic theology,
and practical theology. Joe has taught the subject from the perspective
of both the Old Testament and the New Testament. Twenty-nine mature
students gave Joe excellent evaluations, as other students had
in his previous course.
Joe teaching the students from the extension program.
The second semester for the regular on-site program students
began on February 6. Our students returned from their practical
work in local congregations over Christmas break. It is amusing
and encouraging for us to see how students are growing in their
faith and have a stronger sense of call not only in the classroom
but also by their experience in church life. Beginning in late
February and for three weeks we have had five vicars (interns)
who are practicing pastoral work in different parts of Russia
in order to obtain feedback and to get further training in pastoral
counseling and preaching.
This semester, Joe is teaching three biblical subjects: His Old
Testament course is on Psalms, his New Testament course is on
John, and he’s also teaching “Methods of Exegesis.”
As Joe is in charge of all of the biblical subjects and his teaching
load is quite heavy, the seminary faculty agreed to invite a lecturer
from the Russian Orthodox Theological Seminary to teach the Prophets.
This will help in our effort to establish a closer relationship
with our Orthodox friends, as well as easing Joe’s teaching
load.
Hannah continues her Russian language study while doing ministry
through home. Since moving to campus, she has resumed her study
of German. Once a week she also has a piano lesson from our seminary
music teacher.
We are going to do our mid-term mission interpretation from mid-June
until September and then return to St. Petersburg for the rest
of our term. Our home base will be the same as before: House of
Rest, 784 Santa Barbara St., Pasadena, California 91101, (626)
793-6434. We also plan to do the mission interpretation in the
East Coast for about a month. Please contact us either through
our Mission Connections office in Louisville or through our email
and phone if you would like to invite us to share our ministry
in St. Petersburg.
In the meantime, please allow us to extend our thanksgiving for
your continuous prayers and support along with our Easter greetings.
May the risen Lord grant each of you much more joy, hope, and
love as we move through Lent toward Easter morning!
Dosvidanya! (Bye for now!)
Joe and Hannah
The 2007 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 186 |
