Dear Wellfleet UMC
Family,
Dear beloved Wellfleet UMC families, Annyonghaseyo!
(That’s "Hello" in Korean!) My name is Youngeun Kang, and I am filled
with joy to begin this new journey of faith with you starting this August. I
was born and raised in South Korea until about 18 years ago—a fact that will
become beautifully obvious the moment you hear my "Konglish"
(Korean-English) this August!
I originally came to the United States to
study theology. Along the way, my husband and I started a family and entered
the ministry together. Twelve years ago, God called us as missionaries to
Houlton, Maine. After raising our two children there—and adding three more
along the way!—I have now traded my title as a "Mainer" to learn what
it truly means to be a "Cape Coder."
Thanks to the courageous American
missionaries who traveled to Korea 140 years ago, my husband, I, and
countless other Korean pastors are able to minister here in the United States
today. To repay even a small fraction of that immense grace, we raised our
children in Houlton, learning firsthand what it means to become a family that
transcends race, culture, age, and gender.
Because of those deep bonds, when we suddenly
received our new appointment, saying goodbye to our Maine family felt as heavy
as facing a lot of funerals at once. However, through their incredible love—a
love that held us tight even through the pain of parting—we truly learned how
to love and how to be loved. Loving God, loving my husband, and loving my
children naturally expanded into loving the congregations of the four churches
we served together. I am leaving with a profoundly grateful heart, watching the
people I love dearly now love and care for one another.
My journey as a pastor began in the fall of
2022. While serving two churches in Houlton and Hodgdon alongside my husband, I
stepped in as a Lay Supply pastor for the Mars Hill church when they suddenly
found themselves without a pastor. In 2023, I became a licensed local pastor,
and when Stetson Memorial UMC in Patten needed pastoral leadership, I was
blessed to serve as their lead pastor since July in 2025.
To be completely honest, because I still have
so much to learn, the thought of being appointed to a brand-new community
brought a wave of fear and trembling. Sensing my anxiety, my sweet congregation
told me, "We have received you as a gift for 12 years; now, we are
sending you as a gift to Cape Cod. As long as you can love and be loved
wherever you are, that is more than enough." If ministry is truly
about loving God and loving His family, then it is with a joyful and expectant
heart that I step forward to become a part of your family. (On a side note, I
officially became a U.S. citizen this past April, and I am absolutely thrilled
to now be your sister in citizenship, as well as in the Kingdom of God!)
When I first visited Wellfleet UMC for my
interview back in March, the moment I stepped into the sanctuary, I felt as
though God was wrapping me in a warm embrace, filled with the scent of the
ocean breeze and gentle sunlight. Praying in that beautiful sanctuary—which
uniquely resembles Noah’s Ark—I blessed the church and prayed that it would
continue to stand strong as an ark of salvation amidst the floods and trials of
this world. I know the past year without a steady pastor must have brought its
challenges, and I was deeply moved to hear how you navigated those waters with
God as your anchor and Jesus as your sail. Meeting the SPRC members only
confirmed this; I could palpably feel how much you love God and one another.
I was particularly moved by Norma, who joined
the church just a few years ago, as she shared how deeply she has come to love
this congregation. My heart and prayers go out to Norma, who recently lost her
last remaining sister; I pray fervently that the living hope of the
Resurrection will carry her through this season of grief. I also want to extend
a special thank you to Charlie. Your daily prayers, encouraging texts, and
thoughtful phone calls during our major milestones have made us feel like
family before we’ve even officially arrived.
Late in the evening on June 2nd, after a long
ten-hour drive, our family finally arrived on Cape Cod. The very next day,
right after unpacking, we took a quick trip to the beach. My children, who had
been carrying such heavy sadness over leaving Maine, suddenly began discovering
treasures in the sand. They came running back to me, faces glowing with
excitement, holding up a dead flounder, a crab, and various seashells. Watching
them, I offered a quiet prayer. We may not see the entirety of God's grand tapestry
just yet, but I am filled with hope that we will discover His hidden treasures,
one by one, in this vast ocean of grace.
I am writing this letter to you from high
above the Pacific Ocean, on a flight to South Korea for my sabbatical, driven
by how much I already miss you. Our family is eagerly looking forward to
greeting you all in person on the last Sunday of July, July 25th, after six
weeks of physical and spiritual rejuvenation.
Now, I have heard legendary rumors about Cape
Cod summer traffic. If anyone has any secret tips on how to avoid it—or at
least survive it—please let me know!
Until we can finally meet face-to-face, I
pray that you remain strong, healthy, and vibrant in body, mind, and spirit. I
love you all!
June 8, 2026
Written from the middle of the Pacific Ocean,
Pastor Youngeun Joyce Kang
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