Our newest teacher is fresh from prison.
“I have a passion for working for Jesus,” says Sung Hoon Kang, “and I believe Hartland is one of the few places on Earth that is following the counsels of God and helping the youth come close to Him.”
After graduating in 2006 from Hartland College with Pastoral Evangelism and Christian Media Management majors, Sung Hoon Kang joined the staff. However, shortly thereafter he had to return to South Korea to serve in the army. Due to his firm stance as a conscientious objector, he was sentenced to 18 months in prison. Many of you may have read his story in previous issues of Hartland Ministry Report or Last Generation magazine.
Despite his unfortunate circumstances, Sung Hoon is confident that God used it to prepare him for his future ministry. “In prison I met a lot of people who did not know God,” he shares. “As I lived with them and dealt with them, it really helped me to understand their points of view and how to reach them. Also during that time, away from earthly ties and distractions, I could really spend time studying the Bible and communicating with God. That experience was a blessing to me.”
Sung Hoon was providentially released from prison three months before his sentence was up. At this point, he was faced with an important decision. Several potential employers were vying for his commitment. Which offer should he accept? Deep inside, his heartstrings were tied to Hartland. So he put out a fleece. “If You don’t want me to go back to Hartland,” he prayed, “don’t let me get a visa.”
More than a month and several documents later, Sung Hoon received his visa and passport. Having been just released from prison, he knew this was nothing short of a miracle. “If it were not for God, I probably would not have received the visa,” he reflects. “A lot of people were praying for me, and somehow He directed me to the right person at the right time. Even though it took longer than usual, I know it came in God’s timing.”
We are overjoyed to have this dedicated soldier of Christ join our ranks at Hartland as a Bible and media teacher. “I believe that God is calling me to share the gospel through media; but if I don’t have the content, it’s useless. That’s why I chose to train in both Bible and media.” Already, God is using Sung Hoon to inspire other young people with zeal to spread His Word. It is our prayer that these ripples will quickly spread around the world to mobilize a mighty army of young people to finish the Lord’s work.
