FOR Sunraysia’s new Uniting Church minister, the move to Mildura has been “like a second migration” – but after just a month, it already feels like home.
Reverend Jacob Yang is settling in as the new minister for Uniting Church congregations across Sunraysia.
After working in Melbourne almost 20 years, and with his three adult daughters all now working in Sydney and Melbourne, Korean-born Rev Yang said a move to the country was a breath of fresh air for him and wife Sue.
“I wanted to experience and serve some rural areas, because my experience in Australia was only in Melbourne,” he said.
“I asked the placement team to send me to a rural area and they sent me to Mildura.
“I like it here. There’s no traffic jams and people are very kind, the air is very clear and especially the fruit is very delicious.”
Rev Yang moved to Australia in 1996 to continue his theology studies after being ordained in the Presbyterian Church in South Korea.
“I thought I would stay here for maybe three years then go back to Korea,” he said.
But 25 years down the track, Australia is now home for the Yang family, after Rev Yang spent the past 18 years serving at Deepdene Uniting Church in Melbourne.
Although he is based at St Andrew’s in Mildura, Rev Yang’s new role means he will be delivering sermons to congregations from Robinvale to Werrimull.
He said getting to know the many communities would be one of the greatest challenges in the job – but also one of his greatest joys.
“Sharing sadness and joy with parish members are the first things for me,” Rev Yang said.
“Every congregation is different and each congregation has different traditions which I must respect.
“I am looking forward to meeting diverse groups of people in Sunraysia.”
