A visionary pastor, church planter, teacher, and mentor, Rev. Paul Hahn passed away in Korea on June 20 from cancer at the age of 84.
Hahn graduated from KoRyo Seminary in the late 1950s and became a teaching professor at the seminary. He moved to the United States in 1980 to plant a church in Los Angeles, Calif. For the next 35 years, he served the Christian Reformed Church as a pastor and on the boards of its ministry agencies, retiring in 1992. He was a pioneer in mentoring Korean-American CRC pastors. He returned to Korea in 2007 to work in the prayer and education of SaeRoeUn church, where his son is a pastor.
Hahn will be well remembered as a loving father, husband, and, most of all, faithful servant. His pastoral care and daily life were filled with humor and genuine concern for people.
His children strongly feel that their generation is reaping the fruit of his prayers and his overflowing encouragement. His daughter, Grace Paek, said, “My beloved father pioneered the immigration churches and positively influenced many CRC pastors. He always made time to listen to his children with high interest. He was willing to listen all night long and gave abundant encouragement; [he] treated his children as if they are the most important people in the world.”
His youngest son, Rev. Hong (John), said, “My father always helped even in his bad situation, such as giving his own clothes for missionaries.” John said his father had many talents, including teaching himself to play piano. He liked to sing and read. He spoke often with church members after prayer meetings, displaying diverse knowledge and humor.
A close long-time friend, Rev. Sung Won Yoon, said, “I am very proud that I have a pastor friend like Rev. Paul Hahn. He was such a faithful person in the Lord. He had a good personality without complaints even in hard times of ministry. He had a bold faith life.”
Hahn will be missed by his wife, Sarah; by their children James, Grace Paek, and John and their spouses; and nine grandchildren.
About the Author
Jonathan Kim is a CRC pastor of Ye-Eun Presbyterian Church in Los Angeles, California. He writes news for The Banner and lives in North Hills, California.
