Remembering Dr. Edwin Ang: A ‘Rock’ of the American Movement
January 21 marks the one-year anniversary since the ascension of Dr. Edwin Ang, a beloved family man who we remember for his great life of faith and attendance to God and True Parents.
“Dr. Ang is one of our most elder brothers in America,” said FFWPU USA President Rev. Naokimi Ushiroda before his Seonghwa ceremony on Jan. 25, 2021. “He has always been considered the rock in our American movement, thanks to an unwavering conviction of the truth of the Divine Principle, Heavenly Parent, and our True Parents.”
Dr. Ang was born July 29, 1926 in the small village of Bowerno, East Java, Indonesia. Of Chinese descent, he was raised in the Confucian tradition and his birth name, Kian An, means “to establish peace after the flood.” Dr. Ang firmly believed he was guided by God through every step of his life, and after graduating from high school in 1949, he was baptized in the Anglican church.
Dr. Ang studied accounting at the International Institute of Accountants and economics at the International Christian University before earning his Ph.D degree in economics from the University of California, Berkeley, in 1972. While in California, Dr. Ang joined the Unification movement in 1962 as one of the first 20 members in America. He received the Marriage Blessing in 1969 in Washington, D.C. to Marie Leckrone as one of 13 couples who are part of the 43 Couples Blessing.
During Dr. Ang’s 10 years in Berkeley, he pioneered the church center which grew to about 70 members. He was known for his sincere commitment to new members who he taught the Divine Principle. In 1972, True Father appointed Dr. Ang to be the Regional Commander of New England, and then State Commander of Massachusetts in 1973. After much growth and activity in Boston, True Father reassigned him as Regional Director of the Mid-Western States, where he worked for a brief time in Colorado, Oklahoma, and pioneered in Houston. Dr. Ang was then assigned to Chicago in 1975 where he led witnessing and fundraising as the center director.
Over the years, Dr. Ang was appointed to the newly formed Unification Theological Seminary (UTS) to assist as Dean of Students before serving as Executive Vice President under President David S.C. Kim. He was instrumental in securing the provisional and absolute charters for the seminary, and later served on the UTS Board of Trustees, the HSA-UWC Board of Directors, and the Korean Cultural and Freedom Foundation (KCFF) Board of Directors. Dr. Ang proudly served as President of the International Chinese Association as well through the 1980s and 90s, where he cultivated the Chinese member fellowship and community in America. And in 1996, he received the mission of the Abel National Messiah to Egypt.
For nearly the last two decades, Dr. Ang was an active member of the Clifton Family Church community, helping and praying for Blessed families and members that came to his attention. He also spent much of his time researching the relationship between science and the Divine Principle, and enjoyed living with his son's family and spending time with his other children and nine grandchildren. In 2020, Dr. Ang and his wife were inducted as a Cheon Bo couple. He ascended at age 95 due to Covid-19 and heart-related complications.
“As beloved elders and a CheonBo couple, their example shines to all of our brothers and sisters,” said Rev. Naokimi. “Let us honor and celebrate the life of an incredible pioneer for God's Kingdom.”
You can learn more about the early Unification movement in America in True Father’s autobiography available here, and True Mother’s memoir here.
