(February 2004 Press Release)

Only several years ago, there were a few Hmong missions through Lutheran churches. Today, 31 Hmong churches or mission plants are in operation in the United States and additional work among the Hmong has been launched in Thailand last year. Exciting times are ahead for Hmong work!

     One of the truly inspiring mission-focused gatherings is the Hmong Youth and Leadership Conference sponsored by CAME annually.  Several hundred youth and adult mission leaders attend this gathering.  Workshops and presentations centered around missions and leadership are presented.  At last year’s conference in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, CAME matched the conference’s worship service offerings, dedicated to support the ongoing mission work, among the Hmong in Chiang Mia, and Paklang, Thailand.   

     In addition to expanding the current mission  work, CAME and  the  Hmong mission leaders are planning additional outreach at multiple sites in Florida, Michigan, Minnesota, Georgia, and California.  In addition, Hmong mission teams continue to travel to Thailand on a rotational basis to further develop the outreach which has been initiated.  They have been sharing the Gospel with the Her and Xiong families in Paklang and the Hang family in Chiang Mai.  In addition, they have rented a house in Chiang Mai where they hold bible classes and train local leaders for evangelism. Please look for additional information about CAME’s burgeoning mission involvement overseas in Thailand and other parts of Asia in future issues of Building Bridges.

     During these past several years, Pastor Yia Vang, of Sheboygan, Wisconsin, CAME’s former Facilitator for Hmong Ministries has truly been a pivotal leader helping to pave the way for thousands of unchurched Hmong to hear the Gospel.  CAME and the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod has truly been blessed with Pastor Vang and his humble servanthood and we thank him for having served as our Facilitator for Hmong Ministries.

    We are also blessed with many new outstanding Hmong mission leaders, including Dr. Fungchatou Lo of Brooklyn Park, Minnesota.  Dr. Lo is currently a social work professor at the College of St. Benedict in St. Joseph,Minnesota. Through a special partnership between CAME and the Minnesota South District, LCMS, Dr. Lo will be resigning from his teaching, and entering into full-time mission and ministry work.  

    Dr. Lo is a nationally-recognized figure among the 350,000-member Hmong American community and has also been elected to the position of clan leader of one of the major Hmong tribes in North America.  Based in the Twin Cities-area in Minnesota, he will be assisting CAME and the LCMS in identifying, recruiting, mentoring and supporting new Hmong mission leaders, going on Pauline Missionary Journeys to counsel congregations which are about to launch or consider launching a Hmong mission, and helping to coordinate and network those involved and interested in Hmong missions.

Pastor Yia Vang contributed to this article.  For more information about Hmong missions, please contact Dr. Fungchatou Lo at hlegacy66@hotmail.com. Dr. Lo is CAME’s Facilitator for Hmong Ministries.  He is based in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota at Grace Lutheran Church.  

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