Asian Ministry in the District

Posted: 2009-08-04 by Sally J. Hiller

Outreach in the Asian communities of our District. Read about three of our ministries serving the Asian population. They join Charlotte Hmong, First Light Korean, and Zion Korean missions. The Asian population within the Southeastern District represents nearly 20% of that in our nation Dr. Jotham Johann Jahn, Executive Director for the Center for Asian Mission and Evangelism serves the LCMS National Office in resourcing ministries in Asian outreach.

Chinese Ministry at St. Paul’s Falls Church VA
To God be the Glory. Candidate Xinhong (“Chris”) Yang has been placed at St Paul’s, Falls Church VA to continue the work begun in his vicarage. He will be ordained at St. Paul’s and serve the Assistant Pastor and mission leader for the Chinese ministry. His wife, Shaw-Hwa (Jenny), and two sons (Jonathon and David) will move to the area.  Currently, the Deacons of the Chinese mission are providing ministry assistance within the congregation and Pastor Shaltanis is leading worship (with the help of a translator). Your partnership with Ablaze! for God’s Mission has designated funds for this ministry, which is an integral part of the congregation with about 35 to 40 in Mandarin language Sunday services, Bible classes, cultural activities and ESL instruction.  Many of the group’s children go to English Sunday School classes. 

Chinese Mission, Church of the Cross, Rockville
The Chinese Outreach Ministry at Lutheran Church of the Cross (LCC) in Rockville, Maryland was started in April 2005.  Currently the Chinese-speaking congregation has about 30 families with 12 children between the ages of 1-18 years.  Three families of 7 Chinese from mainland China (1 teenager, 2 children, and 4 adults) were baptized into the Christian faith at LCC in 2006 and 2008.  80% of the Chinese-speaking congregation come from mainland China and speak Mandarin Chinese which is the official language.  The other 20% come from Taiwan and Hong Kong.  Some of the Chinese also speak Cantonese Chinese, which is one of the common Chinese dialects.

The Chinese worship service is conducted in Mandarin Chinese by Pastor Luu on Sunday from 11:30 am to 12:45 pm.  Pastor Luu’s wife, Michelle Luu teaches the children Bible stories hour after the Children’s Message.  An average attendance of 40 Chinese has been reached on Sundays in May 2009.    Praise God for the 600 people who have participated in the English as a Second Language classes that have been continuously offered since 2005.

Through financial partnerships with District congregations, LWML, and Ablaze! for God’s Mission, this ministry is supported.

Greater Hickory Hmong, Hickory NC
Rev. David Vang is the mission leader of this outreach to the Hmong community. His journey has led him to speak the precious message of the Gospel in Mt. Airy, NC; Atlanta, GA, and in Newton NC where the largest of the Hmong missions gather.
Rev. Vang sees an important part of his mission in providing support for the Hmong families those who are going through a trying time. The non-Christians, those who lost their job and are in need of physical and Spiritual help are those to whom he is able to minister to their needs, providing constant home visitations, and showing them about God’s love.
Just recently an entire family who was not Christian, came into a saving relationship with Jesus Christ and was welcomed through Baptism into the family of God. What joy there is in the celebration of those who once were in darkness but are now in the light of Christ.
Your ongoing partnership in prayer and in Mission Partnership Support have resourced Pastor Vang for this work.