Hmong Mission in St. Paul
Agenda
 Demographics
 Purpose
 LCMS Hmong Ministry in St. Paul
 Challenges and Opportunity
 Vision for Growing Hmong Ministry
 Proposal & Budget
 Questions
Demographics
Who are the Hmong?


Hmong originated in southern China & migrated into northern Laos
and Thailand.
Most of the Hmong still practice Animism and ancestor worship.
Why & When?


The Hmong in St. Paul are from Laos and Thailand and started
arriving in 1976.
Many were sponsored by LCMS.
Where are they now?
1)
2)
3)
California
Minnesota
Wisconsin
38%
25%
20%
•
•
Minnesota has an estimated 2010 Hmong population of 97,600
About 39% lives in Ramsey County, estimated 38,111
The Mission Ground
Bethlehem
Eastside St. Paul
Hmong in Ramsey County are highly concentrated in just a few areas.
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–
–
–
55106, 55101, 55103, 55117, 55119
About 35% of the Hmong in Ramsey are in our neighborhood at 55106.
Based on the estimated 2010 Census it is an approximately 13,770.
About 1 out of 4 students in the St Paul School District speak Hmong.
– In this neighborhood, 1 of 5 person are of Hmong ethnicity.
• The blocks right outside the doors of Bethlehem shows 1 of 4 person are
Hmong.
Density of Hmong in St. Paul
Hmong Churches in St. Paul
There are 9 Hmong Churches in St. Paul.
• In our Dayton’s Bluff neighborhood, there is just one other church –
United Methodist.
• In the areas highlighted, there are a 4 Hmong churches. 2 United
Methodist, 1 ELCA, and 1 Missionary Alliance.
Challenges
 There are only two Hmong LCMS Congregations in the Twin Cities.
Currently, there is no Hmong Pastor serving the Hmong LCMS
Congregations in the Twin Cities.
 The two Hmong Congregations continue to lose members due to spiritual
needs being unmet, especially for limited English speakers.
 There is high interest from Hmong people to be part of a more established
LCMS Congregation since there are small groups of Hmong meeting at
various locations. They are being served by an ordained pastor on an
intermittent basis.
 Language and cultural barriers make it difficult to recruit new Hmong
members.
Opportunity
 Bethlehem is situated in the “perfect” location for an LCMS Hmong
ministry.
 Bethlehem has a Hmong speaking service and existing Hmong
congregation that would be the seed for expansion to reach out
plant a stronger and new Hmong mission.
 This mission ground is excellent for spreading the “Good News” of the
Bible to this ethnicity.
 Collectively, MN LCMS South District, LINC, and Bethlehem can have
success in an urban ministry with Hmong.
 Bethlehem is committed to using our resources to develop, mentor,
plant, and grow this mission.
Our Vision: Grow Hmong
Ministry
 Establish a new mission site in the northeastern part of St. Paul,
Maplewood, and Oakdale.
 Begin outreach immediately to plant the new mission.
 Call Hmong pastor, preferably Rev Kou Seying to serve Bethlehem Lutheran
Church and also to grow the new mission because he has the following:
 Knowledge, experience, track record of being successful in the Hmong mission
field.
 Bilingual, bicultural and inner city Hmong family experience.
 If Rev Kou Seying does not accept the call, work to find another Hmong
pastor who can serve Bethlehem and grow the Hmong ministry.
 Within three years, Bethlehem will plan a third Hmong mission in the
Cottage Grove/Woodbury area.
Proposal & Budget
We are requesting $115,000 from MN LCMS South District. Bethlehem will
allocate this amount over 4 years with the expectation of independently
paying this Pastor starting in year 5.
- Pastor Robert Krueger retired on June 15, 2010. His funding could be
redirected to fund our Hmong ministry.
62K
63.3K
64.5K
31K
32.3K
33.5K
65.8K
66K
43.8K
66K
31K
31K
31K
Year One
Year Two
Year Three
22K
Year Four
Year Five
Bethlehem Total Cost
MN South District Total Cost
Proposed Budget Cost
and Sharing Over Time
The End
Questions