In 2010, Rev. Lang Yang, president of the Hmong Mission Society LCMS (based in Richville, Michigan), went to Alaska to conduct a Hmong Ministry survey for the Northwest District. A large population of Hmong (approximately 6,000) has moved to Alaska since 1990 and the Alaska Mission for Christ wanted to start a Hmong Ministry. After the survey and continued contact with the Hmong people in Anchorage, Rev. Yang received a phone call in January 2013 from a group of Hmong people who wanted to join Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Chugiak, Alaska. After several phone calls between them and the church, Rev. Yang went back to Alaska to help start the Hmong Ministry.
The first week that he was there, they started the adult instruction for one group in the morning, the second group in the evening, the third group at their home and the 4th group for the youth throughout the week. The following week the group was trained on Parliamentary Procedure, Bible Class, Worship Services, Sermon Writing, Prayer, By-Laws, and Hmong Ministry at work.
After much hard work and blessings from God, on April 28, 2013, Our Redeemer Lutheran Church received 37 members with 13 Baptisms into the Church.
Rev. Yang continues to work with the Hmong Ministry by sending them weekly Scripture readings and sermons in the Hmong language that they can use during their worship services. The Hmong gather to worship on the 1st and 3rd Sunday in their native language and join the Anglo worship services on the 2nd and 4th Sunday so they can receive Communion. Several Hmong lay leaders were identified and, in order to continue the Hmong Ministry in Word and Sacrament, Pastor Steven Heinsein and the Alaska Mission for Christ spoke to the Northwest District President. The District approved that the lay leaders Sam and Seng Chang be trained in the Deacon Program in the Hmong Language and be licensed.
On November 10, 2014, Rev. Yang went back to train Sam and Seng Chang. During this trip, Christ called May Lee to faith (her father was killed due to a gas leak when she was four, and when she was nine, her mom was stabbed to death by her stepfather), and Rev. Yang was able to pray with her. During that time he also taught adult confirmation and performed four Baptisms. They were received into membership at Our Redeemer.
According to the Hmong people in Alaska, the Christians chose to live in Alaska because of the cool weather, and much of the region looks similar to their home land in Laos. The non-Christian chose Alaska because their shaman had told them that, if they came to the United States, they needed to go to the end of the world, and they believe that is Alaska. Many of these people need to hear the Good News of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Please continue to keep the Hmong Ministry in Alaska in your prayers, that the work will be fruitful so that others may come to know Christ’s salvation. Rev. Yang or another Hmong pastor will have to make a couple of trips back to Alaska within the next two years to complete the License Deacon Program for the two lay leaders in order for them to be certified.
God is good. May honor and glory praise His name.
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