--Letter of Appreciation--
First of all, we want to thank the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod, Districts and congregations for welcoming the Hmong people to this wonderful Synod. Secondly, we want to thank God and all of the congregations and Christian friends for your prayers and support to make the Hmong ministries possible in the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod.
- Hmong LCMS Ministry
LCMS Time Line Sequence
1981 - Zong Houa Yang was certified by the Lay Ministry Institute at Concordia University Mequon. He was called to serve the Hmong ministry at Our Savior Lutheran Church in Lansing, MI. He was the first Hmong pastor in the LCMS
1985 - Yia Vang and Yia Lee graduated from Lay Ministry Program in Mequon, WI.
1986 - Two Hmong ministries in Mineapolis and St. Paul, MN stated in the late 1970s and early 1980s coming together to form the Hmong Lutheran Church in St. Paul, MN. The ministry was served by Lay Ministers Yia Lee and Yia Vang
1986 - Hmong in LCMS and ELCA joined together to write the first Lutheran Hymnal
1987 - Yia Vang resigned from Hmong Lutheran Church to attended Concordia Mequon, WI. Wang Kao Her was commissioned as Deacon to serve the Hmong Lutheran Church with Yia Lee
1987 - The Hmong Evangelical Lutheran Church becomes the first Hmong chartered congregation in the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod. The congregation was served by Yia Lee and Wang Kao Her, who later resigned because of friction in the Church. Mr. Yia Lee also resigned to find a secular job
1991 - Wang Kao Her was asked to resign from the ministry
1992 - Yia Lee also resigned as Pastor of the Hmong Lutheran Church
1992 - Rev. Kouseying, the first Hmong ordained Hmong Pastor in the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod, was called to serve the Hmong Lutheran Church
1993 - Yia Vang completed his studies at Concordia Seminary St. Louis was called to be a MAL to the Hmong people in the SWD
1993 - Rev. Zong Houa Yang completed the Colloquy Program at Concordia Theological Seminary in Fortwayne. He was called to continue his ministry in Lansing, MI.
1993 - The first Hmong Lutheran Hyman was published by CPH
1994 - The SWD chartered the Hmong Lutheran Outreach of Oshkosh, WI to be the second Hmong congregation in the Luthean Church - Missouri Synod
1995 - Hmong ministries formed the Hmong Mission Society (LCMS)
[Back to TOP]
1996 - North America Missions welcomed the Hmong ministries to form a Task Force and outreach began other Hmong communities in North America. Yia Vang was chosen as the Field Counselor to work with the North America Missions. During this year the LCMS Hmong ministries also formalized the Hmong Ministry Conference for all the Hmong ministries in North America. The first official conference was held in St. Paul, MN in 1996. Rev. Kouseying as the first chairman of the conference
1996 - Mr. Kue Ly was commissiond as Deacon to start Hmong mission in Green Bay
1996 - Rev. Kouseying resigned from the Hmong Lutheran Church in St. Paul, MN to continue his studies with the Missiology Program at Fortwayne
1996 - Mr. Chang Tao Vang was commissioned as Deacon to serve the Hmong Lutheran Church in St. Paul, MN.
1997 - Dang Thao brought a group to join the LCMS
1997 - Nou Toua Yang was commissioned as Deacon to serve the Hmong ministry in Manitowoc. The Hmong Mission Society LCMS was formed to serve the Hmong ministries
1998 - The CNHD commissioned Nou Vang Thao & Koua Thao as Deacons to start Hmong mission work in Merced, CA
1998 - Rev. Zong Houa Yang was the second chairman of the Hmong Ministry Conference
1999 - Koua Thao resigned from the ministry and moved to Utah
1999 - David Vang was commissioned as Deacon to start Hmong mission work in Hickory, NC. Enrolled in DELTO, but later joined EIIT
2000 - Dang Thao and his group cut off from the Hmong ministry groups, but still worship in a LCMS Church in Minneapolis
2000 - Yia Vang moved to Sheboygan to start a Hmong ministry there
2000 - Dr. Fungchatou Lo was commissioned to start a Hmong ministry in Brooklyn Park, MN. He also as chosen to the chairman of the Hmong Ministry Conference
2000 - IRS recognized the Hmong Mission Society (LCMS)
2001 - The Hmong ministry in Milwaukee was chartered as the third Hmong congregation in the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod
2001 - A group of Pastors and laymen visited Thailand to start mission work there
2001 - Cher Tou Vang was voted to be the chairman of the Hmong Ministry Conference
2002 - Neal Xiong was commissioned as Deacon to start Hmong ministry in Eau Claire, WI. Enrolled in EIIT
2002 - Blong Vang was commissioned as Deacon to start Hmong ministry in North Milwaukee. Enrolled in EIIT
2002 - Cher Toua Yang was commissioned as Deacon to serve the Hmong Lutheran Outreach in Oshkosh, WI. Enrolled in EIIT
2002 - Chia Thao was commissioned as Deacon to serve the Fox Cities Hmong Lutheran Church in Appleton, WI. Enrolled in EIIT
[Back to TOP]
2003 - Dr. Fungchatou became the Hmong Mission Facilitator replacing Yia Vang
2003 - Faivneng B. Her, Kue Ly and Chang Tao Vang completed DELTO and become Pastors of the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod
2004 - The first Lutheran Small Catechism in Hmong was published by Lutheran Heritage Foundation
2004 - Ponsak was commissioned as Deacon to serve the Hmong congregation in Kong Hoi Klai in Thailand. Phaav Hang, Tong and Ponsak are still in training to become Pastors for the Hmong ministries in Thailand
2004 - Two other men were being trained to become pastors in Thailand
2004 - Rev. Zong Houa took a call to Florida to start Hmong ministry there
2004 - Dr. Noulang Yang was commissioned as Deacon to serve the Hmong ministries in Richville, Lansing and as Hmong Mission Developer for the MI District
2004 - Dr. Fungchatou Lo was commissioned as Director of Hmong ministry in Brooklyn Park, MN and also Director of the Hmong Mission Society
2004 - Rev. Kouseying took a call to Merced, CA to be an Outreach Director for Hmong ministry in CA.
2004 - A Music Committee was put together to write the first LCMS Hmong Hymnal with music notes. Hope to complete in 2008
2004 - Nou Toua Yang resigned from the ministry in Manitowoc for health reason
2004 - First LCMS Hmong congregation started in Thailand
2004 - Three Thai Hmong leaders were recruited
2005 - Nou Vang Thao resigned from the ministry in Merced, CA.
2005 - Daniel Xiong was installed as a Deacon to do ministry in Charlotte, NC. and for the EIIT program
2005 - The SWD District called Faivneng Her to be MAL to the Manitowoc areas
2005 - Vicar Tswvblong Vang was installed to serve the Hmong Hope Lutheran Church and Hmong ministry at Benediction Lutheran Church in Milwaukee, WI.
2005 - A ministry started at St. Stephanus Lutheran Church in St. Paul, MN.
2005 - Chia Yang was recruited to do ministry in Madison. He was interviewed by the SWD and approved for the EIIT program
2005 - A ministry started in Sacramento, CA
2005 - A ministry started in Fresno, CA
2005 - A ministry started in Stockton, CA
June 2005 - Rev. Faivneng received MAL assignment to serve in Manitowoc
[Back to TOP]
March 2006 - A new ministry started in Taj Qeeb, Thailand
March 2006 - Commissioned Tong Vang and Phaav Hang to serve as Youth leader and Hmong language teachers in Thailand respectively
April 2006 - Kxh. Ntxoov Yag tsev tuabneeg moog ua Vaajtswv dlejnum nyob rua Hmong Hope Lutheran Church huv Milwaukee
July 2006 - Cher Toua Yang resigned from Hmong Lutheran Outreach in Oshkosh. Two more men recruited from the Chang village in Thailand to be trained as spiritual leaders in Thailand. Four EIIT have completed their training on December 2006. They will be interviewed in February 2007 to be ready for Call Day on April 2007
2007 - Pastor Kouseing Thao resigned from St. Paul Merced to take a call as a Church Planters for the Hmong mission in CNH District
March 2007 - the Thailand Hmong Mission started mission work in another Hmong village in Tak. 31 people were baptized. About 50 in all formed a new Hmong LCMS ministry in the village of Pajkha
April 2007 - Rev. Blong Vang received a call to the Hmong Lutheran Outreach in Oshkosh; Rev. Chia Thao received a call to serve the Fox Cities Hmong Lutheran Mission in Appleton; Rev. Neal Xiong received a call to serve the Hmong Lutheran Mission in Eau Claire, WI. Rev. David Vang received a call to serve the Hmong Lutheran ministry in Hickory, NC; Rev. Dr. Fungchatou Lo received a call to serve as a LCMS World Mission missionary to Indonesia
January 2008 - Mr. Moua Vang has completed the interviewd with the SWD to be enrolled with EIIT. He is serving the Hmong ministry at Benediction LC in Milwaukee, WI. Southeeastern District commissioned a Hmong Deacon for the Mt. Airy Hmong ministry
August 2008 - A historic two Hmong men (Pongsak and Suphan Hangs) were ordained in Thailand as Lutheran pastors. Pastor Nyajtseem Xiong and his congregation joined the Lutheran ministry
August 2008 - A new LCMS Hmong ministry started in Oklahoma
October 2008 - SWD & MNSD partnered to plant and recruit spiritual leaders for the Twin Cities
November 2008 - Dr. Noulang Yang graduated from the EIIT program to become a pastor in the LCMS. Pastor Zong Yia Vang started a new ministry at St. Paul Lutheran Church Brown Deer, WI.
