1. Hmong Mission in St. Paul

2. Agenda Demographics Purpose Questions LCMS Hmong Ministry in St. Paul
Challenges and Opportunity
Vision for Growing Hmong Ministry
Proposal & Budget
Questions

3. Demographics Who are the Hmong? Why & When? Where are they now?
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) California 38%
2) Minnesota 25%
Wisconsin 20%
Minnesota has an estimated 2010 Hmong population of 97,600
About 39% lives in Ramsey County, estimated 38,111

4. The Mission Ground
Bethlehem

5. Eastside St. Paul
Hmong in Ramsey County are highly concentrated in just a few areas.
55106, 55101, 55103, 55117, 55119
About 35% of the Hmong in Ramsey are in our neighborhood at
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.

6. Density of Hmong in St. Paul

7. Hmong Churches in St. Paul
There are 9 Hmong Churches in St. Paul.
In our Dayton’s Bluff neighborhood, there is only one other – St. John’s Lutheran (WELS)
In the areas highlighted, there are a 4 Hmong churches. 2 United Methodist, 1 ELCA, and 1 Missionary Alliance.

8. 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.

9. 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.

10. 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 to serve Bethlehem Lutheran Church and also to plant 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 the pastor does not accept the call, work to find another Hmong pastor who can serve Bethlehem and help expand the Hmong ministry.
Within three years, Bethlehem will plan a third Hmong mission in the Cottage Grove/Woodbury area.

11. 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, Some of the funding could be redirected to fund our Hmong ministry.
Proposed Budget Cost
and Sharing Over Time
MN South District Total Cost
Bethlehem Total Cost
62K
63.3K
64.5K
65.8K
66K

12. The End
Questions