Jesus said, “Go make disciples of all nations!” Matthew 28:19 The Local Mission Partner Team reminds us that “The Nations are Here!” CTK’s Local Mission Partner ministry is culture/language specific congregations in the Twin Cities. Pastor Vern Rice, chair of this team, tells of ministry opportunities with Spanish, Hmong, Chinese, African American ministries in the Twin Cities. The stories of these churches are truly heart-warming. There is a real need for partnership with in each of these churches.

The Story behind the Egg Rolls

Hmong Central Lutheran Church, just west of the state capital in St. Paul, has youth and young couples who get up at 4 a.m. every second Sunday of the month to prepare egg rolls for Christ the King. 500 to 700 are sold, and often, some of us don’t get any. Thanks for the great response!

Why do the Hmong youth and young couples do this? Last year their goal was to earn money for a youth retreat where the youth asked the question “Who Am I? Hmong youth continue to adjust to the American culture while they also retain their Hmong heritage. Combine that with the realization of their Christian identity; all this made for a dynamic retreat.

On Sunday, April 26, 2009, Christ the King hosted the annual Hmong Fellowship Dinner. The funds raised for the Hmong Central Young Couples’ retreat was matched by Thrivent Financial for Lutherans. Pastor William Siong updated us growing up with his animistic shaman father and William’s hope to introduce his father to Christ the King. William believes meeting Pastor Paul Larsen and the people of Christ the King might help his father more seriously consider Christianity. At the dinner, Christ the King’s musical group, Soli Deo Gloria, sang along with Hmong singers and dancers. The Hmong food, highlighted by Hmong egg rolls, delighted the approximately one hundred people who attended.

Local Mission Partners share their story on a special Sunday every year.

In 2008, Local Mission Partners brought Pastor Paul Erickson, St. Paul Area Synod Assistant for Missional Development., to speak at Local Mission Partner Sunday. He told of the new ELCA strategy to enhance missional development through partnerships among ministries rather than each congregation doing it alone. Partnerships create energy, provide for peer-review and stimulate creativity in reaching out to people in every one of our communities. Our next Local Mission Partner Sunday will be November 15, 2009.

We also partner with Pueblo de Fe (Community of Faith) Latino Lutheran Congregation in West St. Paul and Redeemer Lutheran Church, a multicultural Lutheran congregation northwest of downtown Minneapolis.

Members of the Local Mission Partner Team are:

Marilyn Eibs, Pastor Deb Birkeland, Pat Blake, Dale Erickson, Betty Funk, Bob Meyer, Neal Mortenson, Candi Phelps, Karen Richards and Vern Rice-Chair. If you want information or are interested in being part of the Local Mission Partners ministry, please call Vern Rice at 763-785-4013 (vernrice2000@yahoo.com). 

What's coming up next in Local Mission Partners? Here is the link. . . . .

Our Local Mission Partners in the Twin Cities

GUIDED BY THE GOSPEL: GATHERING • GROWING • GIVING