In keeping with Jesus’ great commission (Matthew 28:19-20), the North America Hmong Committee was established by the WELS Joint Mission Council to facilitate mission work to the Hmong people in the United States and Southeast Asia.

There is great diversity among the Hmong people living in the United States. Some Hmong people have lived in the States for 20 years and others have newly immigrated from other countries around the world. Many of the younger people have been born and raised in the United States.

The Hmong language was put into writing just in the last 60 years, using Roman letters. Many Hmong adults and youth do not know how to read their own language. However in the United States, English is a second language for the majority of Hmong. The older generation is often very limited in English, whereas the younger generation has come through schools in the United States and is quite fluent. The Hmong culture is primarily oral in its traditional communication. The GHC realizes the importance of translating written materials into the Hmong language while also teaching the Bible orally. It is also critically important that we utilizing Hmong-speaking evangelists, teachers, and pastors in this work. There is a need to be ready to conduct ministry to Hmong in the United States—both in English and in Hmong—for the foreseeable future.

There are currently five Hmong congregations in the United States that are all served by Hmong Americans:

• Faith Hmong Lutheran Church – Anchorage, AK (Rev. Pao Moua)
• Faith Lutheran Hmong Church – Fresno, CA (Rev. Xing Xang)
• Grace Hmong Lutheran Church – Kansas City, KS (Rev. Ger Lor)
• Immanuel Hmong Lutheran Church – St. Paul, MN (Rev. Pheng Moua)
• Trinity Hmong Lutheran Church – Manitowoc, WI (Rev. Daniel Lor)

Hmong ministry in the United States has also opened doors to world mission work to the Hmong people in countries throughout Southeast Asia such as Thailand, Vietnam, and Laos. WELS Hmong leaders throughout the United States are very connected with these missions, working through the North America Hmong Committee to share resources, ideas, and assistance.