Our History
Rev. Jonah Xou Yang
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The first Hmong United Methodist Church, St. Paul, Minnesota
We have a history of 35 years in the United Methodist Church since the beginning of the first Hmong United Methodist Church. The UMC was introduced to the Hmong in St. Paul, Minnesota as an influx of Hmong refugees continued to migrate to the Twin Cities making their permanent home. The first official known/organized Hmong United Methodist Church was formed in March of 1981 with Rev. Jonah Xou Yang as the first Pastor. Rev. Jonah Yang, who at the time was a Hmong Colonel during war time and who also had had some Bible training prior to becoming a soldier, was approached by the Minnesota Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church to consider organizing a Hmong ministry which later became the Hmong Community UMC located at 215 W. George Street in West St. Paul. The church grew at its peack over 1000 people in the mid 90s, then slowly declined. The Hmong Community UMC later became Wheelock UMC in 2012 at the location/church where it was original begun (click here for more information). |
Rev. CherLue Vang
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Bound Brook Hmong Ministry, Bound Brook, New Jersey
About a year or two later another Hmong United Methodist ministry began in Bound Brook, New Jersey, with the leadership of Paul Herr and Rev. CherLue Vang. A cluster of churches in the area which included Bound Brook United Methodist Church had sponsored the first Hmong family from Thailand to New Jersey in November 1976. Although there were many churches in the sponsorship, Paul Herr, his family and parents and siblings were welcomed and cared mainly by members and the pastor of Bound Brook UMC. The new family later sponsored other relatives and more Hmong eventually settled in Bound Brook which brought the need for a Hmong ministry. The ministry existed for about 15 years. |
Rev. NouYi Yang
Rev. NaoLue Yang
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Hmong United Methodists in Wisconsin
In the fall of 1983 Pastor Jonah and few other leaders from St. Paul came to visit their relatives in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. They introduced their new founded faith and ministry in the United Methodist Church to them. These relatives were Christians already and had just recently moved to Wisconsin in search for a better life, education, economic support and self-sufficiency and family unification. Soon after the Minnesota Annual Conference and the Wisconsin Annual Conference were communicating through their respective superintendents. In early spring the following year representatives from Minnesota, Ginger and Pastor Jonah, came and met with Pastor Nouyi Yang and some leaders together with the District Superintendent of the Milwaukee District, Dick Hinkomman, of the Wisconsin Annual Conference. A plan was made for the Milwaukee Hmong group to hold their first Sunday on April 8, 1984 at Emmaus United Methodist Church of Southside Milwaukee. The group became Hmong Christian Community United Methodist Church and later renamed ChristWay UMC. Emmaus UMC eventually dissolved and the building was deeded to Hmong Christian Community UMC. A year later a new Hmong Ministry (Appleton Hmong Ministry) was started in Appleton by First Appleton UMC with Rev. Pang Ying Vang as the pastor. This ministry later ended while Rev. Pang Ying and other core families moved out of Appleton area. In 1987 two Hmong ministries also started in Wausau, one with Pastor Lee Vong Chang at First UMC and the other with Pastor NoaLue Yang at Wesley UMC. The later became Hmong American Community United Methodist Church. Hmong United Methodist Churches/Ministries in Wisconsin continued to thrive and new ministries were formed, as in the following order:
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Hmong United Methodists in California
Hmong United Methodist ministry in California began with the leadership of three very simple persons. They all together started the ministry in the early 1987. Having passion for the mission of Jesus Christ, they attended United Methodist lay-peaking class in Porterville, California in the second halves of 1986 and completed the course in early of 1987. After acquiring the basic knowledge of Methodism, the Lord led them to organize Hmong ministry in Fresno, Merced, and Marysville in the first quarter of 1987. Mr. Pang Ger Yang led the Hmong ministry at the Wesley United Methodist Church in Fresno, California; Mr. Tong Yang Lee led the Hmong ministry at the First United Methodist Church of Merced, California; and Mr. Shine Vang led the Hmong ministry at the First United Methodist Church in Marysville, California. The Hmong ministry at Wesley UMC later merged with the new Hmong Ministry at Memorial United Methodist Church in Clovis, California. Another vibrant Hmong ministry happened in Sacramento, California when Rev. Shine Vang was appointed at Trinity United Methodist Church in Sacramento. First Hmong United Methodist Church in Charlotte, North Carolina As many Hmong families relocated to North Carolina and the Hmong community became vital, Rev. CherLue Vang was called to Charlotte, NC by the Western North Carolina Conference to serve the newly Hmong Ministry. First Hmong UMC began in the early 1990s and is still present today. |