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Hmong Worshipers Move into Own Place
Holy Rollers
The Hmong Christian Church (Eau Claire, Wisconsin), a congregation of more than 150 Hmong speakers from China, Vietnam, and Thailand, raised thousands of dollars for a new church building—by selling egg rolls!
Of course the church also raised money through more traditional methods, and Landmark Christian Church in nearby Chippewa Falls—where the Hmong families worshiped until forming a separate congregation—contributed with financial help and advice.
Hmong Christian dedicated its new building and 10-acre property this summer. The church offers worship services in Hmong and Sunday school in English.
Chong Chang Her, HCC’s pastor, shared his background in a recent Eau Claire Leader-Telegram article. After escaping Vietnam in 1979, he moved to Thailand, then the United States. He became a Christian in 1980.
“When we came to this country, only the Christian people welcomed us,” he says. “They brought us furniture. They helped pay the rent. Because of the love of the Christian people, I thought, I need to become a Christian. Not only that, but I need to become a preacher.”
Take the Cake
Instead of a poorly attended cake and punch party, Westerville (Ohio) Christian Church is celebrating its 40th birthday this year with more than 40 service activities benefiting both its immediate neighborhood and international missions.
“After our 35th anniversary, I vowed not to spend any more money or time on a church party,” says preaching minister Greg Bondurant. “Instead I challenged our leadership to brainstorm new ways to minister to our community.”
The team developed projects for every age group and activity level, ranging from “Mulch Madness” outdoor work and free flu shots to carnation giveaways on Mother’s Day and creation of “caring kits” for those struggling with anxiety. In April the church even opened its Global Café as a quiet place for last-minute tax preparation!
One of the most successful projects was the “Super Bowl Effort” in January and February. Hundreds of families filled a tractor-trailer with clothing and household goods for shipment to Zimbabwe, and even Westerville residents with no connection to the church donated items for the cause.
“Instead of a one-time event with little outreach potential, this is an all-year celebration focused on others,” Bondurant says. “We now plan to use this missional approach every year, focusing on fewer projects done with even more excellence.”
www.westerville-christian.org
Passing the Bucks
This fall, the news media jumped on the story of an anonymous lottery player donating his winning ticket—and its $3 million prize—to True North Community Church (Port Jefferson Station, New York). But the press coverage of the donation and True North’s decision to give the entire first year’s winnings to a nonprofit organization called Love146 only tells part of the story—it begins with an earlier act of generosity.
In 2007, True North learned of Love146, a ministry dedicated to ending child sex trafficking in Southeast Asia, and began directing $100 a month toward the organization. Last October Love146 invited lead pastor Bert Crabbe and children’s ministry director Dominick Francione to visit Cambodia and Thailand and see these gifts at work.
After Crabbe and Francione’s return, True North began increasing its financial support, and in May the church invited Love146 President Rob Morris to speak in weekend services.
“Rob asked for a love offering instead of an honorarium,” Crabbe says. “We had never collected a second offering and wondered how it would go over. We thought, What if we just give the entire weekend offering?”
Forgoing one week’s income would be daunting for any young church, and the timing—heading into summer’s “lean” giving months—made it more difficult. But that Sunday True North gave almost $13,000 to Love146.
“That’s an Easter-size offering for us,” Crabbe says. “And, you know, things were a little tight for a few weeks, but it all worked out.”
Just a few months later Crabbe told the congregation about the need to rent space for weekend services “unless God drops a million on us.” And just a few weeks later, the church received the $3 million lottery ticket.
“I’m not advocating a prosperity gospel,” Crabbe says. “God doesn’t always bless us financially because we obey his command to give. But I do believe God honored our choice to be generous with Love146.”
In addition to its gift of the first-year winnings, True North will continue significant financial gifts to Love146 each year of the 20-year award.
www.truenorthchurch.net
www.love146.org
Jennifer Taylor, one of CHRISTIAN STANDARD's contributing editors, lives in Nashville, Tennessee.
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