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LAKE HALLIE — Members of the Hmong Christian Church want to do more than build a place to worship.
They also hope to reach out to Hmong people struggling to adjust to life in a new land, said Danai Chowwiwat, the church’s pastor.
“We hope that our church will (provide) a future direction for the Hmong as they transition into the American mainstream,” said Chowwiwat, 42, of Eau Claire.
These Hmong Christians became part of Landmark Christian Church in Lake Hallie in 1996, but formed their own congregation in 2004. To more effectively reach the Hmong community, members believe they need their own building and congregation, Chowwiwat said.
And so, two years ago the small congregation launched the big project of raising $100,000 for a building. It already gathered $25,000 to buy 10 acres on 70th Street in the town of Wheaton in 2003.
The Independent Christian congregation of about 120, including children, has raised about $52,000. Members plan to borrow about $200,000 to cover the remaining building costs.
Groundbreaking for the approximately 6,000-square-foot building tentatively is planned for July 31, Chowwiwat said. Members hope the building will be completed by the end of this year so they can hold services there in early 2006
The congregation, one of a handful of Hmong churches in the Eau Claire area, has grown, Chowwiwat said. “We believe if we have our own congregation, then we will give a more clear picture … that we are serious in our obligation to reaching the Hmong in Christ.”
Last Sunday about 50 worshippers attended the 11:30 a.m. Hmong service at Landmark Christian Church. During the service four young women sang hymns, accompanied by recorded music, and six young people shared stories about a youth group mission trip to Mexico to distribute Bibles and food. People sat quietly as Holy Communion was given among the pews.
As parents shushed young children and some people fanned themselves with service bulletins, Chong Chang Her of Eau Claire, filling in for Chowwiwat, preached. The 43-year-old insurance agency owner is the congregation’s former pastor and is chairman of the building project.
Member Alicia Vang, 23, of Eau Claire said the project builds unity, especially in the youth group, which camped out near the building site.
“It’s really exciting to get a new building so our church can grow,” said 17-year-old Lui Chowwiwat, the pastor’s daughter.
The youth group has raised money by planting and selling raspberries, and performing traditional Hmong dances for a fee, she said.
Raising money is a challenge. Many members don’t have a lot of income, said Solomon Her, 29, of Eau Claire. A life insurance agent, he is a church elder.
Even if members can’t donate much money, they wholeheartedly give their time and labor.
Every other weekend as a fundraiser, church members have been getting together to assemble clips used to close things such as potato chip bags, Chong Chang Her said. Even the children help.
In fact, member Vang said, “The kids are fast, way better than the older folks.”
The assembly work is fun, with everybody working and laughing together, and the women cooking a meal that all eat together, she said.
“Our goal is to raise $2,000 a month through assembly work,” said Chowwiwat, who noted a Menomonie Hmong church did the same thing.
The congregation also has sponsored fundraisers such as a thrift sale, and written letters to friends asking for support. Members hope others in the community will help too.
“We are trying to do anything, any way we can. We need the community to stretch the hand, to support our reaching the Hmong with ministry,” Chowwiwat said.
This is a big project for a small group with limited resources. But Brad Crocker, 40, senior pastor at Landmark Christian Church, said, “They have worked hard and made tremendous progress.”
Landmark is lending a hand to the congregation it has shared space with for almost a decade. Some members help with the church planning, and an offering will be taken to support the project, he said.
Landmark also wants to help find and finance a full-time pastor, Crocker said, and provide training for doing ministry. He noted Chowwiwat tentatively plans to return to Thailand in a year.
“We definitely will miss them, in particular the youth, Crocker said.
He expects the youth groups will continue to get together in the future.
Having the Hmong members at Landmark has “broadened our perspective on ministry,” he said, adding that members of both churches traveled to Thailand last year to support Hmong Christians there.
“We are very happy to be here too,” church elder Solomon Her said. But he added that his church must try to reach non-Christian Hmong people through its own efforts.
“We have to do what we have to do, or how will they know Christ?”
In reaching out to the Hmong community, the church must focus on social issues, such as splits in the family and youth gangs, as well as the spiritual, Chowwiwat said.
“As Hmong, we are struggling to start a new life here. The first Hmong came to Eau Claire in 1976. We have been here about three decades now. The Hmong still are struggling with the transition to life here,” he said.
In the past, religion had a great influence over cultural and social structures of the Hmong people. But in this country, he said, they cannot easily practice traditional animist beliefs and ceremonies such as animal sacrifice, and young people often do not share those beliefs.
“I believe Christianity is the best alternative to give a strong new Hmong society and identity,” he said.
His congregation is small, but has a big hope, he said. “We believe that with God’s help, our dream for reaching the Hmong people will be possible through our building project.”
Wachter can be reached at 830-5828, (800) 236-7077 or blythe.wachter@ecpc.com.
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