Empowering local Asian American churches

The Twin Cities is home to an estimated 275,000 Asians comprising a variety of nationalities and ethnic groups—including Hmong, Burmese, Laotian, Malaysian, and Cambodian. Despite this significant local population and the number of Asian churches in the area, Kaz Hayashi, Bethel Seminary professor of Old Testament, was unaware of anyone aiding, equipping, or connecting these congregations and their leaders. Thanks to the Kern Family Foundation FLOW Faculty Development Project Grant, he’s seeking to change this. Working with Seminary Dean Peter Vogt, Hayashi organized a seminar—“Empowering Asian American Churches”—to encourage Asian pastors and ministry leaders. It’s also an opportunity for Bethel Seminary to fulfill its mission: to advance the gospel in culturally sensitive ways, equip individuals to lead where God has called them, and to build community. 

“Often in Asian cultures, ethnicities and nationalities have tensions with other surrounding Asian cultures,” Hayashi says. “Despite the historical political rivalry between Asian groups, my desire is that we can experience spiritual reconciliation in Jesus.” The seminar drew more than 30 church leaders representing 14 ethnicities in the first two meetings—one in January and one in March. “I want those who come to experience the unity and love we have in Jesus,” Hayashi says.

To determine the most pressing issues faced by those ministering in an Asian context, he conducted a survey. Top on the list was not knowing how to apply the biblical message in an Asian context. “In fact, 63.6% felt their ministerial training at Bible school, seminary, or within the local church, did not teach them how to contextualize the biblical message to their Asian audience,” Hayashi says. “One of our goals, therefore, is to exemplify how the Bible is relevant to Asians, and how we can apply these theological principles to the lives of Asian believers.” To that end, discussions have focused on religious syncretism—the blending of different religious beliefs and practices—within Asian Christianity and the pursuit of wealth among Asian immigrants.

Ohm Rungkittikhun and his family came to the United States in 2018 from Thailand, and he graduated from Bethel Seminary last year with a Master of Divinity. On a volunteer basis, he helps pastor a small Thai church that meets in Roseville, Minnesota. One of his challenges, he says, is that Thai people living in the United States—unlike those living in Thailand—want to live independently and shy away from community. “Participating in the past two seminars has allowed me to see various ways to bring the Gospel to Thai Americans,” Rungkittikhun says. “The concepts, biblical truth, and statistics shared allow me to see more of the opportunity in order to find the right tool to reach the Thai-American communities.”

With Asians being the largest ethnic group in the world, and also the fastest-growing race in the United States, Hayashi believes we should be more intentional about serving Asian churches. It’s why these gatherings are important, and he hopes this seminar acts as a “support group.” “Ministry is often lonely. You feel like you’re on an island,” he says. “I hope pastors can discuss challenges and learn from how other churches are dealing with specific issues.”

Joseph Young has done just that. Young is senior pastor of 600-member First Hmong Baptist Church in Coon Rapids, Minnesota, which primarily serves Hmong people from Southeast Asia. After attending the first meeting, he says he began talking to his church leaders about syncretism. “It has helped our church see what is biblical and what is not,” Young says. “At least we are beginning to ask those types of questions!” He shares that he also learned that most Asian churches have very similar challenges: “We are more alike than we are different. I was able to learn from others during our discussions. This is something that I have been wanting for my own personal growth. I do think it is important that we continue to gather.” 


The third meeting of “Empowering Asian American Churches” is scheduled for May 9, 2024, with a focus on Old Testament biblical theology of racial reconciliation.

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