Circuit riders used to ride horses. Today’s circuit riders ride motor bikes. The Rev. Ut To (r) is a clergy member of the Detroit Conference who has spent the last ten years in Vietnam directing the Mission Initiative of the Bd of Global Ministries. Congregations across  Michigan support Ut and his wife, the Rev. Karen Vo-To. ~gbgm photo  
Joel Rabb, the In Mission Together Coordinator for Laos and Vietnam Mission Initiatives of the General Board of Global Ministries, said in a recent article for umcmission.org: “There is tremendous growth and transformation in the Vietnam Methodist Church!”   Rabb was speaking of the ten years of church planting that has taken place in Vietnam under the leadership of Ut To and Karen Vo-To, Global Ministries missionaries and clergy members of the Detroit Conference. Ten years ago there were half a dozen Methodist Churches in the Mekong Delta. Today, there are over 300 churches. The goal, articulated by Ut and Karen  in “The Vision 20/20,” is to grow 1,000 more churches by the year 2020.   The Tos outlined the details of that vision during the Vietnam Annual Meeting in October 2014. The vision called for existing churches to start new churches and existing church members to recruit new members.   A circuit rider team comprised of 40 people was established to go into unchurched areas. Instead of horses, these modern day circuit riders travel two-by-two, riding a motor bike thanks to funds raised by the Rev. Dennis Miller, district superintendent for the Foothills District of the West Ohio Annual Conference.   In February the West Ohio Vietnam Leadership meeting took a first step toward a national conversation that seeks to walk with, support and equip the Vietnam Methodist Church in its growing mission. Critical questions asked around the issue of sustainability were:

• How will it develop the management components of a 1,000-church organization?
• How will it create educational components to train and educate pastors, ordain pastors, and train and educate laity?
• How can the Vietnam experience deepen the spirituality of U.S. congregations?

It is possible to develop a Covenant Partnership through Vietnam Mission Initiative, Advance #14932A,  which supports congregational development, pastors’ salaries, an orphanage ministry and building projects.
   A new Vietnamese United Methodist Fellowship has launched on the Renaissance District. Members of the Area Committee on Asian American Ministries, the Revs. Jennifer Jue (c) and Joy Chong Won (r), welcome the Lay Leader of the fellowship, Quyen Quan. ~courtesy of Michigan Area Asian American Ministry Facebook In the meantime, the General Board of Global Ministries and its Asian American Language Ministry (AALM) has been working here in Michigan.   A new Vietnamese United Methodist Fellowship was launched at a special Lunar New Year service held at Madison Heights: Korean Central United Methodist Church on February 22.   This new faith community was organized through the collaborative efforts of GBGM Asian American Ministries executive, the Rev. Dr. Christian Van; the National Vietnamese Caucus; Grand Rapids Vietnamese UMC pastor, the Rev. Daniel Nguyen; and the Michigan Area Committee on Asian American Ministries.   The Vietnamese population in Metro Detroit is about 10,000 people, while Asian Americans number 150,000.   Rev. Van notes: “With the leadership of the Rev. Melanie Carey looking for and arranging a new space for a new face, the Madison Heights UMC has opened their door with radical hospitality.” He explains that they are “a strategic location where the Vietnamese population is most concentrated in the metropolitan area.
In her welcoming message, Carey said, “On behalf of our Bishop, Deborah Kiesey and the Detroit Renaissance District, I welcome you and want you to know that United Methodists across the State of Michigan and in the City of Detroit and Metro Detroit area are praying for you” in this new beginning in ministry.   Van goes on to say, “The Fellowship is an immigrant community which includes children, youth and adults. English language is a great challenge. Methodism is also a new teaching in their spiritual journey.” He encourages neighbors to help this new community. “The new fellowship is like a new born infant that needs a lot of care, nurture and love from family and extended family,” he continues. “The Renaissance District and the Detroit Conference are their families. Like Jesus said to his mother, Mary, as he was on the cross,  ‘Woman, behold your son.’ And then to his disciple, John, ‘behold your mother.'” (John 19:26)   Christian Van then concludes, “WWJS … What Would Jesus Say to us today?”

 

Moving the Vietnam Mission Forward

By Joel Rabb

Joel Rabb, In Mission Together coordinator for Laos and Vietnam Mission Initiatives, summarizes a recent West Ohio Vietnam Leadership meeting on Feb. 20, which examined areas of growth for the Vietnam Methodist Church.

There is tremendous growth and transformation in the Vietnam Methodist Church!

– See more at: http://www.umcmission.org/learn-about-us/news-and-stories/2015/february/0226vietnammission#sthash.ShDI2ntE.dpuf

 

 

Last Updated on February 2, 2024