From: "Rev. Robert Rahn (by way of Rev. Eric J. Stefanski, )" To: Subject: CLIMB: LHF Begins Work in Hmong Date: Friday, November 02, 2001 12:54 PM Subject: CLIMB: LHF Begins Work in Hmong Sent: 8/5/20 1:23 AM Received: 8/2/00 5:30 PM From: Rev. Robert Rahn, rrahn@lhfmissions.org To: Confessional Lutherans in Missionary Boldness, CLiMB@CAT41.org For Immediate Release By Rev. Robert L. Rahn, LHF Executive Director 1-800-554-0723 Book Of Concord Translation Begins In Hmong The Lutheran Heritage Foundation, Sterling Heights, MI and Concordia University, St. Paul, MN have initiated a joint project to translate and publish the Book of Concord in two Hmong dialects. The Rev. Kou Seying, Director of the Hmong Institute, is being secunded to serve as the Project Director. Dr. Robert Holst, President of Concordia, St. Paul, MN, Rev. Robert L. Rahn, LHF Executive Director, The Rev. John Fehrmann, LHF Director of Mission Advancement, the Rev. Zong Houa Yang, East Lansing, MI, the Rev. Faiv Neng Her, Milwaukee, WI, the Rev. Yia Vang, Oshkosh, WI, and Rev. Seying recently met to establish the goals for a translation committee made up of individuals from the LCMS, and WELS. The effort will begin with a revision of a translation of Luther's Small Catechism in both the White and Green Hmong dialects. Rev. Seying recommended one volume with one dialect in the front of the book and the other dialect in the back. The Hmong project will be one of the first in which a translation originates in the U.S. and is sent abroad. "Our work is centered in the Twin Cities because of a large population of Hmong living in the region," Rev. Rahn said. There are a total of some 300,000 Hmong immigrants in the U.S., of which, approximately 80% do not confess Christ. It is the vision and prayer of Hmong Christians to evangelize the more than 5 million Hmong living in China, Laos, and other Asian regions. "Because of the paucity of any Christian literature in Hmong, we expect that the Small Catechism and other literature produced by the translation team will also be of benefit to non-Lutheran denominations," Dr. Holst stated. Rev. Seying came to the U.S. through sponsorship of an Indiana congregation. A graduate of Concordia University, Wisconsin, Seying continued his training at Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, IN. He has the distinction of being the first LCMS-ordained Hmong pastor, and is currently completing his dissertation for the Doctor of Missiology degree from Concordia Seminary, Fort Wayne, IN. He has also served as Director of a project to translate eight Arch Books to the Hmong language. The Hmong dialects become the 45th language group with which the LHF works in over 50 different regions of the world. The LHF recently observed the goal of reaching one million volumes in print representing some 150 different titles. Thus far, all translated and published books and materials have been freely distributed to missionaries, pastors, and individuals who request copies. For additional information about the worldwide translation and publishing mission efforts of the LHF please call 1-800-554-0723 or visit www.lhfmissions.org. The LHF is currently constructing its world mission center and office complex in Macomb Township, MI. + + + Confessional Lutherans in Missionary Boldness + + + The CLIMB e-letter brings you unedited, uncut reports directly from the mission field, whether in South America, Africa, Europe, inner-city, rural, or collegiate America, or military installations and battle sites around the world. It is our contention that those who truly hold to the ~Book of Concord~ as the pure exposition of Holy Scripture and the true confession of the Christian faith are also the most zealous supporters of the preaching of the Gospel in every corner of the world and, as such, ought to be kept thoroughly informed of how those endeavors are faring and shown how they may be rightly carried out without the destruction of orthodox doctrine and practice that some within the pale of Lutheranism now advocate. You may contact the authors of individual posts to this list simply by using the 'Reply' feature of your email reader (unless otherwise indicated in the above message). Because of the demands of their endeavors, there is the possibility that not all responses will be able to be answered. You may freely discuss the contents of these columns on other CAT41.org mail lists AND, (unless otherwise indicated) as long as proper acknowledgement is provided, you may reprint them for dissemination via free media. List subscription instructions (found below) should also be included. Subscribe? Send any message to: CLIMB-on@CAT41.org Unsubscribe? Send any message to: CLIMB-off@CAT41.org For more information on this or other lists offered by Confess And Teach For Unity, you can contact the CAT 41 list administrator at: Rev. Fr. Eric J. Stefanski + + + Confess And Teach For Unity + + +