September 16, 2002

Vietnamese lead mission effort in South Texas
___By John Hall
___Texas Baptist Communications
___PORT ARTHUR--Thirty-three Vietnamese Texas Baptists from Richardson and Arlington spent a recent weekend visiting homes and building bonds in Beaumont and Port Arthur in an effort to help local congregations connect with their communities.
___The area, which is 40 percent African-American and 20 percent Hispanic, includes 12,000 Vietnamese residents but no Baptist presence. The local association and churches surrounding the area have tried repeatedly to minister in the area with limited success. The inner-city neighborhoods are plagued by poverty and racial tension, a factor that has led residents to be unapproachable to outside congregations.
___Cathy Dundas, ministry catalyst for Golden Triangle Baptist Association, had a new idea to reach the residents. Rather than bringing in local people to do ministry, try connecting the neighborhood with people they have more in common with culturally.
___After hearing about the dire need for missions work in the region several months back, Jim Klassen, associate pastor of Richardson Vietnamese Baptist Church, was thrilled by the unique prospect of Vietnamese people ministering to other Vietnamese people.
___"There are some natural bridges there between them including history, culture and values," he said. "They are ingrained very deeply into who they are. For a Vietnamese person to reach out to another Vietnamese person is very special."
___The group, which was on its first mission trip, spent one evening meeting and inviting Vietnamese youth to a coffee house. Although none of the invitees came to the coffee house later that night, it did provide an "excellent opportunity" for the Dallas group to interact with the local Vietnamese.
___The following day, 10 groups invited residents to a block party that night. Many kindly invited the group into their homes, while some slammed the door shut. Several families came to the block party.
___The effort helped Dundas connect with some of the participants and further her hope of starting a Vietnamese Baptist church in the area.
___"We need somewhere to start," she said. "The field is so big. I learned so much this weekend about the culture, and I already knew a lot."
___The group then inspired the neighborhood and local churches by ministering hand-in-hand with an African-American congregation, Dundas said.
___"It was a beautiful picture of how different people could work together," she said. "It provides an example for our churches. Our churches have to work together."
___Klassen considered the trip a success, and group members already have requested an extended return venture to the same area next year.
___"In terms of numbers, we can't say we had a major impact, but some did respond and we are thankful for that," he said. "Everyone learned a lot about being a missionary."

Get printer-friendly version of this story


Send this story to a friend



News of religion, faith, missions, Bible study and Christian ministry among Texas Baptist churches, in the BGCT, the Southern Baptist Convention ( SBC ) and around the world.

---

Contents/ Masthead / Why We're Here / Links / Archive / E-mail us/ SUBSCRIBE!/ Signup for FirstLook