The Ministry to the Vietnamese at Christ the Lord: A Worthwhile Endeavor

Abstract

Jonathan Bourman’s essay chronicles the cross-cultural ministry to Vietnamese immigrants at Christ the Lord Lutheran Church in Houston, led by Pastor James Bourman from 1995 to 2002. Responding to demographic shifts in the Alief area, the congregation launched outreach efforts supported by the WELS Board for Home Missions. Pastor Bourman, trained in Southeast Asian ministry, built relationships through ESL classes, Bible studies, and acts of kindness. The ministry evolved from an integrative model to a culturally distinct Vietnamese mission, resulting in over 300 meaningful contacts and 18 baptisms. Despite challenges in integration and funding, the mission bore fruit through persistent evangelism and spiritual parenting. After synodical support ended, lay leaders continued the work. Bourman concludes that the ministry, though short-lived, was deeply impactful and spiritually worthwhile—demonstrating that teaching about Jesus transcends cultural barriers and remains a vital endeavor. —Abstract prepared by Microsoft Copilot (GPT-4)