Larry Schlomer, administrator for WELS World Missions, shares an update on the mission work in Vietnam

It has been 14 years since Hmong church leaders in Vietnam invited WELS to train their pastors in the truth of the gospel. It has been seven years since the communist government in Vietnam invited WELS to build a theological education center in Hanoi. From the very beginning, we knew that the Lord had opened a door to reach the more than two million Hmong people who live in Vietnam and the surrounding countries. We also knew that this door could close at any time. WELS World Missions worked quickly to ensure WELS took advantage of the time the Lord had provided.

With the generosity of faithful donors, we built a sturdy building—complete with classrooms, sleeping quarters, and a kitchen—meant to house 60 students at a time and train pastors for Christ’s service. Almost two years ago at the dedication, it stood ready, a beacon of hope, but government regulations have kept us from using it for now. The paperwork continues, and the delay has a story of its own. A local church body that once supported us began demanding practices contrary to Scripture—insisting we stop baptizing babies and allow non-Lutheran teachers to train our pastors. In a Martin Luther-esque stand, the Hmong Fellowship Church, our partner church in Vietnam, broke away, choosing faithfulness over compromise. Since then, it has lost government recognition, which has slowed the process for gaining occupancy of the theological education center. We trust that access could come any day, because God’s timing is not ours.

Some might see this as a delay, a plan stalled, but God has provided paths we never expected. Since we began, the Hmong Fellowship Church has grown to over 160,000 souls hungry for the Word. Fifty-five pastors have been trained—not in that building but in rented spaces and internet classrooms. Another 120 seminary-level students are studying now, their hearts set on preaching the gospel. Catechism classes echo through every congregation in a rural training program developed by WELS missionaries and now supported by 12 fully trained Hmong pastors. This flock proudly calls itself Lutheran, not because of a building but because of the truth it has learned through WELS training.

These twists and turns and extra red tape have given us more time—time to train, time to grow, and time to stand firm without interference. We thought we needed that building. God knew we needed him—and him alone.

Author: Larry Schlomer
Volume 112, Number 05
Issue: May 2025