Thursday was an historic day for Preacher Cham and Soc Ung Church, a church of the Stieng tribe people, and for Living Word Lutheran Church Milbank, SD. Why??

ALWM’s ministry model focuses on partnership with indigenous leaders to impact the “least reached” with the Gospel. That includes everything from prayer and encouragement, mentoring, ministry tools like bibles, leadership training, water filtration systems, financial support and much more. Sometimes it’s prayerfully providing something large and essential: like a new church building for a rapidly growing congregation! We have the joy of becoming a tool to bring together needs and resources by the Grace of God! That’s what happened in 2019 at Soc Ung Church, 3 hours northwest of Ho Chi Minh City!

The Stieng tribe, an ethnic minority living along both sides of the Cambodia / Vietnam border, was unreached with the Gospel until around 1990. ALWM and our Vital Links ministry have had a small role in recent years in assisting Stieng Churches through our medical / evangelism outreaches in their “mother church” in Cay Truong.

In our first visit in 2018 after Vital links joined with ALWM, we heard one of the Stieng churches needed a new, permanent building because of their growth! That fall the Lord provided the $25000 needed to build from a generous rural congregation with a big heart, setting the stage for today, Thursday, June 13!

Our team members Sue and Vicki (pictured above with Preacher Cham, leader of Soc Ung Church) are from Living Word Lutheran Church in Milbank, SD. In 2019 LWLC generously funded the construction of a new church building for Soc Ung Church, and for the first time leaders of the two churches were able to meet together in person! It was a very special time of prayer, expressions of thankfulness on both sides, and sharing about the ministry as we all toured the building. It was an unforgettable day for each of us!