Copyright © 2016 Lou Yang Cha All rights reserved. The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary has permission to reproduce and disseminate this document in any form by any means for purposes chosen by the Seminary, including, without limitation, preservation or instruction. FAMILY MINISTRY PERCEPTIONS AND PRACTICES IN HMONG CHRISTIAN AND MISSIONARY ALLIANCE CHURCHES: A MULTIPLE-CASE STUDY A Dissertation Presented to the Faculty of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy by Lou Yang Cha May 2016 APPROVAL SHEET FAMILY MINISTRY PERCEPTIONS AND PRACTICES IN HMONG CHRISTIAN AND MISSIONARY ALLIANCE CHURCHES: A MULTIPLE-CASE STUDY Lou Yang Cha Read and Approved by: __________________________________________ Timothy Paul Jones (Chair) __________________________________________ Shane W. Parker __________________________________________ M. David Sills Date______________________________ All praise and glory be to God in Christ, the Author and Perfecter of His everlasting kingdom, the Savior and Redeemer of all nations and peoples, and the Sovereign LORD over all creation. TABLE OF CONTENTS Page LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS ........................................................................................... vii LIST OF TABLES ......................................................................................................... viii LIST OF FIGURES .......................................................................................................... ix PREFACE .......................................................................................................................... x Chapter 1. INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................................1 Research Concern: The Hmong Church ............................................................8 Research Gap ....................................................................................................32 Research Concern..............................................................................................35 Purpose Statement .............................................................................................35 Delimitations of Proposed Research .................................................................36 Procedural Overview .........................................................................................36 Significance of Study ........................................................................................42 Research Assumptions ......................................................................................42 Limitations of Generalization of Research Findings ........................................43 Driving Force behind Research .........................................................................43 Organization of the Remaining Chapters ..........................................................44 iv Chapter Page 2. TEXTUAL ANALYSIS .........................................................................................45 The Layers of Human Culture...........................................................................45 Overview of Hmong Culture .............................................................................49 Hmong Religious Beliefs ..................................................................................58 Traditional Religious Practices .........................................................................78 Traditional Religious Education of Children ....................................................95 Hmong Christian Conversion ..........................................................................106 Formation of the Hmong Church ....................................................................112 Christian Education Practices .........................................................................114 Christian Education of Children......................................................................131 Paradigm Shifts in Christian Education ..........................................................137 Contemporary Hmong C&MA Churches .......................................................141 3. METHODOLOGY ..............................................................................................142 Research Questions .........................................................................................142 Research Design ..............................................................................................142 Data Collection................................................................................................146 Data Analysis ..................................................................................................152 Research Protocol............................................................................................154 4. DATA ANALYSIS REPORTS ...........................................................................155 Case Study 1 Report ........................................................................................156 Case Study 2 Report ........................................................................................172 Case Study 3 Report ........................................................................................191 Cross-Case Analysis .......................................................................................216 v Chapter Page 5. CROSS-CASE CONCLUSIONS ........................................................................228 Contextualized Family Ministry .....................................................................232 Recommendations for Future Research ..........................................................243 Conclusion ......................................................................................................245 Appendix 1. CASE STUDY CHART ......................................................................................248 2. INTERVIEW INSTRUMENT ............................................................................252 BIBLIOGRAPHY………………………………………………………………………257 vi LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS AM Alliance Men AW Alliance Women AYF Alliance Youth Fellowship C&MA Christian and Missionary Alliance CIA Central Intelligence Agency CIM China Inland Mission CS1 Case Study 1 CS2 Case Study 2 CS3 Case Study 3 GCW Great Commission Women HND Hmong National Development, Inc. LEC Lao Evangelical Church OMF Overseas Missionary Fellowship RPA Romanized Popular Alphabet VBS Vacation Bible School WMPF Women’s Missionary Prayer Fellowship vii LIST OF TABLES Table Page 1. Growth of the Christian church. 5 2. Religious education of children. 140 3. Stratified random sampling . .. .. 144 A1. Case study cross comparison chart . 248 viii LIST OF FIGURES Figure Page 1. Hmong church on the margins . 31 2. Three layers of culture . .. 50 3. Hmong cosmology: Journey of the immortal souls . 53 4. Circles of Hmong religious education. 96 5. Circles of Hmong religious instructors . 99 6. Instructors of Christian education in early Hmong church . 133 7. Segmented Christian education ministries. 136 ix PREFACE My interest in this research topic stems from God’s great story of redemption, the faith story of all ethnic peoples, and the contemporary challenges which churches face in regards to the Gospel, ethnic culture, and Christian life and ministry. I give praise to God for His great mercy and grace upon the Hmong people; that He has proclaimed His Gospel of salvation to the Hmong, and He has invited and called the Hmong to sit at His communion table, to be adopted as His royal sons and daughters, to be part of His redemptive mission in the world, and to inherit His eternal kingdom. I am grateful to Dr. Timothy Jones, Dr. Shane W. Parker, Dr. M. David Sills, Dr. Jerry Soung, Dr. Lantzia Thao, the Hmong District of the C&MA, and the Hmong churches who have assisted me with this research project. May this research serve as a catalyst for on-going discussion about contextualized family ministry within our diverse ethne-cultural families and churches so that we can disciple the next generations to know, love, worship, serve, and share the gospel of Jesus Christ to the nations. Lou Y. Cha Cincinnati, OH May 2016 x CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION Through His Word, His creation, and His people, the LORD has progressively declared to all nations and to every generation that He is the one and only true God (Jer 10:10; John 17:3; 1 Thess 1:9). The LORD is the living God (Deut 5:26; Josh 3:10; Ps 42:2). He is the Almighty Creator of the heavens and the earth (Gen 1:1-25; Isa 40:28), and the Maker of peoples, tribes, languages, and nations (Gen 1:26-28, 5:1-2; 10:5, 20, 32; 11:5-9; Isa 42:5) in His image and in His likeness (Gen 1:27; 9:6). He is the holy (Lev 11:45; 20:7), just (Deut 32:4), and righteous LORD who sanctifies His people (Exod 31:13; Lev 20:8). He is the faithful and compassionate Savior of all humanity (1 Tim 4:10): who sees (Gen 16:13); who hears the cries of the righteous (Ps 34:17; Prov 15:29); who draws near to those who call upon His name (Pss 34:18; 145:18); who delivers (2 Sam 22:2; Ps 18:2), provides (Gen 22:14), and dwells among His people (Gen 3:8; Exod 25:8; 2 Chr 15; Rev 21:3); and who judges the righteous and the unrighteous (Eccl 3:17; Rev 20:11-13). Besides Him, there is no other god (Isa 45:5-6; 45:21-22; Joel 2:27). Therefore, the LORD will not share His glory with another: “I am the LORD, that is My name; I will not give My glory