Monday, 4 February 2008

Salem Church to ordain Asian pastor

By Carole Johnston

DAKOTA CITY -- "Come and see!" Soriya Roeun heard these three words every Sunday morning from his wife. But he preferred to stay home and watch TV. So Kay Roeun took his three children and went to church without him.

DAKOTA CITY -- "Come and see!" Soriya Roeun heard these three words every Sunday morning from his wife. But he preferred to stay home and watch TV. So Kay Roeun took his three children and went to church without him.

It took 20 years, but the native of Cambodia, joined his wife Kay in the new faith called Christianity in 1997. Then he was the one going out in the community knocking on doors and saying, "Come and see, come and see!"

Up until now the response to his call to come to church has often been met with suspicion and questions. He seemed to be an ordinary man with no authority and no credentials.

That is all changing at 3 p.m. Feb. 9 when Roeun will be ordained as a pastor of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

The service will be at Salem Lutheran Church at Dakota City where Roeun has been an active participant in the church's Asian ministry.

A former pastor of the rural church, the Rev. Nathan Houfek, who was involved in the Asian ministry, will deliver the message.

At 11:30 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 10, Roeun will be installed during the Asian worship service at the Salem Lutheran Church, one of 10,700 congregations in the ELCA.

That number will be increased by one on that date as a new church called the United Asian Evangelical Lutheran Church will be formed at Roeun's installation.

The church will be housed in the Salem church but will operate separately.

From the time the Asian ministry began in 1997 until now, both communities were considered one church. But church officials found that establishing a new church and giving the new pastor mission developer status would generate more resources from the Lutheran church.

Roeun is ready to take on the responsibility of his own church."I am so happy. My dream has come true.

The yoke is on my neck and I am ready to go. Now they will listen to me and God is behind me."Completing a Lutheran program called TEEM (Theological Education for Emerging Ministry) brought Roeun's dream of sharing God's love to reality.

Through the program at Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary in Berkley, Calif., he completed the same requirements to be ordained as other Lutheran pastors.

"It took me four years, but it took Moses 40," says Roeun of the normally three-year program. "Through TEEM I feel like Jesus is calling fishermen again, calling people with no high school or college degrees to work for him."

"To complete the program was hard for him. He is a quiet man and there is a language barrier. But he has a deep love for the people of Cambodia.

I really questioned it at first, but then I realized he was supposed to do it," says the Rev. Karen Kaye, pastor of Salem Lutheran Church since 1999.

The whole church pitched in to help financially and through volunteer tutors who helped him with the English language and his studies.

The tutors will play a part in his installation service."They prayerfully wrapped arms around him.

They were a team of eight to 10 people supporting him," says Kaye. "This is the first time we have ordained someone into the ministry from our own church."As a pastor, the South Sioux City man has more in mind than worship, teaching and preaching.

The former Buddhist explained that in his home country, people didn't help others outside the family and culture.

He wants to show to others the love he has received from God and the church."I am thankful for Salem and all the support with all my heart.

I don't know how to pay them back. I am asking God to pay them," says Roeun.During the week he will be an outreach worker helping individuals with whatever difficulties they may have.

"I'll be telling people to come, worship and love each other and solve problems," says Roeun, who has been active in the Asian ministry at Salem since his conversion to Christianity.

"He has the gifts to fill the role that a traditional pastor would not. There's a trust level and people relate to him. They feel God's love through Soriya," says Kaye.

Roeun knows he can depend on his wife, Kay, for much help and support to face challenges along the way.

One challenge is to increase attendance in the church of 18 to 20 people. Another is teaching the basics of a new religion, for instance, learning to use the hymnal and basic worship styles.

For the times his new ministry seems overwhelming, Roeun knows he can rely on God and especially on John 3:16, his favorite verse.

"We will keep our focus on God and love one another," he says.

The new church meets on Sunday mornings from 10:15 to 11 for Bible study.

The worship service in Cambodian and Laotian is from 11:30 to 12:30, followed immediately by an English language class. Since they know English, Asian children have Sunday school with the Salem Church. Asian potlucks are held every other month.

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