What is the vision of the Asian and Pacific Islander community of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America for the 21st century? Essentially our vision is to grow in strength for ministry, using God’s gifts of culture, language, and heritage to share God’s love in a multicultural world. Currently this involves emphases on congregational development, membership, leadership and resource development, social ministry, stewardship, and Asian homeland ministries.

People from Asian and Pacific Island heritages are a highly diverse population within the territory covered by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Some have lived in North America for several generations, while others have more recently arrived. In any case they share family histories of coming to this part of the world for many reasons, including:

• family reunification
• economic opportunities
• educational opportunities
• safety from persecution and violence
• dreams of a better life
• freedom from oppression
• transracial adoption.

(Excerpt from the Asian and Pacific Islander Ministry Strategy)