Our Mission
The mission of the ministry is to serve those in need by providing food, clothing, medical care, and emotional support to the hungry, homeless, sick, elderly, widows and orphans. We strive to create a safe and nurturing environment for these individuals so that they can have access to the resources they need in order to lead healthy and productive lives. Our goal is not only to provide these individuals with basic necessities but also to empower them by giving them the tools they need for self-sufficiency. We believe that everyone should have an opportunity for a better life regardless of their current circumstances.
Is to do as Christ has instructed in Matthew 25:31-46: "to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, visit the sick, care for the needy, widows, and orphans, and to provide ministry and care unto even the least of these."
Our Vision
NC SOS ID: 2094754
503 (c) (3) Non-Profit Organization
Founder
My name is Ekong Seechang I was born in Namhta Laos. I was born in very poor family. My family farming to living. I have 2 brothers. The time I grown up in the village there were no Christians. My life was feeling empty. My father was an alcoholic who drank every day. When I grew up in Laos every New Year they drank heavily until they were drunk and because they did not have a Christian upbringing. During this time period they were also worshipping evil spirits by killing chicken as a sacrifice. An example would be to summon the spirits to come and heal a sick person after sacrificing the chicken for the spirit. We had to sacrifice every time someone was sick or something bad happened. If we didn’t have the chicken we would have to spend what money we had and if we didn’t have any then we had to borrow and beg.
On one of the New Year day, my father committed suicide by gun while drunk. I was about seven or eight years old at the time and it was traumatic. When he got drunk, he would look for me and say things like I will kill you. My mother would have to take me away to my relative’s house until the next day. I had to hide every time my father got drunk so I could stay alive. He would yell at my mother as well and abuse her.
After my father passed away. The Vietnam war started and they came to Laos to try to take over the country. When that happened, our family had to leave our villages and hide in the forest. We had to keep quiet everywhere we went and only traveled at night. One of the night we stumbled upon the Mikong River and we had to make shift a boat out of bamboo laying around to float across the big river to make across to the other country. When we were floating on the river my mother almost drowned, but by the grace of God we made it across. We made it to Thailand to get away form the incoming war.
When we got into Thailand we had very little food and were starving almost everyday without any money as well. We started to beg for food everywhere we went, but we only got a little to none to eat. Whatever we got we shared together. The Thai Army saw us begging for food and took us to a refuge camp since we were not citizens of the country and was running away from the war. We stayed in the refuge camp for many years and it was really strict. We could not leave the camp at all and it felt like jail. One day some US people that worked with Thai government came and gave everyone an opportunity to go to different countries like Austria, France, Canada, USA, etc… We had a choice on where to go so we decided to choose United States.
At this time we left the refuge camp and flew to Salt Lake City, Utah in the US around 1980. The Mormon people sponsored us and let us stay in their church. At this time we were still not Christians and didn’t know anything about the Bible. We had a hard time adjusting and communicating. Slowly we started to learn English from them through church classes. They started to help us find houses and jobs. We were very grateful.
One day my now husband Jaha came to Salt Lake City visiting his friends house and we met through mutual friends. He also has the same background as me and came form a refugee camp as well, but he was already a Christian through his sponsored family. This is when he introduced me to know more about the Bible and Jesus. He then lead me to be saved. This point on has been a blessing and gave me comfort from my past. I now have 4 children. Now looking forward I want to go back to Thailand, Laos, and surrounding countries in the West to do outreach ministries to people who do not know Christ. I want to help people and get them to know Christ and his wonderful blessings as he has blessed me and my family. I don’t want other people to suffer and do what my father did. I also want to help people in poverty.
PASTOR
"Hi, my name is Jaha Seechang. My family is from Southwest China-China to Burma, Burmato, Thailand. I came to know Jesus when I was young. I remember my father getting very sick with Malaria. The whole family was worried sick and scared he would not make it. I was praying hard that night to God to please heal my father. I put all my faith and trust in Him. The very next morning I surprised my father was completely healed. I said to Jesus, "Thank you, thank you."
From then on I became a true believer in Jesus and I got baptized. I learned from my mother how to pray. I grew up and went to school in Thailand. I came to USA with a relative and lived in Salt Lake City, Utah for awhile. I taught guitar lessons and worship songs there every night. The Lahu group began meeting in a Mormon Church in Salt Lake City. I met my wife at the Mormon Church here in Utah. An American Missionary family brought us to Bend, Oregon with them to learn more about the Bible.
As I stayed there, I learned English and the Bible at the same time. My wife was not a Christian yet. I started going to college in California, where we ended up next. I had my firstborn child then as well. I had two jobs at this time - teaching ESL Class at the college and Pastoring in a local church. In 1996, my family decided to move to North Carolina. My family was the first Lahu family to move to NC.
I have three boys and one girl. Two of my sons joined the Military, I graduated from Grace Bible College with a BA in Religious Education. In 2006, I received a Master's Degree in Theology and my Doctorate in Religious Education in 2007. My mother always said, "If you start something, finish it," and that's what I set my mind to.The Lahu Community wanted a church to gather and worship. We all prayed hoping to find the right church for us all. We visited Trinity Reformed United Church of Christ (TRUCC) and found everyone was so friendly and welcoming. We knew this was the right church. This church has helped us in so many ways. We are blessed to be part of TRUCC."
Address
502 Thornburg Dr NE
Conover, NC 28613
Contacts
828-381-1183
ilom@lahuoutreach.com
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International Lahu Outreach Ministries
501(c)(3) Non-Profit Organization