Rebuilding Relationships at ReChurch

As a student at North Central University in Minneapolis, Chuchi Xiong’s goal was to plant a church focused on ministering to people who have left church or even abandoned belief in God. In early 2024, Xiong and his wife, Sheng Vang Xiong, began actively reaching out to those people by planting ReChurch MN in Brooklyn Center, a community in the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area.

Xiong, 31, was born to Hmong parents who immigrated to the U.S. after spending time in refugee camps following the Vietnam War. The family converted to Christianity after faith-based groups assisted with resettlement in California, and Xiong and his family moved around before eventually resettling in Minnesota when Xiong was in high school. The Twin Cities now have the largest Hmong population in the U.S.—approximately 100,000.

Xiong, whose story was shared in a 2023 AG News article, began ministerial studies in 2012, but hit “pause” when his mother experienced health issues. He married Sheng, whom he met at church, and they now have four children.

Following God’s prompting to resume his education, he completed a pastoral studies degree in early 2023.

While attending college, supporting his family through various jobs, and serving as an associate pastor, Xiong felt burdened for people who have left church or the Christian faith. While many he has observed leaving the church or abandoning their faith have been Hmong, the situation is not limited to particular cultures or demographics.  

Xiong says those he talks with comprise three general categories: Those who still love God but don’t love the Church, thus don’t want to attend church; those who don’t have a relationship with God anymore and don’t go to church; and those who love God and are comfortable with small groups of Christians, but have a hard time with the corporate church; some attend smaller gatherings but not regular services.

Those who say they love God but not the Church come from various situations, a majority citing misuse of spiritual authority by leadership or influential church members. For example, a female ReChurch member was away from church for over 10 years, except for special occasions, citing hurtful words by leaders during a youth gathering that left her feeling condemned, although she still loved the Lord.

Another ReChurch member, Chueyee, found it difficult growing up in a Hmong church that did not actively promote spiritual growth in their youth. Chueyee, a school friend of Xiong, knew God wanted him to persevere, but grew tired of finding his own ways to grow spiritually. The situation came to a head when his parents divorced.

His father had served in ministry and even encouraged Chueyee’s gift of worship and music, but the divorce led Chueyee to question his spiritual foundation. Reconnecting with his school friend, Chuchi Xiong, at a different church led to involvement at ReChurch, which he says has been a safe space to process his feelings.

Chueyee now plays guitar and sings on the worship team, saying, “I realize when I play and sing, I can help create that atmosphere for God to move.”

Xiong is particularly saddened by people who invested in his own spiritual journey but are no longer active in church or following Christ.

“Nobody reached out,” shared one friend. “People said things like ‘Oh, you just need more faith,’ but there was no space for questions.” The Holy Spirit began to remind Xiong that such people are still included in the Great Commission. When a mentor asked him, “If you could preach just one message for the rest of your life, what would it be?” Chuchi’s answer was, “It is never too late to restart with God.”

As the Xiongs began developing a ministry plan, they knew a typical church model would likely be unsuccessful due to the number of people who have felt hurt by the Church. To provide teaching for spiritual growth, the ReChurch core team of 12 families facilitates Sunday services at Brooklyn Center Elementary School, including praise and worship, a sermon, and children’s and youth ministry, but the primary focus is on building relationships.

Xiong shared his vision with Teng Vu, a pastor who leads the Hmong Assemblies of God Fellowship. Teng also serves as pastor at Life in Christ Church in the nearby Maplewood community, which agreed to be a parent church for ReChurch.

Teng says he has seen “church hurt” both in general and in the Hmong context, and was willing to help. Cultural and ethnic traditions, practices, values, and priorities have been a source of conflict and misunderstandings, leading to disappointment or disengagement with Hmong churches.

Teng also shares that this parent church relationship was a big step for the Life in Christ congregation, because Hmong churches have typically planted other Hmong churches while ReChurch is intentionally multiethnic.

“We are learning to widen the tent,” says Teng. “Every church has a unique culture, ethnic or otherwise; and we must look for ways to address church hurt and questions among those we are positioned to reach.”

Jarvis Glanzer, pastor of Watermark Church in Stillwater, Minnesota, and a member of the district’s Church Multiplication Network team, has also been a key part of the ReChurch planting journey.

Watermark Church has assisted with practicalities such as location and budget, and Glanzer is a mentor to Xiong and an occasional guest speaker at ReChurch.

“Their launch team is relationship-driven,” he says. “The congregation is demographically diverse even though several leaders are Hmong background, and I’m seeing real connections in the community as they value people, not just numerical growth.”

In addition to people questioning or hurt in the Christian context, Xiong encounters some from other religions such as Shamanism or Buddhism. This is a major life change and takes time. He states one friend in Shamanism began asking questions about God just last year, after over nine years of fellowship and conversation.

“It’s important not to be the friend who just wants to get you involved in their multilevel business,” jokes Xiong. “Just set the table, so they can eventually dine with the Master.” He believes people not in the habit of attending church will almost always respond to genuine interest in their stories.

To create opportunities for conversation, the ReChurch team is actively plugged into community events such as a recent health fair, offering a safe space for people to stop and talk. They also host a women’s night, a men’s night, and spontaneous events, such as basketball. The church has grown primarily by word of mouth, as people realize team members really do care and listen.

ReChurch MN also maintains an active social media presence and an informative website answering potential visitor questions.

Similar to the men in the New Testament who brought their paralyzed friend to Jesus, ReChurch hopes to reach people who can’t bring themselves to approach, or reapproach, God on their own.

“Our mission is to create a listening space, a healthy place where people feel at home as they process questions,” says Xiong. “Everyone has a story, but not everyone has someone to tell it to.”

Cynthia J Thomas

Cynthia J. Thomas worked for Assemblies of God U.S. Missions for six years before becoming primary caregiver for her father, a World War II veteran. She has served as a counselor for victims of domestic violence and women facing crisis pregnancies. Cindy and her husband, Phil, a schoolteacher, volunteer in youth outreach and have three adult children and one granddaughter.