Ria was born and raised in St. Paul, MN. He came from a family that practiced Shamanism. As a kid, he went to a church program called Kids Connection once a week. He used to go for cookies and juice. But eventually, all those songs and lessons about God impacted his life.

 

As a teenager, he studied the Bible with pastor Steve Countryman. Then, after months of Bible study together, he decided to accept Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior and get baptized.

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He is married to Pang Her and has four children (Ci Ntsa, Chivkeeb, Hnub Txhis, Huab Kaj). He enjoys playing volleyball, football, and video games during his leisure time.

 

 

 

Sen was born in Saint Paul, MN, the 5th child of nine in a huge, broken family. He was introduced to God due to passionate Woodbury Church of Christ members. They wanted to minister to people in the inner city and spread the gospel of its salvation to God’s children. At first, it was all just games and something to do. Then, it eventually became life and a way of living. He gave his life to Christ at nine and has never turned back since.

 

He is married to Bai Thao Chang, and they have two boys, Charlie and Chase. Sen has been a Firefighter Paramedic for Saint Paul since 2019. He loves working and serving the community. He also enjoys being outdoors and playing sports.

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Bowbye was born in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, and raised in Minnesota in a family where she is both the youngest and a middle child. At the age of 19, she gave her life to Christ after a campus ministry staff shared the gospel with her. Through that encounter, she took a step of faith to be discipled, which deeply shaped the beginning of her journey with Jesus.

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In the early years of her faith, Bowbye had opportunities to share the gospel and witness others come to know Christ. During a Summer Mission, she experienced the wonder of God in a deeper way and began to understand what it means to be fully known and loved by Him.

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Today, she continues to learn what it means to faithfully steward her identity as a Hmong American woman while following Jesus. One of her greatest joys is witnessing to others and seeing lives transformed by Christ. She serves as the Secretary, supporting the ministry through administration, communication, and the operations of the church. She finds joy in helping create spaces and opportunities where people can come to know Christ.

 

Psalm 116:5–9

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Gracious is the Lord, and righteous;
our God is merciful.
The Lord preserves the simple;
when I was brought low, he saved me.
Return, O my soul, to your rest,
for the Lord has dealt bountifully with you.
For you have delivered my soul from death,
my eyes from tears,
my feet from stumbling;
I will walk before the Lord
in the land of the living.

 

 

 

Susan joined LHCC in June 2024 and continues to grow in her walk with Christ. Though she has known faith since childhood, she has always felt a gentle calling drawing her back to God. She eventually chose to be baptized in 2024, publicly committing her life to Jesus and embracing a journey of love, faith, and hope—one that includes learning, stumbling, and rising again by God’s grace.

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She is married to Dewey Lor, and have four children together.  She strives to walk in humility, love others well, and trust that God is shaping her—mistakes and all—into who He has called her to be.

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John 15:12, “Love one another as I have loved you,” and Proverbs 3:5, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.” 

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Kai was born in Chiang Kham refugee camp in Thailand and immigrated to the US when he was only one year old. Kai has lived in Minnesota his whole life. Kai likes to do outdoors activities like fishing and camping. He also enjoy family gatherings and loves his nieces and nephews.

Kai is the 7th child in a family of 10 siblings. One of his favorite bible verse is Psalm 1:1-6.

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Psalm 1:1-6​

1 Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers;

2 but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.

3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruits in the seaon, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.

4 The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away.

5 There fore the wicked will not stand in the judgement, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;

6 for the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.

 

 

 

 

For the past 25 years, Teresa has faithfully served in a variety of roles within the church. Her greatest joy has been leading and ministering to women, children, and youth. Her journey of faith began with the Bus Ministry of Immanuel Baptist Church in Menomonie, Wisconsin—a ministry she is deeply grateful for, as it introduced her to the love of Christ. At the age of 13, she accepted Jesus as her Savior and was baptized at 15.

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By 18, she began serving alongside her husband, Dr. Solomon Txooj Xyoob Her, at Hmong Christian Church in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, where God began shaping her character through ministry. Over the years, Teresa has continued to grow in faith and spiritual maturity, with a heart to help transform broken generations—like her own—by leading them to pursue Jesus Christ above all else.

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She is passionate about guiding the next generation to know Christ, believing that young disciples are vital to keeping churches alive and thriving. With God as her foundation, she also feels called to encourage women who face the daily challenges of balancing many roles in life.

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Teresa is married to Living Hope’s Lead Pastor, Dr. Solomon Txooj Xyoob Her. Together, they are blessed with six children: Isaiah, Rachael, Jacqueline, James, Charlene & Grace.  She is also a caretaker of her nearly 100-year-old mother-in-law.  Teresa enjoys her daily cup of coffee, and in her free time, she loves reading, soaking in the sun, and listening to calming music.

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It would be her joy and honor to be the first to welcome you to Living Hope!

 

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Charlene serves on the church’s leadership team as the Worship Leader, bringing a heart for authentic, Spirit-led worship and a deep love for the local church. With a passion for glorifying God through music, she is committed to creating worship experiences that invite the congregation into God’s presence and encourage meaningful engagement with Him.

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In this role, Charlene leads and develops the worship ministry, working closely with musicians, vocalists, and leaders to cultivate both musical excellence and spiritual growth. She believes worship is more than music—it is a lifestyle rooted in humility, unity, and service, and seeks to build a worship culture that reflects the heart of Christ led by the Holy Spirit.

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Having been shaped by the life of the church, Charlene views worship as both a personal journey and a communal calling. Her heart for worship is deeply connected to her care for people, believing that worship should serve the congregation rather than draw attention to the platform. As part of the leadership team, she sees worship leadership as a continual process of growth, formation, and faithfulness, shaped over time through both joy and surrender.

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Looking ahead, Charlene remains hopeful and expectant for the ways God will continue to shape the church in the seasons to come. Ready to move forward together, she is committed to growing alongside the church, investing in others, and faithfully stewarding the worship ministry, trusting God to use worship as a tool to deepen faith and draw people closer to Himself.

 

 

 

Pang was born and raised in Basehor, Kansas. She is the youngest of 10 kids and is the only daughter. She became a third-generation Christian at the age of 16, when she was baptized at Standing Stones Youth Camp in 2008.

 

With the loss of her father at age 12, she longed for the guidance and presence only a father could give. Attending church regularly growing up and being involved with the worship team has given her hope that there is a Father in Heaven who will take care of her. Pang is happily married to Ria Vang and has four amazing children.

 

 

 

God can do wonders with just some juice and cookies. I was lost then I was found. I'm just a boy who found Jesus and not religion.

 

Psalm 119:11 I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.

 

Joshua 24:15 And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.

 

Psalm 116:15 Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.

 

 

 

 

Bai is blessed to call Sen Chang her Husband, and together they've been gifted three precious sons. As a family, their passionate about creating memories on nature walks, beach trips, and zoo adventures. When there are breaks in Her day, She likes to play board games, watch a movie, and or find something to do with the family. 

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Born into a family of eight siblings, She grew up attending church with Her parents, but it wasn't until She attended Saint Paul Urban Ministry's Youth Program where Her faith journey truly began.

 

The unconditional love and kindness She experienced from the community led Her to seek a deeper relationship with God. This journey allowed Her to explore Her faith in a safe space where She can dare to ask questions without judgement.

 

Eventually, She came to accept His love and grace and symbolized Her commitment to Her new found faith through baptism in a bath tub at a Girl's Retreat.