Former Buddhist leads Christian church in Elgin

When Siripong Leal left Thailand, he was a Buddhist.

He never imagined the future would find him heading a Christian ministry in the United States, as he does now.

But it's been four years since a group of Fox Valley Laotian and Thai Christians approached Leal and asked him to become their pastor.

He already had earned a master's degree in pastoral ministry from Georgia's Toccoa Falls College.

So after praying three months to determine if this was the right direction for him, Leal stepped up to the Laotian ministry that continues today in Elgin.

It's not a big ministry by the numbers, but it has a big impact on the 20 to 25 southeast Asians who meet weekly under the banner of Grace Evangelical Church.

The national languages of Laos and Thailand are closely related, so these Christians -- former Buddhists -- understand each other well.

But only some first generation immigrants speak English, and Grace's regular 9:15 a.m. service would be lost on the ones who don't.

So while English preaching and praises fill the sanctuary, Leal and his little flock worship in a nicely finished room in the basement.

The services are similar, he said.

The downstairs church happily uses Lao Bibles and hymnals -- but not so happily, they have no musical instruments.

"We've been praying many years that God sends someone to help us in the music area," Leal said.

He would love to have either piano or guitar to accompany the hymn singing.

Leal became a Christian in the early 1990s when he was studying computer programming at DeVry University.

He was lonely in those days, and "the only good friend I can find is in the church," he said.

That's when he started reading the Bible.

The U.S. was in economic recession, and Leal didn't think he'd be able to find employment.

So he prayed to a God he didn't yet know.

"If there really is a God," he said, "then help me. If you help me, I will walk to church. And then in the last semester at DeVry, first week I get the job," Leal recalled.

"Seem to be before all my friends. I get a good job, so I do what I say. Since then I still commit to God and growing each day and seem to gain more understanding each day."

Later, sensing God's call to the ministry, he and his Laotian wife, Seng, moved to Georgia for Bible school.

Leal believes he is called to help people know God better and help Asians get settled in their new country.

"We take care of each other," he said. "Sometimes it's hard to them to make a living over here, so we try to watch over each other and help and support. I think that's the key."

Ken Hinterlong, an American who lived in Thailand during his Peace Corps years, speaks both Thai and Lao and serves as co-worker in Grace's Laotian ministry.

Hinterlong helps bridge the communication gap and often accompanies Asian church members to doctor appointments or government offices.

"Thank God that we have Ken," Leal said.

"Even though we've been here a long time, there are still many things we don't understand."

The entire Grace fellowship also is supportive of the Lao and Thai among them, Leal said.

The language barrier limits interaction somewhat, but the English-speakers and Lao-speakers lunch together on occasion and take turns providing refreshments after Sunday services.

Once a month they also take communion together.

Leal and Hinterlong serve as elders at Grace.

"We're pretty excited that they are on our leadership team -- not just for their ministry, but for the whole church," said Pastor Dave Bohyer.

"That's one of our ways of making a statement and saying we believe in this and we think it's pretty important."

Although Leal currently volunteers as lay pastor of the Laotian ministry and works full-time elsewhere, Bohyer said Grace hopes to eventually get Leal on paid staff.

The Thai pastor sometimes preaches to the entire Grace community on Sundays or leads the congregation in prayer.

"His relationship with people here is very positive, and people respect him," Bohyer said.

"We are very thankful for him because he's so committed to this group of people. He has a regular job, and then this. He puts in a lot of hours in a given week," Bohyer said.

"He's a good guy, he's a good friend, and I appreciate him a lot."

If you'd like to get more information about the Laotian ministry, you can call the church office at (847) 742-6818.

Grace Evangelical Church is at 1800 Bowes Road in Elgin.