People Groups in the U.S.

The landscape of the United States of America is incredibly diverse. People groups from every nation around the world populate our cities and towns. Many are first generation. Others are second and third generation, who now speak English and are becoming assimilated into a more dominant culture.

From its inception, Converge has been an immigrant people with a big heart for the multicultural peoples who live in our nation. Our early history has helped pioneer a strong and passionate movement to continue to reach the diverse people and cultural groups living in the United States.  Converge is reaching out and folding many cultural groups into our family. Church planting and leadership development among cultural groups remains a strong focus.  In turn, this focus will also help us shape our global mission efforts as we seek to reach people groups for Jesus around the world.

Specific cultural groups with active ministry efforts within our movement include:

  • Latino: By the year 2050, Hispanics will comprise 30% of the population of the United States. How are you preparing to reach this rapidly growing group of people? Converge is developing a plan through the Latino Think Tank, a group of leaders with a vision and passion to create a movement of Latino reaching ministries. We also have missionaries planting Latino reaching churches in the U.S.
  • Filipino: Ric Doguiles is the national coordinator for our Filipino group and a leadership team of Filipino leaders has been developed to address the special needs among this people group.
  • Haitian: Of the many people groups in the U.S., Haitians in particular are focused on reaching out to their home country. Our partnerships with Haitian churches in the U.S. lend themselves to partnerships with churches in Haiti and to humanitarian projects, such as the 1 by 1 Haiti child sponsorship campaign.  Missionaries are also engaged to make difference in the U.S. and in Haiti.
  • Vietnamese: A leadership team to develop ministry efforts among the Vietnamese living in the U.S. has been established. Tu Truong is working as the national coordinator for the Vietnamese group.
  • Arab & Muslim Background: Our missionaries are at work among this growing population in the U.S.  
  • Brazilian: Church planting among Brazilians and Portuguese speakers is growing though the work of our intercultural missionaries.
  • Japanese: National coordinators, Ken and Debbie Milhous are involved in evangelizing and discipling Japanese in the U.S. through their church in Boston and through the Converge Japanese Leadership Team.  Ken also serves as Converge ReTool Specialist for Japanese churches in the U.S. and Japan. A leadership team has been established to develop ministry among Japanese.

Other intercultural ministries include:

  • International Students: International Students Incorporated (ISI) is a Christian ministry that befriends international college students who study here in the US. Their vision is to see every international student befriended, led to a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, and discipled for His service. They are experts at training and helping the local church get connected with international students. They will provide you with everything you need, including personalized training and specialized materials, if you are interested in participating in this strategic outreach. Please visit www.isionline.org for more information.
  • Inner City Ministries: Missionaries are at work in the inner city, networking and resourcing ministries reaching out to the diverse city center.
  • People Group Church Planting: Planting churches targeting a specific people group is another strategy we employ to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ.

For more information on ministry among cultural groups in the United States, email Intercultural Ministries.

Cirilo Doguiles leads our Intercultural Ministries office as executive director.