LCMS Board of Directors chairman meets with LCHKS president in Hong Kong

The Rev. Dr. Allan Yung, president of The Lutheran Church—Hong Kong Synod, and Christian Preus, chairman of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod Board of Directors, met in Hong Kong on Sept. 12. (Photo courtesy of Christian Preus)

By Cheryl Magness

On Sept. 12, the Rev. Dr. Allan Yung, president of The Lutheran Church—Hong Kong Synod (LCHKS), met informally in his office with Christian Preus, chairman of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) Board of Directors. Yung is serving his 10th term as LCHKS president after being re-elected to his position during the General Conference of the LCHKS on April 27, 2024. He is one of the longest-serving presidents of any Lutheran church body in the world.

LCHKS has been a partner church of the LCMS since 1949. It is also a member of the International Lutheran Council, an association of confessional Lutheran church bodies around the world. LCHKS traces its roots to the early 1900s, when the LCMS first sent missionaries to China. The LCMS began actively working in Hong Kong in 1949, shortly after the formation of the People’s Republic of China, and continues to partner with LCHKS to proclaim the Gospel throughout the greater China region. Currently, there are 36 LCHKS churches with approximately 8,000 members; 45 schools comprising more than 1,000 staff members and 22,000 students; nine mission stations; and 43 social service units.

In an interview with Reporter after his visit with Yung, Preus said their time together included discussion of the continuing importance of the LCMS and LCHKS “working together and in coordination in the mission work of the respective church bodies as they share the Gospel of Jesus Christ.”

Preus said Yung also shared memories of some of Preus’ family members, including his uncle, the Rev. Dr. J.A.O. Preus II (1920–1994), who served as LCMS president 1969–1981; and his cousin, the Rev. Dr. J.A.O. Preus III (1953–2022), who served as president of Concordia University Irvine (CUI), Irvine, Calif., 1998–2009. While at CUI, J.A.O. Preus III worked to establish missionary and student exchange opportunities in China, Japan, Hong Kong, Korea, Taiwan and Thailand. From 2014 to 2019, he was the executive director of the Luther Institute in Southeast Asia, working in Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Myanmar and Indonesia.

Christian Preus said Yung spoke “very positively,” during their meeting, about past and ongoing work between the LCHKS and the LCMS’ Concordia universities. A recent example of this work includes a trip that students at Concordia University, Nebraska, Seward, Neb., took to Hong Kong. (Read more.)

Following the meeting, Yung said, “The LCHKS has been a partner church with the LCMS and has supported the work of the LCMS for decades. Indeed, it is important that the LCMS and LCHKS should work together to share the Gospel with more people.”

Preus agreed.

“It is always interesting to get the insight and thoughts of someone who has such long and involved history and experience with a growing church body that is particularly interested in Christian education. It was an honor and privilege to spend this time with President Yung,” Preus said.

Posted Sept. 24, 2025