history
United Methodist Asian American Summer Camp will be celebrating 38 years of ministry to Asian American youth at Asian Camp 2012. Praise God for this wonderful blessing!
Begun in 1974 under the
direction of Rev. Peter Chen and Rev. Harry Marakami, the
impetus for the formation of Asian Camp was the realization
that the Asian American youth of our United Methodist
churches were not attending district and conference camps,
as they were finding that these camps did not meet their
needs or speak to their unique experiences as ethnic
minorities. Rev. Chen and Rev. Marakami went to the heart
of our Asian American United Methodist churches and
developed a camp that would speak to the youth right where
they were, but also challenged their faith so that they
might come to a deeper and more meaningful relationship with
Christ, seen through the eyes and felt in the heart and
known by the Spirit of the Asian American faith experience.
Throughout the years, the ministry of Asian Camp has touched and influenced the lives of a great many persons, with its emphasis on the development of spiritual maturity, self-worth and identity, learning to work with and interact with others from different backgrounds and experiences, and fostering an awareness of social dynamics and social justice issues. From our ministry has emerged many persons who have become excellent citizens and leaders in diverse fields of endeavor, who have also continued to shape the lives of our churches and our faith communities.
Today, the ministry of Asian Camp is more greatly needed than ever, for we are aware that our youth are seeking to find meaning, direction and wholeness at a time when they are receiving many mixed messages in their lives, In this Asian Camp seeks to give them hope and promise for today, and for their future. We believe in the ministry of Asian Camp, and believe that we can and will make a difference in the lives of our youth, enabling them, with God's help, to shape their tomorrows, so that they might be all that God has created them to be.
Please pray for us in our preparations, and pray for the success of our camp, that those who come to Asian Camp 2012 will be touched by the life-transforming love of Christ.