Asian Camp

The United Methodist Church Asian American Summer Camp, in its 45 year history of empowering and inspirational ministry, has developed a reputation amongst its participants as a family-like community, yielding lifelong relationships and faithful servants of God.

Our Mission Statement

Asian American Summer Camp (AC) is a Christian youth camp sponsored by the National Japanese American United Methodist Caucus (NJAUMC) for all youth entering 10th grade to sophomores in college in the Fall of 2019. In its 45 year history of empowering and inspirational ministry, Asian Camp has developed a reputation amongst it’s participants as a family-like community, yielding lifelong relationships and faithful servants of God.

The mission of “Asian Camp” is to reach out to youth and young adults in our Asian American churches and communities, in effort to lead them toward a closer relationship with Christ. Through worship, fellowship, prayer, growth groups, community builders, and other outdoor activities, Asian Camp encourages campers, as well as staff, to explore their faiths, reflect on their personal identities, and use their spiritual gifts for God’s glory. With special focus on equipping for the future, Asian Camp seeks to instill pride in each camper’s spiritual, cultural, and ethnic identity.

A hallmark of Asian Camp that sets it apart from other Christian summer camps is a tradition of creating its own programming, with inclusion of activities that focus on our Asian heritages and social justice issues relevant to today’s youth. With every aspect of programming, Asian Camp aims to foster an atmosphere of love and acceptance, where youth feel secure in their personal identities, but are still challenged to be all that God has created them to be. Within this context, our intent is to create life-affirming experiences that will root Asian Camp participants in understanding of their relationships with God and their identity.

NJAUMC Camps are going virtual this summer due to COVID-19 Pandemic.

More information on this decision can be found on the homepage.

Meet The Directors

Danielle Suhr

Danielle is from Faith UMC and has enjoyed counseling Asian Camp for the past two years. She is a recent graduate of the University of Washington where she received her BA in Sociology. She is currently applying to graduate school programs in California where she hopes to pursue an MA in School Counseling. Through attending NJAUMC camps as a youth, she was able to connect with friends at Blaine Memorial UMC where she helps lead the youth group. Camp has created many fond memories for her and has provided many valuable moments of personal growth. She is very excited for her first year directing and is ready to grow her faith with God. Woohoo Jesus!

Romans 12:6-9

We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.

Toby Suhr

Toby grew up at Faith UMC in Torrance, where he was a member of their youth group and worship team. He now attends Aldersgate UMC in Tustin, CA. He has really been blessed during his time attending both of the NJAUMC camps, JHC and AC, as a camper and as a counselor. He is currently studying Education, Society, and Human Development at UC Riverside. He is also an active member of UCR's Asian American Christian Fellowship, and serves on AACF's leadership team. His walk with God has been shaped by the many different ways he has been able to experience God's presence in his life. Whether that be through Church, NJAUMC camps, or his college fellowship, Toby has been able to grow in his faith from each of these experiences. He looks forward to directing for the first time this year, and hopes he can help campers deepen their relationship with Christ, just as his directors helped him do the same when he was a camper.

Favorite Bible Verse- Isaiah 12:2

“Behold, God is my salvation;

I will trust, and will not be afraid;

for the Lord God is my strength and my song,

and he has become my salvation”

Lawrence Paltep

Lawrence Paltep is currently co-directing the youth group at Blaine Memorial United Methodist Church. He has counseled in Asian Camp for 2 years and led in Christmas Institute PNW (winter camp) for 7 years. He graduated from Seattle University in 2019 with a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering with Environmental specialization. He is excited to be part of the director team for Asian Camp this year because he knows and witnessed the growth and transformative spirit that works in this space. He is determined to grow in faith with the people around him through this experience.

Philippians 4:8

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-think about such things.