PUC Hosts West Coast Korean Camp Meeting

From July 19-26, over 1,000 people gathered at Pacific Union College for the West Coast Korean Camp Meeting, an event that has been held on campus for decades. An annual event hosted among the Korean-American Seventh-day Adventist Churches across the western states, with the support of the Southern California Conference, their theme this year was “Build Church - Building Faith, Family, and Church.” As they focused on the church they wanted to create for the future, the camp meeting was a great time for family, friends, and churches to come to one place and worship together.

As people arrived on Sunday, an opening ceremony kicked off the camp meeting that evening to welcome attendees who traveled near and far, with even some who traveled from Korea. After a performance from the adult choir to start the program, PUC President Ralph Trecartin also took the time to welcome visitors on campus before lectures and activities began.

“Korean Camp Meeting represents the pinnacle of energy on campus during the summer. It is so wonderful to see over 1,000 happy people creating memories and learning opportunities for this close-knit community of believers,” said Trecartin. “I love talking to the pastors and other leaders who plan the week. They have a phenomenal mission and track record of success.”

Seven programs in English and Korean were organized throughout the week to fit attendees of all ages, from children to adults. For the Korean ministries, President of the East Central Korean Conference Pastor Jung-Gon Kim led a morning prayer every day at 6 a.m. at Dauphinee Chapel. Afterward, a morning exercise was organized for attendees to join at the PUC Field before breakfast. The speakers for the Korean program were Pastor Sung-Keun Kwon, from the Loma Linda Korean SDA Church; Dr. Sang-Ik Cho, a medical and transplant researcher; and Pastor and President of Sahmyook Adventist University in Seoul, Sang Rae Kim.

Pastor Kwon led the morning lectures and started the week off by speaking about the light and darkness of the Christian life and seeking the life of Jesus, followed by a message from Dr. Sang-Ik Cho, who talked about God’s healing. Dr. Cho shared how he and his wife, Dr. HyungJung Cho, kept the Sabbath during medical school, and how Dr. HyungJung Cho almost did not take her medical boards since it was scheduled on a Saturday. Through diligent work and prayer, Sahmyook Adventist University moved the test to their campus on a Friday. Dr. Sang-Ik Cho afterward shared that all specialist boards in Korea take place on Fridays at SAU.

PUC Theology Professor Young-Chun Kim and his wife Ji Sun had the pleasure of hosting the Cho family for Sabbath lunch, where they dove deeper into discussion about Dr. Cho’s message and the issues medical field workers who are Adventist in Korea face. “Dr. Cho and others are working diligently to bring religious liberty a reality to the medical professionals in that country and have been winning case after case in the court system,” Kim shared. “It is a much better environment for Adventist medical doctors currently practicing and prospective medical doctors in Korea because of these efforts.”

For the English ministries, the speakers of the week were Joey Oh, administrative pastor at Loma Linda University Church, David Shin, chair of religion at Weimar University, Judy Ramos, assistant professor of education at Andrews University, Israel Ramos, director of public campus ministries department for the Michigan SDA Conference, Isaac Kim, Southeastern California Conference youth director, and Aren Rennacker, director of the Growing Young Leaders.

With Rennacker’s second year attending, he was grateful to be invited to the event again to present a seminar for parents and to speak to the junior high and high school age groups. “It is so much fun to see the excitement of the young people as they sing, play, and connect,” he said. Following the theme, Rennacker focused his messages on “one that loves, learns, rests, rises, and moves,” and appreciated the teens' response, sharing how relevant the messages were to their lives. During the week, what stood out to him the most was seeing many young people lead the youth programs. “So many youth and young adults are empowered to take charge in the music, activities, programming, and small groups,” Rennacker shared. This is so foundational to sustainable and effective church ministry, but it takes pastors who are willing to hand over the keys. Of course, as the director for Growing Young Leaders in our Union, this made me especially proud.”

For Trecartin, he was also moved by how children and young adults spent time together during camp meeting. “During the week, the most exciting part for me was seeing all the young people and university students meeting in the Grind, high school students playing volleyball in the gym, and younger children building boats out of cardboard boxes in Paulin Hall and then canoeing them in the pool. Yes, the children actually got in the cardboard box boats that were covered in plastic, and they then paddled across the pool. I was shocked that none of the finalist boats sank. I have never seen a better camp meeting children’s program,” he shared.

While the camp meeting had separate programs for English and Korean, attendees visited between the two programs. “West Coast Korean Camp Meeting is an incredible event I’m honored to be a part of. The organizers do an incredible job of providing a weeklong experience for all ages on one of the most beautiful campuses in the world. It’s been wonderful,” said Rennacker. “Camp Meeting is definitely a place for every generation. It’s great to see every age walking alongside each other across PUC’s campus, or sharing a meal in the cafeteria. I also noticed the young adults operating a booth at the Garden Café each night that served food to all ages. The clear intention of adult leaders empowering younger leaders to take charge is the best example of a generational community.”

From VBS programs for the children to spiritual growth and sports activities for teenagers and young adults to in-depth religious seminars and outdoor sports for adults, many shared positive comments about the programs and speakers. Students and parents even expressed to Trecartin how much they love PUC and want to attend in the future. One parent even shared how their son had already made plans to attend a school this fall, but has now considered PUC as a better opportunity.

“PUC has a special historical connection to Korean Adventism,” said Kim. “It is appropriate that it is held here.” In this month’s publication of the Korean Church Compass, Kim wrote about the significance of Ellen G. White and her relation with the PUC campus, which several attendees during the camp meeting thanked him for making that part of PUC and Adventist history vital for them. “Some of them even appreciated staying in Graf Hall even more because of Ellen G. White’s connection. William C. Grainger was the first American missionary to Japan, but his version of Adventism was the one that reached the Korean peninsula for the first time through my great, great uncle, Gi Ban Lim,” Kim shared. “I hope that the Korean Adventists that attend the Korean Camp Meeting here can recognize how God has led us in the past and put their faith in Him as we continue to write the Korean Adventist history here in the western regions of the U.S.”