How's it going at CAMH? Slowly, but surely.

an intense week of family events, an empowering gathering, and what's next

It's July 5th and I just noticed the last 2 of the CAMH monthly updates were also sent out on the 5th. What a coincidence, because I didn't plan this. And, believe you me, this pattern may unlikely continue in the future. (If you don’t know this about me by know, I’m not a planner by nature, so I do prefer to do as little of it as possible.)

When I'm asked about how CAMH is going, so far my frequent response is that it is still going, slowly but surely. I can only do a small portion of the big vision of this ministry work—to launch mental health ministry in every Asian American church. It's more than a lifetime of work, for real. And in this season, until God' inspires others to join in financially support more this work, I'm working as a bi-vocational freelance consultant.

What good can come from Detroit for Asian Christians?

This past weekend in Dearborn, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit, was wonderful, powerful, and heartful—it filled our hearts! My wife Rachelle and I were overjoyed to participate wholeheartedly the Abide Gathering. I'm so very very grateful for how this timely event was a safe community that propelled us in our healing journey.

Our family had a very intense month of June, experiencing a wedding and a funeral, all within a week (from June 14 to June 22.) We are sincerely thankful for the many who prayed with us through all of this.

There's so much I'd love to say about the Abide Gathering, even though it's hard to describe or explain what it is exactly. I think the event website does clearly talk about what Abide is about; once you’ve experienced it. But, words are not enough; Abide has to be experienced. I’d love to share with you more if you’d like to schedule a call or follow my blog at djchuang.com when I vlog my personal reflections there later.

What I will say briefly about Abide is this:

1. I've been searching for something like Abide for over 20 years, as I’ve longed for a safe place where I could belong as a Christian Asian, not be judged for my accomplishments, performance, social status, and truly experience the value of being over doing, relationships over results.

2. Dr. Stan Sonu's presented mind-blowing insights about the impact of unintended emotional neglect on Christian Asian lives—physically and spiritually (watch this previous presentation by Dr. Sonu about Mental Health & Trauma Issues in AAAI Communities.)

3. I was nudged to do a little standup comedy during a spontaneous talent night—for the 2nd time in my life (watch this video of the 1st time I'd ever done standup.)

Mental Health and the Church Conference on September 26-27

Join me in Cleveland, Ohio, with several hundred others, for this first annual conference about Mental Health and the Church. This is a much needed gathering, long overdue, because an increasing number of experts are recognizing that the mental health system as it is cannot sufficiently or effectively address the enormity of the mental health crisis in America and around the world.

The church has a vital role to step into this ministry opportunity. I'm honored and grateful to have been invited as a speaker at this inaugural conference, along with Kay Warren, Dr. Steve Grcevich, Dr. Mark Mayfield, and more. (You can preview what I'll be speaking about in this video.)

Connections Conference on October 24-25

During the past 6 months, I've participated in a confessional community, facilitated by the Center of Being Known, developed by Dr. Curt Thompson. The storytelling liturgy that we experienced in a zoom small group every week touched my life deeply, experiencing being known, loved, and valued.

You can learn more about Dr. Curt Thompson's thinking about interpersonal neurobiology (IPNB), and why storytelling is sacred work, on his Being Known podcast. And, at his organization's Connections Conference on October 24-25 in Fairfax, Virginia.

CAMH is so valuable, but is this fundable?

As many of you already know me, and some who are just starting to get to know me, I'm not loud or pushy about this ministry work here at CAMH (Christian Asian Mental Health) and CWA (Catalyst Wellness Alliance.) Yet I'm more than open and happy to talk about it when I discern the right opportunities.

The feedback I've heard is overwhelmingly positive and encouraging. Pretty much everyone agrees it's very needed, very valuable, and very important. Yet, I am not sure about when and how this will be funded, so that more of the work can be accomplished. (Am I doing something wrong? Am I not doing enough? Do I need more help from others?)

Here’s the situation from my seat. I know how to start things up with no funding, what I've called $0 innovation. I learned from a recent convo that this is called bootstrapping. But as soon as money has to enter the equation, for me to have to build something more robust and sustainable than a prototype, well, I'm quickly lost in the jungle of business speak, feeling like I’m drowning in quicksand.

May I be honest? The vision for CAMH is far bigger than what I can do on a part-time basis, or even full-time, with over 9,000 Asian American churches presently and more to come. It'll take a sizable staff with diverse skills, funding for them, and more resources to see more progress in this ministry. Right now, it’s one conversation at a time, one mental health ministry launched one church at a time. Right now, I keep on praying. Right now, I am asking for help. Your feedback is most welcomed.

Thank you for letting me share.

— DJ Chuang, Executive Director of Catalyst Wellness Alliance • 949-243-7260

p.s. partner with Christian Asian Mental Health by making a donation