Every May, we celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month. It’s a time to recognize the rich contributions, diverse cultures, and profound histories of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders across the United States. It’s a month to celebrate stories of resilience, migration, and identity — stories like that of Yuree Lembke, a global servant with International Ministries, whose journey powerfully reflects courage, faith, and dedication.

Yuree serves in Thailand with her husband, IM Global Servant Eric Lembke. She teaches Thai language and vocational sewing classes to students and locals in the Phop Phra area. Her mission is deeply personal, rooted in her own life experiences and unwavering love for her people.

Yuree was born in Karen State, Burma (Myanmar). This is a region historically inhabited by the Karen people. Ongoing oppression of ethnic minorities forced Yuree’s family to flee their village when she was a young child. With no official documents, they sought refuge in a camp near the Thai-Burma border. While in the refugee camp, Yuree witnessed firsthand how displacement altered her people’s way of life. In Burma, the Karen people thrived through farming, logging, trade, and mining. In the refugee camp, they were safe, but it was also one of confinement, where opportunities were scarce and leaving the camp was forbidden.

Believing in the power of education, but only being able to afford to send one of their children to school, Yuree’s parents decided to send her to live with her grandmother in a Thai village. At just six years old, Yuree was thrust into a new culture, facing the challenges of prejudice and exclusion as an outsider.

Despite the hardships, Yuree adapted, learning the Thai language and culture, eventually identifying more with Thai culture than her own Karen roots. At age 20, another life-changing opportunity came: Yuree and her family relocated to the United States. Again, she embraced change, determined to seek education and new possibilities. She learned English, fulfilled a childhood dream of attending an American university, and deepened her faith, being baptized while studying at Bacone College.

Settled in Oklahoma, Yuree felt the call to continue moving—not away from her heritage, but back toward it. Along with her husband, Eric, she answered God’s call to return to Southeast Asia as a global servant. Today, she works among her own Karen people, offering the gift of education, hope, and empowerment.

Yuree’s life as a multi-cultural individual gives her a unique ability to bridge worlds. She honors her Karen, Thai, and American experiences while bringing Christ’s love to communities shaped by struggle and resilience.

Yuree’s story is one of hundreds of thousands. What a beautiful way to embrace God’s diversity than to honor and uplift AAPI voices in your congregation and community!

5 Ideas for Your Church and Community to Honor and Celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month

1.   Host a Cultural Worship Night

Invite AAPI members to help lead a special service that incorporates prayers, music, Scripture readings, or dances in different languages and styles from Asian and Pacific Island cultures.

2.   Feature Testimonies From AAPI Voices

Each week, highlight a testimony or faith story during service, in newsletters, during Bible studies or on social media to honor their journeys.

3.   Partner with a Local AAPI Congregation or Ministry

Build relationships with local Karen, Korean, Filipino, Samoan, Vietnamese, or other AAPI congregations. Plan a joint service, fellowship night with food, or prayer meeting to celebrate cultural differences and discover shared faith and hope.

4.   Establish a Prayer Focus for AAPI Nations and Communities

Dedicate a time each Sunday, or a specific time during the week, to pray specifically for local AAPI communities. Also, pray for global issues—immigration challenges, justice for marginalized groups, and peace in regions of origin.

5.   Host a Community Cultural and Educational Event or Create a Cultural Wall for Public Viewing

Display artwork, organize a discussion panel, or showcase musicians and dancers during a cultural event. Host a documentary screening or forum to explore AAPI histories, stories, and contributions to Christianity. For example, in Karen tradition, there’s a story of a father who gave four books of knowledge to his sons — one each for the black, white, brown, and Karen peoples. The Karen son, distracted by work, lost his book in the jungle. Prophecy said the white brother would return and share his book. Many Karen Christians believe this prophecy was fulfilled when missionary Adoniram Judson brought the Bible to the Karen people.

As you plan to celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, keep Yuree’s story in mind. It is a reminder that heritage is not only about where we come from; it is also about how we live out our calling today. This month, and into the future, let’s embrace faith, pursue peace, and build bridges across cultures.