About Kathie Chiu July 9, 2008

20 years ago I answered God’s call into full time ministry leadership.  It has been a journey full of adventure, joy, struggles, despair and fulfillment.  Ministry is a challenge and the enemy loves to use those challenges to defeat us.  As I share the things I’ve learned with you my prayer is that you will  be strengthened for the journey ahead.

Since my ordination and commissioning in The Salvation Army in 1992, I have had three appointments with a variety of ministry experiences.

• 1992-1994, Yorkton, Sasketchewan, Pastor – along with my husband Ed I pastored a small prairie church.  We also operated a Thrift Store which subsidized our Family & Community Services office.  This was my first experience with retail and human resources management!  It was trial by fire!

• 1994-1997, Vancouver, BC, Church Planter & Pastor – I learned to speak some Cantonese & Mandarin and we began a successful ministry to the Chinese community in East Vancouver.  I also started an ESL School for new Chinese Canadians and taught ESL for two years.  (I always wanted to be an English teacher!)

• 1997-present, Maple Ridge, BC, Pastor & Executive Director – when we arrived here Mountain View Community Church was a young, struggling church plant.  Today it is a successful multi-faceted social ministry with an Emergency Shelter, Transitional Housing program and community meal program and a new Home Church ministry.

This “blogazine” is my desire to wed my passion for writing and my passion for ministry together.  I love to write and for two years now I’ve written a column for the Salvationist.ca called “Just Between Us.”  I’m also working on a novel for children, a fantasy adventure.  I recently became a professional member of The Word Guild, a Christian writer’s guild that supports and encourages writers who are Christians.  This group has given me the courage to reach for new heights.

I hope you will be  informed and inspired.

May God Bless you!

grace… Kathie