Chui Fan (Tracy) Yip
MTS, 2012
DMin, 2022 (expected)
Before I came to study at Wycliffe, I worked with couples and families at the Hong Kong Anglican Counselling Centre and taught pastoral ministry at Hong Kong Ming Hua Theological College. I realized that many couples wrestled with family problems and that low-income and marginalized families often lacked support. I greatly appreciate that Wycliffe encourages us to explore pastoral ministries for families that account for their diverse cultural backgrounds.
As an international student who came to study with family, I was impressed by Wycliffe’s strong sense of community. In the second year of my studies, my husband fell ill with a neurological disease. I essentially became a single parent, juggling my children, my husband’s health, and full-time school. He passed away after eight long years of suffering. But throughout this difficult period, the love, care, and support the College faculty, and staff have given my children and me became a blessing I never expected and will always be grateful for.
After completing an MTS at Wycliffe in 2012, I was intrigued by the theology of the family, which is centered on the love of the Triune God. My pastoral experiences helped me realize that when we practice love through participating in the body of Christ, we share God’s love and relate with one another in the church like a real family, making the work of the Holy Spirit recognizable. To explore how family ministry can help marginalized families, I commenced my DMin studies and engaged in a qualitative research project on family ministry in the Hong Kong Anglican Church. My research interest focused on how Christian fictive kinship helped single mothers adjust to post-divorce living and attain to spiritual growth. I hope to continue researching and developing resources so that the church can provide effective ministries grounded in the changing needs of the congregation.
