It is the honor and joy of our lives to serve the community of Rockharbor Church in Costa Mesa, California. We moved here in August 2022, in response to a clear call from God, after 22 years of fruitful church ministry in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Rockharbor was founded in 1997 and continues to thrive today by God’s grace. For the past three and a half years, we have experienced steady and remarkable growth primarily from two overlapping but distinct groups of people: those were displaced or de-churched through the pandemic are finding a place of belonging here; and those who are coming to faith through friendship, special services like Christmas Eve and Easter, and focused outreach programs like Alpha. Overall, there is a noticeable rise in spiritual curiosity coupled with a bit of skepticism about the institution of the church.
With growth comes a the responsibility to make disciples and to care for the flock. Our staff and volunteer teams have grown, and they are doing a wonderful job creating places of encounter, formation, and mission for us to know God and to be formed as His people for the good of the world. The challenges that lie before us in this season have to do with how to multiply in a Kingdom-shaped way whether that be through new venues, new campuses, or new church-plants.
The training I received at Cranmer prepared me in so many ways for the complexities of leading. The skills of doing thick situational analysis to be paired with rich theological reflection are employed on a regular basis as I try to discern how to lead in divisive cultural moments and contested spaces. I am grateful for the leadership formation that took place in my years doing the Doctor of Theology and Ministry (DThM) at Cranmer Hall.
We are grateful to be living God’s dream for us, and we’re keenly aware of it on nearly a daily basis. It is the greatest gift to see our family thriving in Orange County.
Since graduating from Cranmer Hall, I co-founded Magdalene Community Church. We are a growing, lively, young community; intentionally based outdoors and in homes. We often worship at our church site in Chopwell Woods where we’re intentional about rebuilding connection with our earth, ourselves and our Maker. We blend ancient traditions and rituals in a really relaxed, free-flowing way. Think campfires, liturgy, hammocks, birdsong and incense. The Eucharist and Bible exploration are central to our spirituality.
Our pattern of worship, prayer, work, learning, hanging out, eating and singing together means we’re together almost every day of the week in-person or online. As our social media presence/ministry has grown, our reach is geographically much larger than regular parish churches. This is helping us discern what feels like a clear calling from God to evolve into a New Monastic Community. We’re not sure what that will look like yet, but a lot of prayer is going into it.
Our weekly schedule might be packed, but gatherings are slow-paced, and our transitions are soft. For us worship is a whole day or afternoon thing and always includes a meal. We learn from our many children whose faith is naturally free and curious. We’ve become a safe place where neurodivergent people flourish, and trauma survivors can heal.
Recent highlights include launching our new podcast ‘Beloved Rising’ with our first episode describing neurodivergence in church, as well as becoming a Bronze ‘Eco Church’ (Silver is on its way). We’ve also recently developed three new groups, recognising the value of dedicated spaces where specific communities can connect and grow. Alongside our youth group, we now have Mustard Seeds, which supports and encourages our youngest members. We’ve also launched a Women’s Circle, serving women within and on the fringes of our church (including anyone who identifies as a woman), offering a safe and nurturing environment to explore both the joys and the challenges of womanhood. Most recently, we’ve formed an equivalent men’s group, focused on friendship and mutual support. Much to celebrate.
Greetings from across the pond!
I am deeply grateful for the way that the Cranmer community welcomed me (an American, Presbyterian) into the fold. I think so fondly of Durham, often missing the Bailey, Brass Thill, the Cathedral, and even North Road!
Since moving home to America, I have served two churches. First, I served a yearlong Pastoral Internship (similar to a curacy) at Noroton Presbyterian Church in Darien, Connecticut (suburb of New York City). Alongside parish ministry, I completed a unit of Clinical Pastoral Education (chaplaincy training) at the nearby Norwalk Hospital.
Next, I moved to northern Virginia (suburb of Washington, D.C.), where I am serving as the Director of Student and Young Adult Ministries at Centreville Presbyterian Church. My responsibilities include leading the ministries for Grade 6 through Young Adults (mid-thirties). As you can imagine, this covers a wide range of ages and stages.
I welcome your prayers for wisdom, discernment, and attentiveness to God as our church seeks to develop vibrant ministries of discipleship for all ages. We face a few strategic challenges, including: geographical spread of congregants (across three counties); limited space due to tenants in church building; rapid turnover of Youth Directors for the past decade; leadership development of volunteers to support the youth ministries.
A few ministry highlights have included: opportunities to teach and preach; launching a Young Adult ministry at Centreville Presbyterian (including first-ever retreat this Fall!); getting to know the youth and families at the church; progressing through the ordination process.
Speaking of ordination, should all go smoothly, I shall be ordained to pastoral ministry in early 2026, and continue in ministry at Centreville Presbyterian Church, in the role of Associate Pastor.
As I write this update, I am drinking a cup of Twinings Lady Gray Tea, from the City Centre Tesco (a great souvenir). My Brass Thill neighbors taught me that Lady Gray is not “real tea” – so, never fear, I have some “real” Yorkshire Tea waiting in the cupboard.
Cheers!
After a wonderful year in Durham, my family (Hui-En, Khai Xin, and Wern Xin) and I returned to Malaysia in September 2024 and we welcomed our daughter, Xin Ern, in March this year.
We are presently based in Seremban, an hour’s drive south of Kuala Lumpur, where I have been seconded by the Diocese of West Malaysia to serve as a lecturer in church history and Christian spirituality at Seminari Theoloji Malaysia (STM), a Protestant ecumenical seminary. I have enjoyed introducing seminarians to church history as a lens to grapple with contemporary ecclesial problems, as well as the riches of historic Christian devotion.
I was ordained as a deacon on the feast of Sts. Simon and Jude (28 October) last year and was priested on the same day this year. For my part-time curacy, I was unexpectedly sent back to my sending parish, St Paul’s, Petaling Jaya, and it has been great serving there again.
For many years, STM Anglican seminarians have had a minimalist communal Daily Office rhythm, gathering only for Evensong on Tuesdays, Compline on Wednesdays, and Mattins on Thursdays. This past year, an Anglican student and I decided to start praying Mattins together every weekday, and by the end of the academic year in October, we regularly had between five to eight people each weekday morning. The Common Worship office books purchased using funds raised from the Cranmer community and beyond have really been transformational for our little group.
Besides being a stay-at-home mum, Hui-En has been quite active in the seminary community, e.g. joining chapel services and socials. Our boys have adapted fairly well to life back here, but still speak wistfully about England. Xin Ern’s cheerful personality has brought joy not just to us but many others in STM.
I would appreciate your prayers for wisdom in navigating the complex dynamics of an ecumenical seminary as well as a very diverse diocese in terms of churchmanship and spirituality. Pray, above all, that my family and I may grow in our love for God, each other, and those around us where God has placed us.
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