How It Started
My journey into ministry began in 2021 when God put on my heart a burden to pursue a career in orphan care and cross-cultural missions after I had been working as a project manager for a product design consulting firm for three years after college. What started out as a part-time job with Renewal Missions to “test the waters” of working with underserved children quickly became a 3-year prologue of what has been and will undoubtedly continue to be a lifelong journey of ministry and learning to serve God wherever and however He leads in each unique season of my life.
Where God Is Leading Me Now
For three years, I explored full-time ministry with Renewal Missions and have grown in faith, humility, and surrender through some difficult seasons of ministry. Through it all, God has shaped my passions and convictions of encouraging and mobilizing the Church to share God’s love and serve His children through missions and long-term discipleship.
In my time with Renewal, I’ve had the privilege of coordinating missions trips, and walking with dozens of people through their missions experiences as they discerned and discovered how God was leading them to engage with the Great Commission and live missionally in each and various seasons of their lives. Being in this role reminded me of the profound effect of having such people in my own life and missions experiences - experiences that may not have been as impactful if it were not for the people who walked with me, prayed with me, and encouraged me as I reflected, and made sense of convictions and burdens God had put on my heart. I am certain that I would not be where I am today if I did not go through those trips and experiences being a recipient of these amazing people’s love, patience, and care that reflected that of Christ’s. As a result, I find such deep joy and fulfillment in being able to journey with people, pray with them, and witness firsthand the mighty ways in which God works in and through people and missions.
I’m so excited and thankful to be able to learn and grow in this role with OMF as a Serve Asia Program Coordinator, where I’ll be able to support and walk with volunteers as they serve in and experience God’s ministry and Kingdom in Asia. I’ll be serving in this role part-time in tandem with going to grad school full-time for Marriage and Family Therapy at SDSU. While I’ll be stepping back from Renewal in most of my previous capacities, I’ll still be coordinating the Tijuana Missions program on a volunteer-basis with the few, but capable trip leads that God has graciously provided.
It has been such a joy to recognize the unique life experiences and passions that God has given me to serve in this role wholeheartedly with everything that I am and have. While this ministry journey has not been easy, the Lord has given me an overwhelming sense of joy and contentment through all the ways I’ve seen Him working in and through me, and I look forward to what is in store in this next season of life.
An Act of Faith and Surrender to God
I would not have been able to accomplish any of the last few years of ministry without my faithful community and partners that have not only sent me with their prayers and resources, but have also joined me in serving with Renewal in Tijuana together. As I transition into OMF, I look forward to partnering with you all once again on this new path that God has led me to. While starting grad school and a new job with OMF, and still being engaged with Renewal and Tijuana seem to be a daunting road ahead, I look to Him who holds all things in His hands as I embark on this season of change and growth.
Therefore, I’m looking to build my support team of prayer warriors, committed volunteers, and compassionate individuals to partner with me in God’s ministry of walking alongside our brothers and sisters as they serve Him on short-term missions trips in Asia. Would you please prayerfully partner with me?
Want to Know More?
If you would like to talk more, ask any questions, or meet to catch up, feel free to contact me at karen.xie@omfmail.com.
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Thank you all so much for supporting me and my ministry thus far, and I look forward to seeing all the amazing things that God will continue to do!
Much love,
Karen
