Rev Dr Louie Kin Yip
Chief Executive of CGST Toronto
Heavenly Blessings Professor
(Theological Studies)

In the summer of 1981, at the age of 17, I boarded a plane for the first time, traveling to Quebec to study Grade 12. In 1985, I completed my undergraduate degree at Queen’s University and then pursued graduate studies at Princeton University in the United States. Apart from one or two trips, I never really set foot in Canada again. I would never expect that, 40 years later, God would once again send me to Canada to serve the local Chinese Christian community.

I believe that the feeling of being adrift between two continents resonates with many from Hong Kong. My father, pessimistic about Hong Kong’s return to China in 1997, sent his three children, including me, abroad for their education. The political changes in 1989 awakened in me a deep desire to share the gospel with the people of China, leading me to pray for an opportunity to return to Hong Kong for ministry. By chance, I met Rev. Dr. Carver Yu in the U.S. (who was then the Vice President of China Graduate School of Theology) and sought his insights into the state of Hong Kong churches. I never expected that a few years later, CGST would invite me back to teach. I began my teaching ministry at CGST in early 2001 and never considered serving anywhere else.

Life’s path is ultimately directed by God. In recent years, many Hongkongers—some who never planned to emigrate—have left their homeland with heavy hearts. CGST had not established any office overseas before, but in response to the times, we established our first overseas office in Toronto. This does not mean CGST’s passion for serving the church in Hong Kong or mainland China has diminished in the slightest. Rather, we seek to continue ministering to believers who have relocated abroad.

As the Chief Executive of CGST Toronto, I am not leaving Hong Kong or CGST. I will continue teaching and preaching there. In the coming years, I will travel between Canada and Hong Kong, and beyond teaching, I hope to visit Chinese churches in Toronto, across Canada, and in the U.S. My goal is to build bridges, and to explore how CGST can effectively serve overseas Chinese Christians despite our very limited resources.

Our vision for CGST Toronto is to provide practical, relevant theological training for overseas Chinese Christians. During the planning phase, we consulted a number of North American Chinese pastors to better understand the needs of the church. To avoid duplicating the efforts of existing Chinese seminaries in North America, CGST Toronto does not plan to offer traditional programs such as the Master of Divinity. Instead, we will focus on short-term theological education programs that address issues that are relevant to North American believers, issues that are difficult to clarify in a sermon. We will invite CGST professors from Hong Kong as guest lecturers while also seeking local experts familiar with the Canadian context to share their knowledge and experiences.

Contextual research is another focus of CGST Toronto. This area will be led by Dr. Wing Sze Wong. We will explore how Chinese churches in Canada, the U.S., the U.K., and Australia navigate cultural shifts. For example, how can we pass on our faith to the next generation? How can churches maintain their distinct Christian identity while thriving with a diverse, multicultural society? Our hope is to support the renewal of Chinese churches and work alongside pastors to adapt to changing times. Looking ahead, we aim to develop and offer advanced programs for pastors. We hope these programs will align with our research initiatives, so that we can help pastors to develop ministries that are not only rooted in Scripture, but also can respond effectively to the contemporary social context.

When I was a student in Canada, the Prime Minister was Brian Mulroney, who passed away last year. The country has changed significantly since then. As I return to Canada now, I must reacquaint myself with this place and its Chinese Christian community. I would love to hear your thoughts on CGST Toronto and connect with more friends. Please feel free to reach out to me via email. I look forward to meeting you!