Vision and Mission
Today’s generation needs believers who have “a fully developed spiritual life that embodies the qualities of Christ.” Believers should live a life that reflects Jesus in their daily activities, spreading the gospel of life transformation and the resurrection power. Guided by the inspiration of the Lord, Dr. Timothy Ngai, alongside like-minded individuals, and with the recognition and support of pastors such as Rev. Andrew Kwong and Rev. Brainerd Shiu, founded Makarios Institute for Spiritual Formation Ministries in October 2019. The Institute is dedicated to upholding the beliefs of evangelical Christianity, nurturing believers, and training spiritual leaders for Chinese churches through the biblical teachings of Christ’s love and spiritual growth.
Dr. Timothy Ngai, PhD, MDiv, RMFT-S, RCC, RP, CSD

Founder and Former President of MISFM, Former Counselling Department Head at Alliance Bible Seminary, HK

Registered Psychotherapist in Ontario, Canada;
Registered Clinical Counsellor in British Columbia;
Registered Marriage and Family Therapist with the Canadian Association for Marriage and Family Therapy;
Certified Clinical Supervisor by the Canadian Association for Marriage and Family Therapy; Clinical Fellow of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy;
Approved Supervisor by the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy

Dr. Timothy Ngai, the founder and former president of Makarios Institute for Spiritual Formation Ministries, as well as the former advisory pastor of Makarios Evangelical Church, passed away on June 12, 2023, due to cancer. May he rest in the Lord’s eternal peace.

While alive, Dr. Ngai was a seasoned psychology & family therapist, spiritual director, and pastor. He earned a PhD in Family Therapy from the University of Hong Kong. He served as the inaugural director of the counselling department at Alliance Bible Seminary in Hong Kong, associate professor of Marriage and Family Therapy at Trinity Western University’s ACTS Seminaries in Canada, associate professor of Family Ministry and Spiritual Formation at Carey Theological College, and director of the Chinese Spiritual Formation Program. Dr. Ngai had over thirty years of counselling experience and, for over a decade, focused on practicing Christian spiritual formation and spiritual direction. He researched and developed care, counselling, and pastoral models based on the Bible and Christian faith.

Dr. Ngai provided counselling and spiritual direction services for many years, fostering the spiritual growth of believers. He also developed Christian spiritual formation courses and nurtured aspiring spiritual directors. His own life exemplified the reality and beauty of a life with the Lord. Even in the face of impending death, he joyfully embraced the sudden end, raising a victorious gesture and proclaiming victory through Jesus. Dr. Ngai remained faithful to the Lord until death. He dedicated his life to helping believers draw near to God, leaving behind numerous teaching materials and lectures. His legacy includes many gifts intended to bless those who love the Lord and seek closeness to God.
From the Founder

Watch
Rev. Jessica Lee, MDiv, CSD

Interim President of MISFM
Senior Pastor of Makarios Evangelical Church
Lecturer of MISFM
Certified Spiritual Director

Rev. Jessica Lee is a seasoned pastor in family and care ministries, an accredited spiritual director, and a lecturer at Makarios Institute for Spiritual Formation Ministries. In 2003, she responded to God’s call, leaving her managerial position to become a full-time minister. Overcoming previous indifference to faith, she dedicated herself to learning and practicing spiritual formation, including undergoing spiritual director training.

Rev. Lee has over seventeen years of dedicated experience in spiritual formation, ministering to couples of all ages through fellowship groups, leading couples’ growth sessions, delivering lectures on parenting, providing care for the critically ill, and offering spiritual direction in both Hong Kong and North America. In 2018, led by God and with the support of the Canadian Baptist Convention, Rev. Lee, along with her late husband Dr. Timothy Ngai, established Makarios Evangelical Church—a spiritual formation church rooted in the Bible and focused on life renewal and growth. In 2019, guided by the Holy Spirit and with support from multiple pastors, the couple founded the Makarios Institute.

Statement Of Faith

The Makarios Institute for Spiritual Formation Ministries (MISFM) together affirm wholeheartedly the revelation of God as given in the scriptures of the Old and New Testaments and confess the faith set forth here. We here explicitly assert the doctrines which we regard as crucial to the understanding and proclamation of the Gospel and to practical Christian living:

Teaching Team

Dr. Timothy Ngai

PhD, MDiv, RMFT-S, RCC, RP, CSD

Founder and Former-President of MISFM

Rev.  Jessica Lee

MDiv, CSD

Interim President of MISFM, Senior Pastor, Makarios Evangelical Church

Rev. Brainerd Shiu

MDiv, ThM

Retired Senior Pastor, Seattle Chinese Aliiance Church

Rev. Dr. Paul Chan

DMin

Senior Pastor, Seattle Chinese Alliance Church

Office Team

Rev. Jessica Lee

Interim President

Katherine Liu

Administrator

Duncan Siu

Programs Coordinator

Sunny Chan

IT & Media Officer

Cathy Yeung

Publishing Ministries Coordinator

Capary Chow

Worship Ministries Coordinator

Stephanie Yung

Administrative Assistant

Stella Wong

Administrative Assistant