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.
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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.
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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.

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.