Dear Katey,
You’ve been our children’s director and pastor for several years now. You’ve done an amazing job. I still remember the days of Quest when our (Minhee and I) – then 2 children – were the only kids at Quest. Through you and Christina, our amazing associate director, and other folks like Becky, Karis, Gordon, Stacy and on and on, God has immensely blessed our church community. When we “hired” you as our children’s pastor many years ago, you were just graduating from college and there were some concerns expressed by the interview committee but I remember sharing with them these words:
Katey may be lacking in experience but this is very clear: She loves Jesus.
And it was also very clear that you loved children and of course, sharing Jesus with children.
Thank you for the ways you’ve invested into the church, the parents, and of course, the children. Since you began your ministry at Quest, you’ve married a wonderful and gracious man (and a great photographer for us!) and you and Corey now have two children of your own. Just several weeks ago, you gave me and the church community the joy of dedicating your newest child to the Lord.
It is amazing to see how many children – babies, toddlers, and kids – roam around the church knowing that this church is also their home church as well. As in the past few Sundays, we have an upcoming Sundays where numerous parents will dedicate and baptize their children to the Lord. And of course, Minhee and I are excited to have our oldest daughter – by her own choice – be baptized. It will be a special day for us and we thank you, Christina, and staff for the ways you teach and demonstrate God’s love and grace to our children and all the kids at Quest.
I have preached on numerous occassions of the error in parents abdicating the total responsibility of the spiritual growth of their children to their church’s kids’ ministry. I am still convicted of this but also know how important it is for parents to believe, trust, and partner with their local church.
I know that it’s easy for any church to overlook the children as well…”not as important as the grown ups.” It’s even tempting to overlook the children’s ministry staff and volunteers. Thanks for reminding all of us that God loves the entire church – especially the children.
So, on behalf of our church, many thanks to you, Christina, and the many volunteers of the Kids’ Ministry. I know that you’re still in need of volunteers so I pray that many will contact you if they are interested.
In Christ, Pastor Eugene
EUGENE CHO 
Awesome letter! As a children’s pastor, I know that your CM leaders and volunteers are hugely blessed by that letter and probably wiping tears from their eyes. Thank you for posting that so publicly. I hope other church leaders see it and are inspired to build into and encourage their CM leaders and volunteers.
What a cool way to say thanks.
So often, those leading Children’s Ministries feel like they’re on an island… this is such a great way to show your team that you value the work their doing with the shortest members of your congregation.
Well done!
[wiping e-tears]thank you for your gracious words. it’s true- i love jesus, i love kids! thank you for allowing me to serve quest for so many years. and none of the ministry|shepherding|discipleship would be what it is without the volunteer leaders who are the backbone of our ministry…thank you for your support of our calling.
wow. thanks for sharing your thoughts. Go Katey!!
Great post! And so true! Katey, I can’t believe you & Corey have 2 kids! So do we! Someday we we get a chance to visit Seattle again, we shall have to get all of our kids together to play! Many hugs from Texas!
Thank you so much Katey and Christina for all that you do for Quest and our children!
AMEN!
Eugene, thank you so much for giving Katey these props. I was a church children’s pastor for three years–actually, I attended a Christian college with henryjz, who commented above, and we met each other again through children’s ministry. It’s a wonderful ministry, but very difficult, and it says something about you as a pastor that Katey has been able to serve joyfully for this long.
For those of you who have not worked with children in the church, do it! For those who do, keep doing it! Love and props to all of you. Elena in Ohio
Eugene,
Thanks so much for being the kind of pastor who would take time to write such encouraging words to the Children’s Pastor that serves at Quest. As a Children/Family ministries Pastor I must say that it caught me by surprise because, in my experience, not many lead pastors do such a thing. So thanks for supporting Katey in this way.
Also, you may or may not remember me, but I met you on Monday in DC – you joined the group of us from Chicago at Ben’s Chilli Bowl. It was great to meet you.
Wow what an amazing way to build the value of kids church. I am blessed to work for a a Pastor who understands that value. It is clear you do as well. Katey keep doing amazing things for the kingdom.