“Pacific Health Ministry serves as a vital source of encouragement and support for clients in Hawaii, especially within diverse cultural settings. I believe that the CPE program should continue its mission of training counselors to assist more people in need” – Yie Shik Kim
Originally from Seoul, Korea, Pastor Yie Shik Kim has been a pioneer for women in ministry. She founded the Yeshim Church in 2000, where she passionately led her congregation for over two decades until she retired in December 2022. Breaking barriers, she became the first female pastor in the Presbyterian Church of Korea, advocating for fellow women pastors both locally and nationally.
She embarked on a remarkable journey into the world of Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) when she was introduced to PHM Founder, Rev. John Moody, by one of her professors. “I was particularly drawn to Hawai‘i due to its multicultural society. I believed that being there would greatly benefit my counseling work in Korea.”
From 1994 to 1995, she served at Queen’s Medical Center, where she worked closely with Head Chaplain Al Miles, as well as Rev. Anke Flohr. Throughout her CPE experience Yie Shik witnessed people from diverse backgrounds facing vulnerability and navigating challenging times. These encounters equipped her with the knowledge and empathy required to provide essential support to those in crisis and pain.
She was also a part of a diverse group of CPE students who came from various corners of the world. This multicultural assembly included Ajuko Ueda from Japan, Rev. Anke Flohr from Germany, Elaina Hyde-Mills from Canada, Bob Myer from America, Edison Munthe from Indonesia, Eddi General from the Philippines, and William Lam from Hong Kong. Despite their initial unfamiliarity, they engaged in profound learning experiences that would later empower them to return to their respective countries equipped with the tools and skills to assist those in need.
Upon successfully completing her CPE training, Yie Shik Kim returned to Korea, firmly believing that the knowledge and skills acquired during her training would play a pivotal role in the establishment of the Association of Korean Clinical Pastoral Education (KCPE). The following year, she actively contributed to the formation of the Korean Association of Pastoral Counseling (KAPC).
Reflecting on her time in CPE, she shared, “CPE has had a much bigger impact on my life than I thought it would. Personally, it helped me discover a hidden part of myself that I wasn’t aware of, like a dark shadow lurking within me. Recognizing this, I embarked on a journey of healthy self-reflection that has allowed me to better support patients.”
While actively engaged in church ministry, she took the initiative to set up a personal counseling center called “Thought and Mind.” This center had a twofold mission: to train counseling students and to offer support for clinical education in helping them prepare for the qualification test administered by the Korean Pastoral Counseling Association.
When asked about why people should support PHM and its CPE program, Yie Shik Kim said, “Pacific Health Ministry serves as a vital source of encouragement and support for clients in Hawaii, especially within diverse cultural settings. I believe that the CPE program should continue its mission of training counselors to assist more people in need.”
Currently, Yie Shik Kim serves as the Director of KACP and is a supervisor at the KCPE. Beyond her involvement in CPE organizations, she fulfills the roles of senior pastor at the Yeshim Church and as a pastor within the Seoul Gang-nam Presbyterian Synod. In addition to her pastoral duties, she works as a scholarship director at the Presbyterian Theological University & Theological Seminary.