Rev. Karen Millard does not look like a traditional church minister.
A small nose piercing catches the light every so often above her warm smile. And although the congregation won't see the 37-year-old wearing a third degree black belt during services, they would if they ever watched one of her Taekwondo training sessions.
But although Millard may appear unconventional at first, her goals as the new minister for the Squamish United Church are long-established.
"It's to live our faith in action. To live out our faith. My desire for us as a church and for me personally is that our Christian faith is something we live out in our daily lives. It becomes the norm of who we are and how we live," she said.
In May, Millard moved to Squamish from Smithers, B.C., where she had her first pastoral charge after being ordained in 2007. She worked as a youth and social worker before embarking on a four-year masters of divinity and counselling degree. She has extensive experience working with teens at risk in Surrey and East Vancouver and was a group home house parent for several years.
Millard said the Squamish United Church hopes to spur growth in the area of youth and young families. She also sees a potential in working with community organizations. As social services decline around the province, Millard wants the church to stand in support of communities.
"It will be intriguing to me to see, with all the cutbacks that have been happening educationally and in community services, how that affects youth in smaller towns," she said.
"I think cutbacks in sports and education is huge, so perhaps the church will be called to start engaging to provide outlets and resources."
Millard is fitting in nicely both inside and beyond church walls. She enjoys being active on the mountains and ocean. She even helped represent the local dragonboat team at a competition in Harrison Hot Springs, B.C. soon after arriving in Squamish.
Millard's love of singing and drama comes through in her services, according to Squamish United Church musician Carol Grolman. She uses the power of sound to make her messages more meaningful and moving. Grolman used three words to sum up what Millard brings to the church.
"Energy, vitality, joy," she said.
The Squamish United Church enters the second week of its new season at 10 a.m. on Sunday (Sept. 20). The church is located at 38014 4th Ave.
