She wanted to go to church but was too shy. Then she and her family walked past a Christmas market and everything changed
By
Christine Leow
, 11 December 2024
Kaylee Chia started attending Sunday School at age 12, after visiting a Christmas market held at a church. Six months later, she asked her dad Vincent to join her at church. All photos courtesy of the Chia family unless otherwise stated.
From their new condo on Dundee Road, the Chia family had a front row seat to a European-style Christmas market being set up across the road.
For two weekends leading up to Christmas, Church of the Good Shepherd turns its grounds into a festive market complete with “snow”; gift, craft and food stalls; Christmas carols and a bouncy castle. Every evening in December, the compound is lit with twinkling lights, inviting all to walk in to experience the peace and joy of the season.
Kaylee (centre), now 13, with her dad Vincent and mum Angeline.
One evening after dinner, the family walked by the church. Kaylee cajoled her parents to drop into the Christmas market.
“I had also seen the Christmas in Queenstown posts on Instagram. So I was super enthusiastic,” said Kaylee, who was turning 12 at that time. She is now 13.
The decorative lights at Church of the Good Shepherd, drew the Chia family into the Christmas market in 2022. Photo courtesy of Christmas in Queenstown.
Among the many booths was an arts and crafts one where market-goers could make coasters.
“Sunday School teachers were running it. They talked to my mum and they invited me to Sunday School,” said Kaylee.
Kaylee had been “too scared and shy” to attend church on her own.
The invitation was just what she needed. Kaylee had wanted to attend church, but had been “too scared and shy” to attend on her own.
“It would be really weird if I just suddenly joined a church without any reason,” Kaylee explained, even though she had previously visited one with friends who had told her “how fun church is”.
At primary level in Methodist Girls’ School, Kaylee had attended Bible classes at school – to keep a friend company. Her friend had been keen to learn more about the Christian faith.
Kaylee (middle row, seventh from the left) was also in Girls’ Brigade, a Christian co-curricular activity (CCA) at school.
Kaylee’s hope
“It was really fun,” said Kaylee of her first day at Church of the Good Shepherd, where she made two friends right away.
“It felt nice. There was a sense of belonging,” said Kaylee.
Thanks to this connection, she returned again and again.
Kaylee playing the guitar for worship for the youth group at church. COGS has youth groups in English and Chinese.
One particular Bible study session – on patience – resonated with her.
It taught her to lean on God when she felt impatient or anxious.
“I learnt that everyone is special to God. We don’t need to be anxious because God loves us.”
Feeling moved, she invited Jesus to come into her life.
Courage to cross the road
One day, when her father – a commercial airline pilot – was asking her about Sunday School, he revealed that he too, had long wanted to attend church.
“He told me that he didn’t want to go alone, so I invited him to attend a service with me,” said Kaylee, who had been going to church for about six months at that time.
“Just the week before, friends had been asking about my parents, and encouraged me to bring them to church.”
Before his daughter’s invitation to visit the church, Vincent (pictured directing traffic at the Christmas market in 2023) had “no courage” to cross the road to visit it.
Vincent, now 53, had wished to visit the church opposite their home, but “had no courage to cross the road”.
“I never went on my own – until my daughter said, ‘Daddy, would you like to attend a service with me?’
“I didn’t know who I was supposed to talk to, where I was supposed to sit,” he admitted. “So I never went on my own – until my daughter said, ‘Daddy, would you like to attend a service with me?’
“If my neighbour had asked, I may have said, ‘I’ll have a think about it.’ But because my precious little daughter was asking, it was a different push factor.”
Vincent had been to church a handful of times over the decades.
“Kaylee suggested that I might want to look more presentable and wear long trousers and covered shoes instead of my usual bermudas and Birkenstocks,” said Vincent, who instinctively wanted to dress suitably “as form of respect”.
Kaylee (front row, second from right) loves the fellowship among the youths in her church. That same warmth among the adults drew Vincent to the church.
“My experience at church was different from other places of worship I had been to, where you didn’t talk to other people, but instead just went about your own business. Nobody taught me to pray – and it was a place I only went to when I needed help,” said Vincent.
“At church, people were all very welcoming,” he said. He also found the guidance he needed.
Hope in this life – and beyond
Vincent had long wanted to explore a belief other than the one he grew up in.
“I often wondered, ‘Where will I go when I die? Would I see my parents again?’ That bothered me.
“In Secondary School, I would wake up in the middle of the night, crying at the thought that I was going to lose my parents forever.
“I also didn’t know what and why I was praying and found it pointless.”
Vincent found the answer he had been searching for: “There is hope in this life … and in life after death.”
As he returned to church week after week, Vincent began to find answers he had been searching for.
“Christians believe that death is a celebration of life – and the Lord calls you to be with Him. There is hope in this life … and in life after death. Jesus gives us this hope.”
Subsequently, friends at church asked Vincent if wanted to invited Jesus into his life.
“I replied, ‘Of course! Otherwise I wouldn’t be coming to church.’
Vincent, who learnt to play the guitar when he was a child, is now part of the church’s worship team.
“They prayed with me and I had a funny tingling sensation where my goose bumps stood up. I could feel something very close to me which I had never experienced before.”
The Chia family in October 2024, when Vincent publicly declared his faith in Jesus.
Since becoming a Christian, Vincent has noticed: “I feel more at peace. I am a calmer person.
“And I think I love my wife more now than before.”
Kaylee has noticed the same: “Now my mum and dad are like really close. They hug each other. Sometimes it is a bit awkward when they hug each other in the lift. But it is also kind of nice that they are so close.”
“Who will I talk to?”: FAQs about visiting a church for the first time
But I’m really shy …
“Just go and try it out – even if you don’t know anyone there. Once I went, it wasn’t so scary after all,” said Kaylee, who described herself as “really self-conscious and someone who couldn’t talk to people”.
Who do I talk to at church?
Many churches have welcome desks, or a coffee area for newcomers. Some ask first-timers to raise their hands. Don’t be shy to make yourself known. There are opportunities to be prayed for (otherwise ask, if that is what you’d like). If you’d like to find out more, leave your name and contact details with the church.
“If you are not a familiar face, people are likely to come up to you and welcome you,” said Vincent. (If not, you could thank the preacher or worship leader after the service, and let them know that you’re visiting for the first time – Editor).
Will they force me to return?
“In my experience, there was no pressure from anyone to return,” said Vincent.
Where do I find the timings of church services?
Check individual church websites or social media page for dates and times of services for different age and language groups. Or click here to find a church near you.
What’s happening this Christmas?
There may be special timings for church service during Christmas.
Many churches hold special events in the lead up to Christmas. There are usually church volunteers whom you can make contact with.
For more information about the Christmas market (final weekend on December 13-15, 2024) and other Christmas 2024 celebrations organised by churches and community in Queenstown, see our guide below:
