Staff of St. Paul's
Pastor Helen Kung is a Taiwanese Chinese American born in Chicago, Illinois. She experienced one of the “storms of the Century” in Chicago when she was less than 100 days old. Her parents knew after that storm that Chicago was not the long-term location for the young family.
Since then, Helen has lived in Taiwan; Terrytown, New York; outside of Washington DC; Berkeley, California; Columbia, Missouri; and Hong Kong, all before the age of 24. Helen lives in Sunnyvale. She has been married for 25 years with three kids: one started working for National Public Radio and two are still in college. She has worked in journalism marketing, general marketing and teaching. Helen then became a church secretary, trained as a certified lay minister and was hired as a director of Chinese Ministry.
In many ways, Helen experiences life as a bridge. She speaks a few dialects in Chinese. She has been a bridge in multi-Cultural settings, lives as a person in the US bridging between immigrant and native-born Americans, and has been a bridge between lay members and church staff.
In the church, she has been involved in children’s ministry, Vacation Bible School, immigrant/ citizenship ministry, homeless ministry, and recovery ministry. She is involved with Santa Clara NAMI as a trained family-to-family leader and a faith network member. She is a trained Stephen Minister and works with some local hospice groups to serve grieving people. She looks forward to continuing to serve in a community committed to Reconciling Ministries. She views ministry as a God-led, team working experience and hopes to get to know all the people of St. Paul's UMC.
Since then, Helen has lived in Taiwan; Terrytown, New York; outside of Washington DC; Berkeley, California; Columbia, Missouri; and Hong Kong, all before the age of 24. Helen lives in Sunnyvale. She has been married for 25 years with three kids: one started working for National Public Radio and two are still in college. She has worked in journalism marketing, general marketing and teaching. Helen then became a church secretary, trained as a certified lay minister and was hired as a director of Chinese Ministry.
In many ways, Helen experiences life as a bridge. She speaks a few dialects in Chinese. She has been a bridge in multi-Cultural settings, lives as a person in the US bridging between immigrant and native-born Americans, and has been a bridge between lay members and church staff.
In the church, she has been involved in children’s ministry, Vacation Bible School, immigrant/ citizenship ministry, homeless ministry, and recovery ministry. She is involved with Santa Clara NAMI as a trained family-to-family leader and a faith network member. She is a trained Stephen Minister and works with some local hospice groups to serve grieving people. She looks forward to continuing to serve in a community committed to Reconciling Ministries. She views ministry as a God-led, team working experience and hopes to get to know all the people of St. Paul's UMC.
Bookkeeper: Debbie Chen Tam
She has worked at St. Paul United Methodist Church for eight years. Debbie is married living with her husband and two wonderful children; one is going to college, and the other one is currently in high school. The pandemic has been a challenging time for her, and she is transitioning to another job. She is currently serving St. Paul's as bookkeeper offsite.
She has worked at St. Paul United Methodist Church for eight years. Debbie is married living with her husband and two wonderful children; one is going to college, and the other one is currently in high school. The pandemic has been a challenging time for her, and she is transitioning to another job. She is currently serving St. Paul's as bookkeeper offsite.