Katy Herrera is the new Families, Children, and Youth Advisor. Based at Church House, she will be supporting parishes to develop faith among children and young people in their homes, schools and churches across the diocese.
From an early age, Katy has been involved in the church. Her Grandparents were pastors of an independent church where she attended Sunday school and was introduced to learning about Jesus, God and the Bible. While there, she also joined the church band and the dance group, “Which is when I really started to feel a sense of belonging within the church”, says Katy.
Katy also began helping with children's ministry and youth ministry as soon as she was able, and it was during this time that she began to have a sense that she might have found her vocation.
Prior to taking up her role with the Diocese of Chester, Katy previously worked with either youth or children for several organisations, including The Message Community Church, Ivy Church, N-Gage and Trafford Youth For Christ.
In the few weeks that Katy has been in her role, she has been helping to organise the forthcoming Growing Faith Conference on 2 December and is aiming to start monthly diocesan online prayer gatherings for children and youth in the new year. “I am excited to be joining the Outreach team at a time of strategic change and to be able to come alongside churches as they think about how they can position themselves to growing younger. I believe God is calling us into a bigger, bolder faith that starts with taking one step of faith at a time.”
Katy lives in Sandbach with her husband George and two children; Hunter (4) and Brody (2) and is currently studying for an MA in Children, Young People and Families Ministry at St Padarns.
Katy is interested in visiting any churches and PCCs that are interested in growing their children and youth ministries or those with existing ministries that are simply in need of encouragement, inspiration and fresh vision and invites people to get in touch with her directly by email on katy.herrera@chester.anglican.org or phone 07549209134