Julie Kimber was born in Suffolk and spent her childhood in Bedfordshire, and later moving to Taunton. Before she began her ordination training, Julie served as a youth justice worker with the Somerset Youth Offending Team and began fostering eight years ago. Over the years, she has fostered nine teenagers.
Julie’s faith journey is a testament to God's presence in her life from a young age. She says she always felt a deep connection to God's creation, “The story of Samuel and Eli in a Ladybird Book of the Bible profoundly impacted her understanding of how God communicates with us.”
The retreat centre of the Community of St. Francis in Compton Durville played a pivotal role in deepening Julie’s faith, providing a place of spiritual growth. “I spent many a time in the retreat centre, and my children came to know it too. My faith grew there and became more rooted in my life as a result.”
In 1995, when Julie faced a difficult life situation she found her faith gave her the strength and courage she needed, “God was active in my life and present daily.” Over time she gained the strength to use her experience to help and guide others and founded the Taunton Domestic Abuse Forum to offer to support to those in need.
Julie says her faith was also a support later in her professional life as a youth justice worker where she helped “hundreds of vulnerable young people over a period of about 20 years, whose lives were difficult.” Throughout all this though the God’s call never left her. Pursuing a master’s degree in applied theology from Exeter University enabled her to integrate her work with her faith, deepening her spiritual journey.
Surrounded by a supportive community, she says she is grateful for the encouragement and discernment of her vocation and for the support and love of her family.
As she embarks on this new chapter in her faith journey, Julie is excited to serve the community and share the love of Christ. With a heart full of gratitude and a spirit of dedication, she says she is looking forward to her ministry, confident in God's continued presence and guidance.
Julie says she is grateful to Sarum College, Salisbury for the theological training for ministry she received.