Multi-faith chaplaincy Current Students

Andy Cyr

Andy Cyr is a husband and father of five children. He loves spending time with his family outdoors.

He graduated from high school in Red Deer, Alberta and served in full-time missionary work with NET Ministries of Canada for two years, facilitating retreats for young people all across Canada. Andy was a LIFE TEEN Youth Ministry Coordinator at Sacred Heart from 2003 to 2004.

Between then and now, Andy worked for an Oilfield Supply Company in Alberta and owned and operated a Shuttle Company. He is now the Coordinator for KCYG (Kamloops Catholic Youth Group), which is a new youth ministry initiative from the Catholic Diocese of Kamloops.

Favorite Quote: "Jesus loves you exactly where you are, but too much to leave you there."

Narayan Mitra

Narayan is a member of the Kamloops Campus Ministries Society and has been a volunteer chaplain at TRU since 1996. He was born and raised in Kolkata, India in a Hindu home and became a "Jesus follower" at college. Narayan finished a Bachelor’s degree at the University of Kolkata, worked seven years as a staff worker at the Inter-Varsity Christian Fellowship in India before moving to Canada for graduate theological studies at Regent College, Vancouver. Narayan has pastored at a number of smaller churches since then.

Favourite quote: But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. – Romans 5:8

Ahmed Kafafi

Ahmed Kafafi is a member of the Kamloops Islamic Association, and provides chaplaincy services at TRU, Royal Inland Hospital, and Kamloops Regional Correctional Centre. He completed his studies in Civil Engineering at UBC. Ahmed currently works as a Highway Design Engineer. When not working or at TRU’s Multi-Faith Chaplaincy, he enjoys playing soccer, travelling, and spending time with his family.

Favourite quote: Indeed, in the creation of the heavens and the earth and the alternation of the night and the day are signs for those of understanding. – The Holy Quran

Jeff Torrans

Jeff is a Christian representative and member of the Baptist faith. He has a Master of Divinity degree from Briercrest Family of Schools and an undergrad from UCC (before it became TRU!). Jeff loves to spend time with family, coach soccer, and run a side business on leadership development.

Favourite quote: Jesus must become greater, I must become less. – Gospel of John. Jeff has tried to live his life in this fashion since high school!

Reverend Pat

Reverend Pat has been a New Thought Minister with Centers for Spiritual Living since 2014 and is the founder of Spiritual Connections Kamloops. New Thought philosophy incorporates affirmative prayer, meditation, visioning and other spiritual tools which help us lead a spiritual life, think positively, and love deeply. Pat believes that the universe is spiritual and has intelligence, purpose, beauty, and order.

Favourite quote: We are all thinking, willing, knowing, conscious centers of Life. We are surrounded by, immersed in, and there is flowing through us a creative something... call it what you will. ― Ernest Holmes

Sandra Tait Humphrey

Sandra has been an active student of Eckankar since the late 80s. She completed the required 22 years of spiritual training and was ordained as an Eckankar cleric in 2012. As a member of the Eckankar clergy she upholds the high spiritual standards of the sacred path of Eckankar and serves God and all life with love, compassion, and grace.

Favourite quote: People often wonder, How do I get God's love? You get it by giving to others, in ways that you like to give."—Harold Klemp, The Wonder Within You, p. 8

Shelley Utz

Reverend Dr. Shelley is an ordained minister with The Free Methodist Church in Canada. A lifelong learner, she has earned a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Alberta; a Master of Divinity from Wycliffe College, University of Toronto; and a Doctor of Ministry from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, North Carolina, USA.

Shelley has worked in pastoral ministry for 22 years in Victoria, Edmonton, and Kamloops, where she’s lived since 2018.

She has a special interest in spiritual and emotional healing. She loves playing board games and spending time in nature, whether camping or kayaking with family.

Favourite quote: God's love was revealed among us in this way: God sent his only Son into the world so that we might live through him. - 1 John 4:9

Venerable Gawa Khandro

Venerable Gawa Khandro is a Buddhist nun whose teachers include V. V. Kenchen Thrangu Rinpoche, Thich Nhat Hanh, Acharya Pema Chodron, and Lama Tsewang Samdrup. She is the Spiritual Director of GawaLing Buddhist Centre, a member of Interfaith Kamloops, United Sangha Vancouver, Zen Peacemakers International, and Sakyadhita Canada. She is currently working on her Acharya ordination with Ven Pannavati in North Carolina. Her main work is creating community connections and outreach. She is also a contributor to a recent book on Chaplaincy in Canada.

Favourite quote: This is my religion … your own heart and mind are your temple. The philosophy is simple kindness. – H H Dalai Lama