The Steward
Shailene U. Caparas, CPA, CGA, CPA (Philippines)
Born in Ilocos Sur and raised in Pangasinan, Philippines, Shailene studied at the Far Eastern University, Manila and graduated in 2003 with a Bachelor of Science in Accountancy summa cum laude (with highest honours). She was a recipient of the Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo Academic Excellence Award. She started her career as an external auditor at Sycip, Gorres Velayo & Co (Ernst & Young Philippines) for three years. After migrating to Canada in 2007, she then served as an accountant at Congregation Beth Israel in Vancouver, BC for seven years.
After completing the Certified General Accountants (now Chartered Professional Accountants) Program of Studies, Shailene graduated Top 7 of the CGA-BC Class of 2013. CGA Canada (a predecessor of CPA Canada) engaged her services as a standard setter and a course marker of the CGA capstone exams immediately after her CGA graduation. With the introduction of a new program in 2015, CPA Canada engaged her further as a technical consultant for its Not-for-Profit course.
Currently, Shailene is employed as the Comptroller of the Anglican Church of Canada – Synod of the Diocese of New Westminster, being responsible for all aspects of accounting and finance of the Diocese. The Diocese is the Anglican Church in the Sunshine Coast, Lower Mainland, and Fraser Valley of British Columbia comprising 66 parishes and 3 worshipping communities on the ancestral lands of the Coast Salish First Nations.
Shailene is also actively involved in the Filipino-Canadian community. Since 2009, she has volunteered in progressive roles at the Philippine Institute of Certified Public Accountants, Vancouver Chapter and was the chapter president in 2015. She also sits on the board of Worldwide Missions of BC (2015-present), United Filipino-Canadian Associations of BC (2015-present), and Association of Filipino-Canadian Accountants of BC (2015). She is also a financial consultant for a number of Christian churches and missionary organizations.
The Development of Shailene’s Faith in Christ and Calling in God’s Kingdom
When Shailene was five years old, a group of missionaries visited her great grandfather’s home (mother side) in Magsingal, Ilocos Sur and planted the seed of the gospel of Christ. Their home became the first born-again Christian house church in her town. Three years after, when she moved to her grandmother’s home (father side) in Pangasinan, another group of born-again Christians in her village came over to their place and asked if they could hold an evangelistic service in their frontyard. Shailene’s family was then welcomed and was consistently taught with the Word of God in the small village church. Shailene’s mom, the late Pastor Aurora U. Caparas, who was then working in another country, continued to water the seed of the gospel of Christ through her monthly overseas letters and constant prayers. Her mom’s faith, prayer life, daily Bible reading, and personal relationship with God through Christ greatly influenced her faith and walk in Christ. Shailene was convinced that she is a sinner and in need of a Saviour, that she needed Jesus in her life not only to restore such a personal relationship with God through Christ, but to also experience the purpose and richness of life that can be found only in Christ Jesus.
Before turning 30, Shailene specifically asked the Lord what her role was going to be in God’s Kingdom. She then felt the Lord place in her a burden to advance the Kingdom of Christ specifically through the creation of partnerships between Christians from around the world, and the indigenous pastors and ministries in the Philippines as well as in the 10/40 window nations. Through God’s wisdom and favour, SeedCare germinated on June 7, 2012 as the Lord’s brainchild to fulfill God’s vision.
In May 2015, having proven a Divine gift for and calling into the ministry of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, Shailene was ordained as a minister of the Gospel by the Reverend Dr. John W. Lucas, president-emeritus of the Fellowship of Christian Assemblies of Canada.
The Lord has prepared, equipped, and strategically positioned Shailene to serve and provide financial oversight to churches and missionary organizations in God’s Kingdom. Her compassionate, humble, and wise spirit has helped her become a willing servant of volunteer pastors foremost in the Philippines.