Karen and Carl Beach
FIELD
Karen and Carl had a very fruitful and rewarding ministry in church planting while serving under WorldVenture. As time approached for Carl to retire, they knew they wanted to continue working with the Chinese in Minnesota. That was especially made clear after meeting several Chinese scholars in China who had studied in the United States but nobody had told them about the Lord.
This really burdened their hearts to continue in some type of ministry that would have an impact on them. At the time they didn’t know that there were so many mainland scholars in Minnesota, but the University of Minnesota actually has the largest amount of graduate students from China.
In November 1999 the Beaches were appointed with Missions Door and began in 2000 to work with Mainland Chinese students at the University of Minnesota.
Karen says, “It has been so exciting to see students’ interest in Christianity and be able to share the claims of Christ with them.”
Carl was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease in November, 2001. His decline was quite slow until the summer of 2007. Since then the decline has been more noticeable, and this past March it was obvious he would need to be in a nursing home. He is not able to do anything for himself, but he is getting very good care and seems content.
FAITH
Karen was raised in a Christian home in Minnesota and found the Lord at a young age. After becoming an RN, she worked in Greenwich, Connecticut, where her faith took on a new meaning as she cared for many wealthy patients. They had everything money could buy but they didn’t have the joy of the Lord.
It was not long after that she was led by the Lord to go to Hong Kong as a short-term missionary nurse. That year and a half turned into 31 years of ministry, as she met Carl shortly after arriving in Hong Kong.
FAMILY
Karen married Carl in 1970 and they have three married children and four grandchildren.
