Ministry Focus
Carmen began her missionary career with her husband Don in Indonesia. Appointed by CBFMS in 1969, they served in the jungles of Kalimantan Barat, where Carmen was a Bible translator and teacher until 1990. After a brief stint in the Philippines (92-95), they returned to the States and began working with international students. Carmen has been part of Portland, Oregon’s FOCUS (Friends of Overseas Citizens and University Students) since 1996. After working on the Portland State campus for several years, Carmen was asked to join the leadership of ACMI, a global network for Christians involved with international students and scholars. She served as the Interim Director from 2011-2014 and continues to work alongside ACMI staff in order to concentrate on the global vision of reaching international students for Christ. Working together with other national ISM leaders, Carmen is now a member of the Lausanne ISM Strategy Group, focusing on preparing internationals to face a world of increasingly intense persecution against Christians because of their faith. When the COVID pandemic started, she and her colleagues began doing much of their ministry online where travel restrictions cannot stop their work. Carmen was faculty at the WorldView Center (now Culture Bound) in Portland, a school specializing in training cross-cultural missionaries. She taught writing at Multnomah University from 1999-2006, and more recently taught “Church Leadership and Diversity.” She resides in Hillsboro, OR and is a Bible teacher at her home church, First Baptist.
Faith Story
Born in California, Carmen has known the Lord since early childhood. Before the age of10, she was called toward missions and Bible translation when missionaries visited her church. God confirmed the call through the years, and with missions in mind she graduated from Pacific University in Forest Grove, Oregon.
Family
Carmen and Don married in 1963 and served together until 2000, when Don retired. They enjoyed ten grandchildren added to the family before Don joined his Savior in August 2020 after contracting COVID.
Education
B.A. in Spanish from Pacific University, Forest Grove, OR
M.A. in Exegetical Theology from Western Seminary
M.A. and Th.M. from Western Seminary
CBFMS is now World Venture, with headquarters in Englewood, CO.
ACMI = The Association of Christians Ministering among Internationals
ISM = International Student Ministry
WAYS TO SUPPORT
Carmen by making a financial donation using your credit or debit card.
Learn more about where this ministry happens
In colorful communities and along scenic highways, diverse people and landscapes span coast to coast
Iconic American traditions include Thanksgiving dinner, jazz music and the Super Bowl. They meld with eclectic examples of multicultural heritage: numerous local Chinatowns, family-owned taquerias and even cowboy boots, which originated among the nomadic Huns of eastern Europe.
The nation's landscape shows just as many contrasts — sandy beaches and rocky coastlines, open plains and vast deserts, rugged mountains and winding canyons, and abundant rivers and lakes.
The ideals of life and liberty that founded the United States have made the country one of the world's most prosperous, though not without dark chapters and present troubles. Crime, discrimination and ethics violations make regular headlines, and many people live below the national poverty level.
Families view education as essential to the pursuit of happiness, if not also a path to wealth and power for the most ambitious. Yet Americans also demonstrate a charitable spirit of generosity toward neighbors and nations in need.
Freedom of religion grants opportunity for all faiths, but Christianity holds particular influence in country's history and daily life.
Your participation with Missions Door supports ministry in the United States among college students, including many international students, in collaboration local churches. It also enables social outreach, church planting and leadership development in a wide variety of communities — among Native Americans and other cultural groups, and in urban and suburban settings where growing and changing demographics create new opportunities for the Gospel.
Cultural Snapshot
Aside from the Native American, Native Hawaiian and Native Alaskan populations, nearly all Americans and their ancestors immigrated to the United States.
Faith Fact
In a 2013 survey, 56% of Americans said that religion played a "very important role in their lives” — a larger number than any other wealthy nation.
Country Profile
Population: 320 million
Major Religions: 47% Protestant, 23% unaffiliated, 21% Catholic, 6% other
Languages: 82% English, 11% Spanish, various others
Literacy: 99%
Poverty: 16%
Ministry service area:
Campus Ambassadors
Ministry location:
Oregon, United States