Joe and Karin Bedford
Globe Europe Missionaries to
Peru| Origin: | USA / Germany | | GEM Missionaries since: | July 2002 | | Mission field: | Juliaca / Peru | | Education: | Elektroincal Engineer + pastor / nurse | | Status: | married, 3 children | | Newsletter: | Download | | Website: | www.chacradedios.org |
Karin grew up in a Christian home and even as a child had the dream of going to other lands and meeting foreign peoples always fascinated her. She has also always wanted to be a nurse.
When she was 14 years old, she gave her life to Christ at a retreat. After High School, she went to the US to attend various schools from „Youth with a Mission“, and later served in the Miami base. Duriing these years, she met Joe and in 1991 they got married in Germany. She completed her nurse’s training in Hamburg.
Joe grew up in Virginia, USA. He became a believer while studying at Virginia Tech. After finishing his degree, he worked 5 years in Florida, where he met Karin and where God put missions on his heart. He went to Germany in 1990 to attend a Discipleship Training School with “Youth with a Mission”. Afterward he worked 5 years in Hamburg while Karin studied nursing. From 1995 to 1998, he attended Columbia Theological Seminary in Korntal, Germany. After finishing his Masters, he pastored a church in Kitzingen, Germany for the next 5 years. In these years Karin and Joe had 3 children: Samuel (1995), Sarah (1998), and Joshua (2000).
Joe and Karin received their calling to Peru independently of each other 12 years ago. In Nov 2003, they moved to Lima, Peru to learn about the land and culture, and to learn Spanish. They also sought God’s will for their further ministry. The way led to the highlands of Peru to the Christian Training Center “Chacra de Dios”.
Since Feb of 2005, they have been ministering with Peter and Kerstin Kinast, the founders of the Center. The Center works together with all the evangelical churches in the city of Juliaca, to train leaders and believers, also disciple new believers. They have been helping to hold seminars, teach Peruvian co-workers and strengthen churches and people in the highlands. Joe and Karin are now a part of the leadership team of Chacra de Dios, where Joe is responsible for carrying out various events and seminars in the Center. Chacra de Dios has also founded a church in an unreached section of Juliaca, where we help out with preaching and worship.
Their long-term vision is to build up leaders in Juliaca, encouraging and teaching them with the hopes that they will also teach others. They are inspired by 2 Tim 2:1-2: You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others.
Joe and Karin are thankful and excited, that God is leading them into His plan for the highlands of Peru.
Further information can be found at: www.chacradedios.org |
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