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70 Queendale Center |
Craig & Karen Dial
Craig and Karen Dial came to Red Bird Mission in August of 1987. Craig came to serve as supervisor for our Retail Operations, and Karen came to be manager of the craft program, which is one of the major parts of economic development outreach. In March of 1995 Karen became the Development Associate for Red Bird Mission. She handled inquiries about Red Bird Mission and sent acknowledgments for all donations received. In 1998, she became a Candidate for Ministry and was licensed as a Local Pastor in July of 1999. She attended Appalachian Local Pastors School in 1999 and 2000. She has served full time as a pastor in the Red Bird Missionary Conference since 2000 and is currently under appointment to the Lothair and Combs United Methodist Churches in Hazard, KY. They have a married daughter Stacia, who is currently working at Red Bird Mission in the Craft Program. They also have a married son, Craig Jr. They both graduated from Red Bird Mission School. Craig Jr. is in the Submarine Service with the United States Navy.Craig serves as the Director of Economic Opportunity at Red Bird Mission. He oversees the Craft Program and the main Community Store at Red Bird Mission. In the last 3 years, Red Bird Mission built a new clothing store to replace the old one and also built a receiving building that can handle all the clothes, household goods, and furniture that are donated to the Mission. The remodeled Craft store has twice as much sales area as well as a good-sized warehouse. When Red Bird Mission was seeking a couple with retail experience, Craig and Karen were at a point in their lives where they had already made the decision to enter full-time Christian service and the work at Red Bird has been a natural marriage of their backgrounds and their desire to serve the Lord. Craig grew up as part of a parsonage family in the Kansas West Conference, went on to Southwestern College, and into the US Army. His retail experience spans more than 15 years with Longs Drugs in California, Skaggs Drugs in Kansas and Skaggs Alpha Beta in Utah before coming to Red Bird. Karen grew up in the San Francisco Bay area and Salt Lake City. Like Craig, Karen acquired a background in retail, with Longs Drugs in California. She also served as a church secretary, Red Bird Missionary Conference UMW Treasurer, and many other positions in the church. Both Craig and Karen have actively entered into the total life of Red Bird Mission as well as the life of the Lothair and Combs churches. Craig commutes the 47 miles to Red Bird about three days a week and Karen takes her days off and comes to the Mission. Craig travels regularly selling crafts at United Methodist Churches and is still actively involved in assisting local people in developing marketable, quality crafts as well a developing wholesale and retail markets for their goods. He also helps various other organizations and agencies to provide business training and marketing opportunities. Besides being a full time pastor, Karen serves as a board member of General Board of Church and Society. She is also serving on the Board of Directors of the Red Bird Mission. She is continuing her Course of Study as a local pastor.
Advance # 773906
