Red Bird Missionary Conference ~ Welcome

Red Bird Missionary Conference, Inc. • 54 Queendale Center, Beverly, Kentucky 40913 | 606.598.5915

Pastors and Outreach Workers Bio

Rev. Karen Dial
Pastor

Karen Dial is an Associate in Mission Service (AIMS) with the General Board of Global Ministries serving in the Red Bird Missionary Conference. Karen serves as a full-time local pastor at the Beverly UMC. Her husband, Craig, is Director of Economic Development for Red Bird Mission (one of Red Bird Missionary Conference's four mission institutions).

Karen and Craig first came to the Red Bird Missionary Conference in 1987 seeking to enter "full time Christian Service." They say their work at Red Bird has been a "natural marriage of our backgrounds and our desire to serve the Lord." When they first arrived, the couple worked together to manage the craft program and retail operations at the Red Bird Mission - work with which Craig is still involved.

In 1995, Karen became the Development Associate for the Mission, handling inquiries about its programs and acknowledging gifts and donations. In 1998, she became a Candidate for the Ministry and in July 1999, she was licensed as a local pastor. She attended the Appalachian Local Pastors School in 1999-2000, and in June 2000, she was appointed to her first church.

A native of Petaluma, CA, Karen grew up in the San Francisco Bay area and also lived for a time in Salt Lake City, UT. She attended Santa Rosa Junior college in Santa Rosa, CA. Before coming to Red Bird, she worked in retail, served in many areas of the local churches in which she was a member. While at Trinity UMC in Kearns, UT, she held the position of Sub-District Mission Secretary in the Grand Junction District.

Karen and Craig have two adult children, Stacia and Craig, Jr., who are both graduates of the Red Bird Mission School. Craig is now in the U.S. Navy; a graduate of Eastern Kentucky University, Stacia is continuing the family tradition of working at Red Bird Mission.