Tim grew up as the son of missionary parents overseas.  Karen grew up in Ohio attending a church that frequently invited missionaries to share about their work.  In their teen years, they both sensed the Lord calling them to the global mission of His Kingdom.  This call led them together as a couple, and then, after linguistic training with Wycliffe Bible Translators, on to Papua New Guinea where they began serving among the Tabo people.

Over the next 19 years, through the Good News of Jesus coming in their heart language, a spiritual transformation took place and the Tabo Church was born.  On Sept. 30, 2006, the Tabo New Testament was dedicated, with people from all over the language group coming to celebrate, as well as many friends and co-workers from the mission community of Ukarumpa.

For the next 11 years, Tim served as a pastor at Ontario Christian Fellowship of Mansfield, Ohio, with Karen helping in a number of significant ministry roles.  During that time, they celebrated the graduation of all three daughters from college, two weddings, and the birth of four grand-children.  Meanwhile, Karen grew in her knowledge of spiritual and emotional health. Tim completed a doctorate at Ashland Theological Seminary that focused on spiritual formation within missional community.

But near the end of their church ministry tenure, the Lord began stirring in Tim and Karen a call to return to full-time mission again.  Their experience and heart for both missions and pastoring led them to Pastors Beyond.  In this new season of ministry, they desire to go provide pastoral care to missionaries around the world in the communities where they serve, to help them finish well, just as, in earlier years, the Lord raised so many others to help them.