Growing up together, Dale and Carol Harlan met as babies in the church nursery in their hometown in Western Kentucky.  After graduation from college, they married and started what they assumed would be lifelong teaching careers in Mathematics and Industrial Arts.  

However life took a different turn as they responded to a call to vocational ministry.  Following graduation from Southern Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky, they were appointed by the North American Mission Board to plant new churches in the Midwest.  Dale stayed busy pastoring while Carol worked with college students and cared for their growing family which then included two young sons.

They relocated to North Carolina where Dale pastored and facilitated urban ministry in Charlotte and Winston Salem.  His focus was helping churches minister to their communities beyond the four walls.

Eventually Dale was called to pastor a dying inner city church in the international community in the heart of Charlotte.  The world had come to Charlotte and the census revealed about 100 nationalities represented within a five mile radius of the church.  At one point there were people from 23 different countries attending the transitioning church fellowship.  Staff was brought in to help with assimilation into American culture, which included learning English and navigating the process of becoming American citizens.

One very special memory is that of inviting worshippers to form a circle and pray aloud in their native language.  It was such a wonderful reminder of the vastness of the kingdom of God.  

Upon retirement the Harlans relocated to Kinderton Village.  Earlier Dale had pastored the very loving congregation at Hillsdale Baptist Church.

During this Easter season we are reminded of Jesus’ words to Peter after the Resurrection.   Peter had failed miserably by denying Jesus three times.   Yet there was still work for him to do as Jesus told him to “Feed my sheep”.    

Since retirement Carol has served as a volunteer hospital chaplain and she currently leads home Bible studies for women.  Dale has worked as a hospice volunteer and continues to mentor young men who are striving to become better husbands and fathers as well as learning how to grow as a follower of Christ.   

A few years ago, Dale survived a very rare and aggressive form of cancer.  Almost nine years later he considers every day to be a gift from God.   “We often tell people that we may be retired but we definitely aren’t finished.”