Carl & Karen Martinsen

Guatemala, CAM International

Contact Information
Apartado 2311
01901, Guatemala City
Guatemala

II Timothy 2:2 (NASB) "And the things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, these entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also."

Preparing Spanish-Speaking Christian Leaders for Ministry

Carl (from Bellingham, Washington) served in the U.S. Army, is a carpenter, and has a degree in Christian Education from Biola University. Karen is from southeast Arizona and has a degree in Missions from Biola University.

After both Carl and Karen had short-term missions experiences, they felt called to work with missionary kids (MKs) in Guatemala. Carl and Karen joined CAM International in 1972. In July of 1975, after a year of Spanish language study in Costa Rica, they joined the staff of Huehue Academy, a boarding school for MKs in Guatemala. At Huehue Academy they served as dorm parents, part-time teachers, and Carl was the school principal for six years. Huehue Academy was closed in 1987.

From 1987 through 1997, Carl and Karen served at the Christian Academy of Guatemala (C.A.G.) – a day school for MKs (Missionary Kids). Carl served as director at C.A.G., directed the construction of a new school campus, and taught some classes. Karen was coordinator of the school band program.

Carl and Karen began serving at the Central American Theological Seminary (Seminario Teológico Centroamericano – “SETECA”) in July of 1998. Carl and Karen serve with the department of Development and Communications team (Promotions). Carl is also in charge of work teams from the U.S. and Canada who come to help with building and maintenance projects and works with campus and facility development. Karen also works with donor relations and is the business manager for Kairós, the Seminary’s theological journal.

SETECA, which began as a Bible Institute in 1929, currently has over 1,200 students from 22 countries studying in the various programs. There are over 2,400 graduates serving in 28 countries on all 5 continents. The Seminary trains Spanish-speaking people to serve as pastors, missionaries, and youth workers. SETECA also equips people for Christian education, children, camping, and women’s ministries.

Carl works with FAM International (Fraternity for the Advancement of Missions) – a Latin-American mission agency that assists Spanish-speaking people and churches in the preparation of missionaries and in sending them around the world to reach others for Christ.

The Martinsens are active in a local Spanish church ministry. Carl and Karen help with the church missions committee and missions program. Karen participates in the church women’s ministry.

Statistics

Anniversary	Birthdays	Education	Children
6/13/70	Carl: 10/15	Biola University	Carlene
	Karen: 9/25	San Diego Christian College	David
			Alan