Missionary Profile
Missionary Profile
Dale & Karen Marshfield
KwaZulu Natal Ministry Team
Durban, South Africa

Dale and Karen have been missionaries to South Africa for twenty years. Their children Jon and Jamie have grown up in South Africa and consider it home. Jon recently graduated from Cedarville University and Jamie will start Cedarville in the fall. They have both been an
active part of the ministry in South Africa.

Dale and Karen initiated the Phoenix Fellowship Baptist Church in February 1997. From the beginning they have worked with ABWE missionaries, Dave and Karen Hamrick. After a year Dale assumed the Senior pastor role and Dave took over the Christian Education and
Youth ministries. Karen Marshfield has done teacher training, overseen the women's ministries and played keyboard in their worship band. Karen Hamrick headed up the children's ministries.

They ran a number of outreaches prior to starting the Sunday services, but the first meetings only the staff was present. Today, they have around 100 people at Sunday morning services.

Their vision is the Glory of God. Therefore, they commit themselves to building a church that will lead lost people to transformation in Christ, and aid them in attaining the whole measure of the fullness of Christ that they may bear God's glory into the world.

The mission of The Phoenix Fellowship is to develop into a multicultural Bible believing church characterized by grace based relationships. Through the ministry of God's Word, they will seek to lead believers into ever increasing experiences of the life of Christ.

They believe this will result in godly homes, genuine interpersonal relationships with the body and practical and evangelical compassion toward the physical and spiritual needs of those outside the body.

They seek to cultivate a spirit of service and sacrifice within the body that will be used of God to raise up men and women who will commit their lives to extending the vision of their church throughout South Africa and around the world.

Their ministry philosophy is defined by three important convictions:

The local Church should be a redemptive community. It is community with one goal, to live like sons of God in the midst of this dark world. The atmosphere in such a community is grace, forgiveness and forbearance. It is a place where people can learn about the love of
God by observation.

The Bible is God's Message to His people today. It must be interpreted correctly and preached with conviction.

The cross defines the Christian life. This means life can only be lived to the fullest when it is laid down in obedience to God for the sake of others.

Their mid range goal is to be numerically, spiritually and ministerially ready to build their own building by 2006.

Karen has an important though indirect role at the Baptist Bible College. She is the primary mentor of the ladies in the church whose husbands are studying for ministry.

Dale serves on the board, mentors apprentices within the church and teaches at the College.

A Word from Dale and Karen:

For twenty years our supporting churches in the USA have stood with us. You have understood the pressures of the ministry God has given to us. We are grateful to have you as a part of our Team. God is doing great things in South Africa. It is all of grace and sublime testimony to the fact that divine purposes prevail. Success cannot be explained in
human terms, they are merely the reflection of God's own will. Thank you for enabling us to be where God is working.

Field Address:
PO Box 22187
Glenashley, 4022
Republic of South Africa