Pastor
Alan Clason
Al grew up in a Christian and Missionary Alliance pastor’s home and Carol grew up in a main-line church in Iowa. Al received Christ at a young age on his father’s lap and was called to missions at a bible camp as a youngster. Carol was baptized as an infant and confirmed in the church but it was only age 17 that she realized her need for a personal Savior and gave her life to Christ. Carol and Al met at St. Paul Bible College (now Crown College in St. Bonifacius, MN, USA). Al went to seminary after 3 years of pastoring and got his Master of Divinity from Bethel Theological Seminary in St. Paul, MN. Al and Carol also served as youth pastor at Grace Alliance in Forest Lake, MN during this time. After graduating from seminary, Al and Carol went to pastor Alliance Community Church in Duluth, MN. There Carol was able to finish her undergraduate degree with a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from the University of MN at Duluth.
In 1987, Al and Carol became missionaries with the CMA, spending one year in Paris to learn French and then going to Guinea, West Africa. There all finished his doctoral studies, with a Doctor of Ministry from Bethel Theological Seminary. They taught at Telekoro Bible School for 6 years and were in field leadership in Conakry for 4 years. Due to Carol’s health problems, Al and Carol left the mission in 1999 and they began to pastor Christ Community Church of the CMA in Excelsior, MN. After six years, they returned to overseas ministry in France in 2005 at the invitation of the French field director who had worked with the Clasons in Africa. Al and Carol have three children. Their oldest son, Matthew serves with the CMA along with his wife Rachel and daughters, Madeleine, Miabella and Makenna in Amman, Jordan. Their second son, Chad and his wife Nicole and their four children, two sons, Isaac and Andrew and two daughters, Anika and Eva, minister with the CMA in Conakry, Guinea. Their daughter Shelly has been accepted into the apprentice program with the CMA and is scheduled to go to Guinea to serve for two years in the summer of 2010.
Sou Huong, Council President
Sou Huong lives in Paris with her husband and three children, although she was born and raised in Cambodia. Sou Huong pursued engineering studies in France as a young adult and has enjoyed a significant career both here and in Vancouver, Canada. Sou Huong speaks French, English and Mandarin fluently and was part of Willingdon Mennonite Church in British Columbia.