[cs_content][cs_element_section _id=”1″ ][cs_element_layout_row _id=”2″ ][cs_element_layout_column _id=”3″ ][cs_element_text _id=”4″ ][cs_content_seo]Sandy Sakaparanne, Pastor of Karen Language Service
Joined Belmont UMC staff as a volunteer in 2004; as an employee in 2007
Academic background
Lao Conference of Churches, St. Petersburg, Florida, Masters in Ministry
Southwest Bible College & Seminary, Humble, Texas, Candidate for Doctorate
Family life
Married Nick in 1969
Three children
Steve (married to Candy)
Tony (married to Melanie)
Kenneth (married to Kathryn)
Interests and activities
“Fishing, watching basketball (I played in high school), traveling”
Places called home besides Nashville
Bangkok, Thailand
Reason for chosen career
“I felt called by the Lord to minister to the Karen language speakers in Middle Tennessee. They had lived in refugee camps in Thailand and spoke Thai. I had been a translator for the Tennessee Foreign Language Institute and worked with various Karen groups in Middle Tennessee. I wanted to help organize and guide them in a Christian church.”\n\n[/cs_content_seo][/cs_element_layout_column][/cs_element_layout_row][/cs_element_section][/cs_content]