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Mission work is not new to the Searles. Liz is the child of missionaries and was raised in Ramallah, Palestine, and Cairo and Alexandra, Egypt. Together, the Searles served in China (Chengdu, Sichuan) from 2001 to 2007 with Global Ministries, a combined witness of the United Church of Christ and the Christian Church/Disciples of Christ. In China, the Searles trained English teachers from minority schools in western Sichuan province, particularly Tibetan, Yi, and Qiang minority teachers.
Doug was interim pastor at Schleswig United Church of Christ in Schleswig , Iowa, from 2000 to 2001. From 1999 to 2000 the Searles served in Changchun, Jilin province, China, where they taught English as a foreign language to students age 5 to adults.
The Searles served at Woodstock School in Uttar Pradesh, India, from 1997 to 1999. Liz was a music teacher and an English teacher, while Doug was houseparent, chaplain, and teacher of ethics.
Prior to serving at Woodstock, Doug was pastor of First Baptist Church in Mount Carroll, Illinois. Doug was ordained as a minister in June 1997 by the American Baptist Church. Doug also holds ministerial standing with the United Church of Christ.
From 1995 to 1997 and prior to leaving for Woodstock, Liz was assistant professor of English and American literature at Franciscan University, (1991 to 1996). Prior to that, she served as a reporter and editorial writer at The Mirror Democrat, a newspaper in Mount Carroll, Illinois.
From 1985 to 1988, Liz was founder, artistic director, and administrator of American Medieval Players, Chicago, Illinois, a labor of love. During the same time she was also an account representative for WFMT Classical Radio in Chicago. From 1980 to 1985, Liz taught in the English Department at Loyola University of Chicago.
Prior to his ordination and service as a minister and mission worker, Doug was chief fiscal officer of the state of Illinois Department of Employment Security.
Douglas holds a bachelor’s degree from Wayne State University and an M. Div. from Northern Baptist Theological Seminary. Liz’s bachelor’s degree is from Macalester College in St. Paul, Minnesota, her master’s (English literature) is from DePaul University in Chicago, Illinois, and her doctorate in English literature is from Loyola University of Chicago.
Elizabeth is a member of Schleswig United Church of Christ in Schleswig, Iowa.
The Searles have two children, McCleary and Mackenzie. McCleary is accompanying the Searles in Poland and Mackenzie is a college student in the United States.
Birthdays:
Liz - May 9
Doug - April 16
McCleary – October 9
Mackenzie – March 6 |
