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Beyond “Retirement” - Jim and Alice Englund
August, 2004

Throughout the history of Missionary TECH Team God has uniquely provided for needed staff. He directs various individuals from many professions, experiences and circumstances to equip a team to meet the technical needs of Christian ministries and missions. For twenty years Jim and Alice Englund have been members of that team. The longevity of their service is made particularly noteworthy since their union with TECH began upon retirement from their careers.

Jim and Alice met at college, where Jim received a Bachelor and Masters of Science in Mechanical Engineering, and Alice, a Bachelor of Science in Accounting. For the first two years of marriage both worked for General Electric in New York. After World War II and Jim’s time overseas with the Navy, they moved to Washington, where Jim had been offered a position as Research Assistant at Washington State University. Alice would also work for the University as an accountant before being employed by the hospital as the controller. (Both continued to be employed by the University until retirement age.) During this time they raised three children, Karen, Richard and Mariane and were involved in a rural Sunday School under American Sunday School Union, Intervarsity Christian Fellowship and in various other teaching ministries.

Jim and Alice became acquainted with Missionary TECH Team through one of TECH’s staff, Ken Edgar. Jim eventually served on some small TECH projects under Lowell Jenson. As the couple approached retirement, they considered how God might utilize their experiences. Sincerely believing that TECH was “an instrument that God was using in His plan to bring the gospel of Jesus Christ to all people,” Jim and Alice applied as fulltime missionaries; they joined TECH’s staff in October 1984.

For two decades, Alice has been faithfully serving as an accountant in the business office, and Jim as a mechanical engineer, where he is responsible for Mechanical Systems Design in Facilities Planning Services. In addition, he oversees the maintenance of the physical facilities of TECH. Last year Jim and Alice celebrated 60 years of marriage; this fall TECH will celebrate 20 years of partnership with them. Upon reaching age 80, Jim and Alice spoke of “retirement,” of cutting back on their full days in the office. Not much has changed (perhaps they are still thinking about it); daily, they faithfully continue to provide vital services to the ongoing ministry of Missionary TECH Team.

Jim and Alice are also very involved in their local church and community; both have had leadership roles in Bible Study Fellowship. Jim has also taught for many years at LeTourneau University. Their life verse is Philippians 1:6: “Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.” Truly they give testimony to that “good work.” Their example to each of us at TECH in Christian love and maturity is outstanding! We are richly blessed by their partnership with us and to those we serve.

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