In November 1999, James and Karen Pickett were appointed to Mozambique as missionaries after serving there for one year as GO-Net volunteers. During their service in Mozambique. Jim will be involved in leadership development and teaching in the Bible school.

Jim was born in Lehighton, Pennsylvania, and spent ten years of his life in New Jersey where his parents were involved in pastoral ministry. At three years old, he accepted Jesus into his life at a camp meeting in Binghamton, New York. His interest in missions began when his family housed missionaries in their home and with his heavy involvement in YMWB (now WKFM). Shortly before his twelfth birthday, his family went to Brazil where they served for the next 13 years. It was here that he had his first experience in ministering cross-culturally. During the summer before his senior year of high school, he went on a YES Corps mission trip to Sierra Leone. In his first semester of college, Jim surrendered to the call of missions that had started as a young child.

In 1986, Jim graduated from United Wesleyan College earning a B.S. in pastoral ministry, Christian education, and missions. He received his M.A. in Christian education and missions from Asbury Theological Seminary in 1988. From 1988-1998, Jim pastored in New York in Central New York and Eastern New York/New England (Champlain) Districts.

Karen (Kent) was born in Papua New Guinea to Wesleyan missionaries, Chuck and Linda Kent. She became a Christian at the age of five. When she was 12, her parents returned to the United States to pastor. Throughout her teen years, she remained active in church ministry. During an alter call at Pace "86, Karen committed herself to go anywhere the Lord called her. Later, on a short-term mission trip, she told God she would go to the mission field unless He specifically told her to stay in the States. She met Jim while she was on a short-term mission trip to Brazil in 1987. They were married in 1989, and in 1991, Karen earned her B.S. in Spanish and secondary education from Houghton College. Karen has been involved in local church ministries including music, puppets, and Sunday school.

Jim and Karen have one child, Carissa Anne ('99).

Please be praying for Jim and Karen as they serve our Lord.