Preparing Costa Rican Harvesters!

Providing Hope for Needy Families!

“For the last 37 years God has allowed us to see lives changed by the power of the Gospel, through church planting, leadership training and the schools of Latin America ChildCare. After 17 years of serving on the leadership team for Latin America and the Caribbean, we have the opportunity to return to hands-on missionary work again – in Costa Rica.”

After serving as missionaries in Costa Rica for sixteen years and in Mexico for eight, Ken became the director for Latin America ChildCare in 2000. LACC ministers to nearly 100,000 children who attend more than 300 elementary and high schools in 21 countries of Latin America and the Caribbean. In addition to receiving the basics of life, uniforms, medical and dental attention and a hot meal, these children hear the Good News that Jesus can transform their lives. Over a million children have attended an LACC network school. In March 2010, they completed the leadership transition allowing them to go back to Costa Rica.

The Costa Rica that Ken and Marcie return to is very different today than it was in 1974. The demands of the growing church require leaders that are better prepared. They will be working to prepare Costa Rican world harvesters. They will also be ministering in the churches where there are LACC schools to help them more effectively reach entire families. Although the church community has grown, the social needs of the country have increased dramatically – drugs, gangs, deteriorating families.

Both Ken and Marcie were born and raised in Minnesota. Ken graduated from the Minnesota State University, Mankato, with a degree in education, and from North Central University with a degree in Bible and Pastoral Studies. Ken also has a Masters Degree from the Assemblies of God Theological Seminary. They served as associate pastors in St. Louis Park, MN, and South Bend, IN, and senior pastors in Wadena, MN.

In 1973 they began their journey into world missions. When their children, Joni and Jon, were only six and four, Ken and Marcie arrived in Costa Rica, where they served for 16 years. While in Costa Rica Jenny was added to their family. They worked with college students, youth ministry, church planting and training ministers to work in the Harvest. The last church the Dahlagers started in Costa Rica, The San Jose Evangelistic Center, has an attendance of more than 7,500 people.

In Costa Rica the Dahlagers were also involved in starting six Christian elementary and high schools. During the last 27 years more than 70,000 children have attended the LACC schools in just Costa Rica.

In 1990, Ken and Marcie moved to Mexico City, the world’s largest city. They immediately become involved in training ministers, church planting and Latin America ChildCare. Schools were started in several of the principle cities of Mexico. Today there are 13 LACC schools in Mexico. For six years they served as Mexico Area Directors, pastoring the American Assemblies of God missionary family.

Ken and Marcie have three children and eight grandchildren. Joni and Gary Wileman pastor First Assembly of God in Aberdeen, SD. Jon and his wife, Jennifer, and their family are missionaries in Costa Rica. Jenny and Lathyn Huver live in Springfield, MO. Jenny is a kindergarten teacher.