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.”