Carol and her husband, John, came to RB Community 18 years ago, bringing with them a long history of church membership and service. Carol said she literally grew up in a Presbyterian church. Her parents helped to build the church they attended in Hawthorn, CA, and she began attending as an infant.
Carol attended Pepperdine College, where she met John. She majored in English and began her career as an English teacher in high school and community colleges. Because of John’s career, Carol and her family moved often. They had no church home, but they visited Presbyterian churches all over the country. She learned on her own how to maintain her spiritual connection to God: Pray, turn to God for help in all instances, read the Bible, and associate with people who follow Christ. She was drawn to serving others as she witnessed to her faith. Trusting that her service might help others find faith brings her joy and leads her closer to experiencing God’s presence.
Carol began her life of service by teaching Sunday School at age 14. She later led youth groups. By being involved in service continually, she learned to pay attention to her own spiritual growth until it became a way of life for her.
In 2008, she and John moved to RB to be near their two daughters and to help their younger daughter, Sharon, with her family as she dealt with the breast cancer that took her life. After John's death in 2020, Carol’s immediate family now consists of her older daughter, Karen. and their very loving and supportive relatives.
When they came to RB, they discovered a lovely Presbyterian Church (us) just down the street. They joined, and John was first to volunteer as a Deacon. They joined a Life Group, and Carol became a Deacon. Her desire to serve grew from there.
She continues to volunteer as a Pew Angel and as a member of the choir. As a Deacon, she served as Moderator for a year and as secretary for nine years. She has led the Grief Share program for nine years, helping those in our larger community who have lost loved ones.
Currently, she works with Pastor Mofid, our parish nurse Marilyn Glover, Barbara Weeks, and Sue Melnyk in Congregational Care. This ministry includes Deacons, Stephen Ministers, Grief Share, Prayer Teams, and many others. It is a perfect fit for Carol. The people who contact the ministry are usually in need of help. Carol’s compassionate heart reaches out to offer them our services. She is blessed, and her faith grows with every experience. Stop by the Congregational Care cubby near Mofid’s office in the church office to thank their team and to see a list of all the ways she and Barbara care for members of our church family. You will be amazed.
Carol says that RB Community is the kind of church that invites volunteerism. She cannot imagine her life without a church community. Her church activities fill her life with meaning and joy as well as many opportunities to grow in trusting the Lord.
From Irene Dunny & Carol Kasser