About Us
Rodney and Carol Friend
Missionaries to the European Theological Seminary
Rodney was born in Easton, Md., and grew up attending the local Church of God. Carol was born in Indiana, but was raised in Ferndale, Mich., where she attended the Ferndale/Faith Temple Church of God. They have a son and a daughter, Daniel and Leslie. Rodney received his education from Chesapeake College (AA), Lee College (BA) and Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminar (MA). Carol and he served as minister of education at Faith Temple Church of God for nine years, and as pastor in Augusta, Maine, for seven years, where Carol led the worship praise team.
They became missionaries in 1989 and were appointed to Mauritius. After raising their support, they were refused entry there in 1990 by the government of Mauritius. This was when the former Soviet Union satellites were revolting against communist leaders. The Friends accepted an invitation to go to Romania in 1990. They were some of the first missionaries to live in Eastern Europe after the communist powers fell. They lived in Bucharest, and Rodney was a teacher in the seminary there. They traveled around the country, evangelizing on the weekends.
After an illness caused them to return to America for two years, the Friends returned to Europe in 1995 as education coordinators for Western Europe. They resided in the London area and traveled to many nations helping with ministerial training, discipleship courses, and lectured at Bible schools. In 1999, they returned to America to pastor a church in Augusta, Maine. While there, Rodney also served as a district overseer, MIP board member, School of Ministry CIMS regional coordinator, pastoral covenant group leader, regional council member and a pastoral coach. They have returned to Europe for the third time to serve as teacher at the European Theological Seminary in Kniebis, Germany. Both have a great love and passion to serve in that area. Please pray for them.
