Karen Cordes

Karen Cordes grew up in Venezuela, South America as one of two daughters to missionaries Jim and Annette Carmean. After graduating from Christiansen Academy in Venezuela, she attended Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, Illinois. It was in her first year there that she met Brian Cordes. They were married two months after he graduated as an aircraft mechanic. Karen also graduated from Moody with a diploma in communications.

Brian and Karen joined Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) in 1992. For the next couple of years they worked in gaining experience, gave birth to two children, and then left for Indonesia in 1995. While with MAF, Brian was the Chief of Maintenance and Karen served in many different roles. These roles included Bible Study leader, teaching English to small groups, and of course, homemaker, wife and mother. They spent the next three and a half life-changing years there in Indonesia before returning to the United States.

In 1998, the Cordeses moved back to work at MAF headquarters in southern California where they remained for 6 years. While there, their 3rd child was born. By this time, moving seemed to be a way of life for them and by their 10th anniversary, they had moved into their tenth home!

The year 2004 brought yet another move. This time it was from California to Peoria, Illinois, where Brian accepted the Facilities Manager position at Camp Good News in Washington, IL.  Karen, in turn, accepted a position as an Administrative Assistant at Grace Presbyterian Church in Peoria, IL. This was a great experience untilizing her skills and gifts within the setting of a large church staff. She now brings these work and life experiences to the team at Hands of Love Ministry. Karen provides much-needed administrative support for all of our ministry groups and is a great asset to the HOL staff!

Brian and Karen's three children are Zach, Janelle, and Bradley.

Karen's contact information is karen@handsoflove.org or 309-383-2828 at the ministry office.