Paul Carlson
Paul E. Carlson (March 31, 1928 – November 24, 1964) was an American physician and medical missionary who served in Wasolo, a town in what is now the Democratic Republic of the Congo. He originated from Rolling Hills Covenant Church in Southern California, which is a member of the Evangelical Covenant Church denomination. He was killed in 1964 by rebel insurgents after being falsely accused of being an American spy.[1]
Biography
Carlson was born in
In 1961, Carlson decided to serve as a missionary doctor. He arrived in Congo and began working as a medical missionary for six months in Ubangi Province.[3] In December 1961 he returned to Redondo Beach but continued to talk of returning to the Congo because of its great needs.[4]
In July 1963, along with his wife, son Wayne, and daughter Lynette, he returned to the Ubangi region of the African nation known at the time as the
This final return placed him in the middle of the political unrest of the time, and he soon fell into the hands of the communist-inspired Congolese rebels of the
Legacy
Carlson became known as the "Congo Martyr" and was featured on the covers of both Time and Life magazines. His tombstone, at Karawa, bears the inscription "Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends."— John 15:13[2] Shortly after Carlson's death, Lois and others formed the Paul Carlson Medical Program with the goal of raising money to support the Loko hospital. They expanded with agricultural programs to teach nutrition, agronomy, and microenterprise.[10] In 2000, the Paul Carlson Medical Program was revitalized and now operates under the name the Paul Carlson Partnership. The Paul Carlson Partnership[11] is a Chicago-based nonprofit organization with a mission that focuses on investing in health care, economic development, and education in Central Africa.[12]
After her husband's death, wife Lois penned the biography "Monganga Paul" in 1965.
The Evangelical Covenant Church has produced a documentary entitled "Monganga"[13]
References
- ^ a b Hamilton, Joan O’Connell. "Paul Carlson". Stanford Alumni Association. Retrieved July 9, 2012.
- ^ a b c d Dr. Carlson: Rebel With Noble Cause Archived 2016-05-09 at the Wayback Machine Milwaukee Sentinel, Aug 28, 1965, James H. Johnston
- ISBN 0910452938.
- ISBN 0910452938.
- ^ a b Hamilton, Joan O'Connell (September 1990). "Paul Carlson". Stanford Alumni Association. Retrieved July 9, 2012.
- ISBN 0910452938.
- ISBN 0910452938.
- ^ "Rebels Demand Negotiations on Fate of Dr. Paul Carlson". Eugene Register-Guard. November 19, 1964. p. 3A. Retrieved July 9, 2012.
- ISBN 0910452938.
- ^ "History". Paulcarlson.org. 1964-11-24. Retrieved 2012-05-28.
- ^ paulcarlson.org
- ^ The Paul Carlson Partnership. "Mission and Distinctives". Retrieved July 10, 2012.
- ^ "Carlson Family Visits Former Home in Wasolo | Covenant Newswire Archives". Blogs.covchurch.org. 2004-11-21. Retrieved 2012-05-28.
Bibliography
- Carlson, Lois C. (1965). Monganga Paul. Chicago: Covenant Publications. ISBN 9780910452939.
- "Congo Martyr". Life. New York: Time Inc. December 4, 1964.