Paul grew up in Japan as a missionary kid (MK) in the early 1950s, the son of Martin and Evelyn Clark. He spent 3 years in the Army Special Forces (Green Berets), graduated from San Jose Bible College, now William Jessup University (B.A. 1967), Lincoln Christian Seminary (M.A., M.Div. 1983), and Trinity Evangelical Divinity School (D.Miss. 1985). Rickie grew up in California as a preacher's kid (P.K.), the daughter of Dennis and Effie Rickard. She graduated from San Jose Bible College (B.A. 1962). Interestingly, Dennis Rickard baptized Martin Clark in his first full-time ministry. Paul and Rickie ministered over 20 years in churches in Oregon, California, and Illinois before arriving in Japan in July of 1985. We have four children: Jennifer (Mrs. Chad) Huddleston (missionaries in Osaka, Japan ), Jocelyn (Mrs. Chris) Wolfe (forwarding agents for the Clarks and the Huddlestons and living in Columbia, MO), Jeremy (married to Amy and Director of Experience Design at Adobe, New York office), and Jonathan (married to Yuki and working as Sales Coordinator with Sumitomo Electronics in Southern California)--and eleven grandchildren, Michaela, Benjamin, Elijah, Johanna and Ami Wolfe; Anika, Josiah, Caleb, Katia and Gideon Huddleston; and Sean Clark.

On July 9, 2011, we celebrated our 50th Wedding Anniversary with a self-planned trip to Alaska followed by a week-long family reunion at Lake Tahoe.  Our three youngest children were born while we lived there, so it is like home to all four of them.  They and their spouses planned the whole week, ending with a celebration at Tahoe Christian Center, the church plant we ministered to for seven years in the 1970s.  Not only our family, which now numbers 21, was there, but some of our siblings and several friends from our days of ministry there.  We praise God for calling us into His service these 50+ years in the U.S., Japan, Siberia and Mongolia. 

"Only one life, 'twill soon be passed, only what's done for Christ will last!"