Growing up in rural western Oregon Charlotte had many opportunities to serve in the small country church she attended. She learned to sew during junior and senior high by sewing clothing for herself.
Her college years at Oregon State University were busy with playing collegiate sports, participation in a Christian campus ministry and leadership in the college group at First Baptist Church in Corvallis and of course working at various jobs. Graduation from OSU in 1976 was followed by a summer of short term missionary work in Belgium.
Working for a year as a youth intern at First Baptist solidified a desire to minister to people full time. So, off she went to Denver Seminary in 1977 to work on a MA in Christian Education which she received in 1980. These years and those leading up to her marriage to Steve in 1982 were filled with several jobs including Youth Director, high school teacher and coach and sports camp counselor and teacher.
Steve and Charlotte settled into life in Santa Ana California and began raising their three children. Charlotte became active in several home school groups and she and Steve helped start a small private school for homeschoolers along with several other families. This involvement lasted seven years, with Charlotte helping run the school on a day to day basis for several years.
Sewing skills came
in handy here and there throughout the years as Charlotte sewed super
hero capes, costumes as needed, a choir dress here and curtains there
and endless hems in pants and dresses. Helping daughter Carrie make
things for her pet rats added a little fun.
Her kids junior and
senior high years found her teaching for several years at Spirit Academy,
a private school for homeschoolers. Geography, science (not her
favorite) and PE kept her busy and having fun along with assisting with
the girls basketball team. During this time she assisted daughter
Carrie with raising two guide dog puppies.
Attending Calvary
Church of Santa Ana for 22 years provided many opportunities for
service and ministry for Charlotte. She helped lead MOPS there as well
as teach Sunday School. Leadership in their Sunday School class was
done together with Steve as well as leading and teaching parenting
classes.
Their move to West Virginia in 2005 to become full time
missionaries in performing arts started them and their kids on new
adventures in their journey with the Lord. Andrea now lives in
California having graduated from Carson-Newman College in Tennessee in
2008 with a music degree. She stays busy giving private voice and piano
lessons. Ben will graduate in April 2010 with an Outdoor Leadership
degree from Simpson University in Redding California. He is an all
around mountain man who desires to serve God and work with youth in an
outdoor setting wherever and however. Carrie is pursuing her dream of
being a K9 police officer as she transfers to Appalachian State
University fall 2009 with a major in Criminal Justice.
Read more about the Newcombs at www.stevenewcomb.com