Gale & Chrisann Dawson
Gale Dawson
I was raised in Brush Prairie, Washington, working on our family’s blueberry, strawberry, and raspberry farms, where I developed a love for simple, meaningful work. After high school, I joined the United States Air Force and was stationed at Yokota Air Base, Japan, where I first heard the Gospel and trusted Christ as my Savior. Inspired by missionary biographies, I felt called to global missions and, during my final year of service, enrolled at Northeast Baptist School of Theology.
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In 1991, I and my wife, Chrisann, moved to Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of the Congo) to serve as missionaries. We lived in this challenging, war-affected country for seven years, planting ten churches, training national leaders, and establishing a lasting ministry.
Today, I continue directing Rise Congo, overseeing operations and connecting supporters with ministry impact.
Chrisann​​
For seven years, I lived on the ground in Congo doing mission work, providing me first-hand insight into the setting and culture. My family and I have been working with the Democratic Republic of Congo since 1991. We were on the ground in the interior of the Congo for the 1995 Ebola Outbreak that shocked the world.
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We experienced war, trauma, and the hardships of daily life in Congo during our seven years of living there. I speak Lingala fluently.
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My My husband Gale and I have been married for 35 years. We have three grown children: Suzannah is an ER nurse, Mackay Dawson-Hicks was born in the Congo and is married to a wonderful man, Zach, and William is in the Marine Corps. We currently live in Payson, Arizona where we continue to support the Congo national ministry. I am employed part-time with the University of Arizona Cooperative Extension.
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My degree is in English grammar and history, and I have taught English grammar for more than twenty years. I've written Congo based novels and devotionals based on classic literature. Check them our on my website at, www.chrisanndawson.com.
