Rose Marie Miller, co-founder of Serge, entered the presence of Jesus on March 26, 2026, at the age of 101.
Rose Marie was a beloved figure at Serge and a significant influence on Reformed missions in the last half-century. Over forty years ago, with her husband Dr. Jack Miller, together they founded World Harvest Mission (now Serge). Up until her death, she served as a missionary in the UK. “The nations are there,” she once said, when speaking of London, a city that is home to nearly 300 ethnic groups. Living and working cross-culturally, she was often keenly aware of just how needy and weak she is. “Sometimes it’s hard to admit this. But when I do, my heart is content with Christ, His power rests on me—and when I depend on his power, I get a greater taste of grace.”
The child of German immigrants, Rose Marie Carlsen spent her early life on the West Coast of the United States. After high school, she applied to nursing school, but a desire to learn about the Bible eventually led her to Biola University. She married Jack Miller after they met in San Francisco in 1949, and they raised five children.
In the early 1970s, Rose Marie and Jack were committed to sharing the gospel with people in and around Jenkintown, PA. Their living room became a home base to create belonging for those on the fringes, and it grew into the beginnings of a church plant, later becoming New Life Presbyterian Church. Small teams from New Life were sent to Ireland and Africa as the Lord brought clear opportunities for missions. The seeds planted during these trips eventually gave life to long-term missions work in these countries. In 1983, World Harvest Mission (now Serge) was formed as a response to God’s growing work in Uganda through New Life and other partner churches. World Harvest Mission’s first official team was established in Uganda.
Rose Marie’s ministry as a teacher and speaker began to take off in both the U.S. and abroad. Her first book, From Fear to Freedom, was released in 1994 and remains in print today. Her second book, Nothing Is Impossible With God, was released in 2012. She co-authored a study called The Gospel-Centered Parent that was released in 2015.
Rose Marie’s dependence on prayer is part of her legacy and a tangible expression of the core values of the organization she founded. Serge’s values of centrality of the gospel, kingdom-centered prayer, ministry from weakness, and love for people reflect the way Rose Marie talked about her own need for Jesus as she was sent on mission.
Rose Marie is survived by five children, twenty-four grandchildren, and sixty-two great grandchildren.
Explore More on Rose Marie & The History of Serge:
- Grace at the Fray Podcast | A Hundred Years of Grace
- Grace at the Fray Podcast | What Kingdom-Centered Prayer Looks Like
- Rose Marie on Serving God’s Kingdom (Video)
- Nothing Is Impossible With God, Rose Marie Miller
- From Fear to Freedom, Rose Marie Miller
- The Gospel-Centered Parent, Debbie Harrell, Jack Klumpenhower, Rose Marie Miller
