Ben C. Clark, accompanied by his wife, Phyllis Sargeant Clark, and three small boys, Willard (5), Harold (3) and Winston (2) sailed for China in March, 1925 to begin a missionary career that would continue until terminated by events leading up to World War II.

The family was sent to Yencheng in Honan Province where Ben and Phyllis Clark began their study of the Chinese language.  He was appointed director of Honan Junior Training Institute and educational secretary of Honan Mission.  Phyllis Clark taught in the missionary children's elementary school and also assisted in the Training Institute.

When the civil war in China forced evacuation to Shanghai of the missionaries in Yencheng, the Clark family left but returned as soon as conditions allowed, and remained in that area until 1930.  In the meantime a fourth son, Richard, was born into the family in 1928.

Transferred to Hankow, in the Hupeh Mission, Mr. Clark served first in educational work, then was appointed mission director, which position he held until the end of 1940.  During this time Japan invaded China, coming west from Shanghai.  Most of the missionary families, with the women and children, were evacuated to Hong Kong by Elder Clark and Mr. Allan Boynton remained in Hankow during the very difficult days of the occupation by the Japanese military.  During these days restrictions on travel imposed by the occupying forces created many difficulties but the work continued.

Gradually tensions increased in Japanese-controlled areas of China.  The three older sons had left for education in the United States, and the youngest was recovering from a second attack of polio.  Furlough was due in 1941.  The Clarks requested furlough by year-end, 1940, and sailed from Shanghai, China in December, 1940, arriving in San Francisco early in January, 1941.

Sixteen years of service in China, interrupted by one eight-month furlough—this was the measure of Elder and Mrs. B .C. Clark's commitment to China.  Others served longer, but none served more devotedly.  For much of this time Mrs. Clark, in addition to family responsibilities, was called upon to teach church school, both national and missionary.  A trained elementary school teacher, she gave unstintingly of herself.

B. C. Clark passed away in 1980 at the age of 87.Mrs. Clark died seven years later, at age 95.