Missionaries Panama Stan and Brenda Bunch Biography

PRESENT MINISTRY
Following a two-year leave of absence, Stan and Brenda Bunch returned to Chitre, Panama, in September 2004. They have worked in the interior of Panama since 1986. Their ministry includes starting a new church in Chitre, children’s ministry, Bible institute classes and women’s ministry.

Additional duties include leadership development through retreats and conferences, and serving as mentor to several local pastors and their families.

Stan also serves as the Regional Director for Central and South America. He oversees works in Panama, Brazil and Uruguay.

CONVERSION
Stan was converted in the First Free Will Baptist Church of Berryville, Ark., during his senior year in high school. While a student at Hillsdale Free Will Baptist College in Oklahoma, he responded to the call to preach and committed his life to missions.

Brenda, reared in a Christian home, accepted Christ as her Savior at the age of nine while at the Missouri Youth Encampment in Niangua, Mo. During a service in her home church that same year, she felt God leading her into missions.

EARLY MINISTRY
The Bunches were appointed to missionary service in May of 1983. They entered the Rio Grande Bible Institute in Edinburg, Tex., in January 1984 to study Spanish. After completing the two-year course in December of 1985, Stan and Brenda departed for Panama in April of 1986.

During their first term Stan and Brenda worked to establish a church in Parita, which has continued to grow. In July of 1991 the church was able to purchase land for a larger building. In April of 1998 Stan turned the work over to a national pastor.

In addition to pastoring the Parita church, Stan taught Bible institute classes and conducted home discipleship studies. Brenda stayed busy home schooling, teaching English classes, teaching one class daily in a Christian school, and organizing women's ministries. Stan and Brenda have used clowning, drama and mimes to minister in hospitals.

Following stateside ministry in 1998, Stan and Brenda Bunch returned to Panama in May of 1999. They began a new work in the town of Chitre, located east of Parita. They utilized English classes, hospital ministry and, a ministry to university students to start a new church. They also continued the Bible institute satellites in Parita and Las Tablas.

CHILDREN
Stan and Brenda have three children: Jonathan, born January 4, 1980; Alicia, born December 4, 1982; and Amanda, born August 7,1984. Jonathan is married and in law school. Alicia and Amanda are continuing their education in the States.

HOME CHURCH
Stan: Moore FWB, Berryville, Ark.
Brenda: Hannon FWB Church, Liberal, Mo.
Current church membership: Verdella FWB Church in Liberal, Mo.