Tom Dunbar

“Mission work is a spiritual battle. Go into it with a sense of adventure but with your eyes wide open. Go for it with all your gusto!”

Tom grew up in Washington state and accepted the Lord as his Savior at the age of 15. He attended Cascade College in Portland, Oregon where he began feeling a call into full-time missions. His calling was confirmed during his short-term trip to Chihuahua, Mexico.

During college, Tom met his wife, Ellen, who also felt convicted to pursue missions. Tom and Ellen applied to WGM a month before their wedding in 1957. WGM asked them to take on a pastorate so they could obtain some more experience in ministry before sending them to the field.

WGM accepted Tom and Ellen in 1959 and sent them to Honduras with some language training. He started his ministry by doing some evangelistic work and building up a church congregation.

Tom and Ellen returned to Honduras after furlough, serving instead as directors of El Sembrador while Don and Twana Hawk were on their furlough.

With to his experience at El Sembrador, Tom took on the position of director of Tegucigalpa Bible School and the Theological Education by Extension program (TEE).

In 1976, Tom and Ellen sensed the need for a temporary change of direction, so they took a leave of absence with WGM and pastored a church in Portland, Oregon, for seven years.

They returned to WGM and fully immersed themselves in the ministry taking place on the Mexico border in McAllen, Texas. Tom and Ellen reconnected with the TEE ministry and got more involved in field leadership and evangelism. Under Tom’s direction, the church expanded south into Central Mexico.

The Dunbars moved back to Honduras in 1994 where Tom began as the field director and Ellen was the treasurer. They also frequently hosted volunteers who visited Honduras.

Tom and Ellen thought they would retire in Honduras, but the Lord was not finished with them yet. Paraguay needed a field director, so Tom accepted the position and gracefully led the field for three years.

They retired to the United States in 2002 but continued serving the Hispanic people in their community and visiting Honduras whenever they had the chance. They have five children, thirteen grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren, which has given them a joyful life.

Tom demonstrated a life of unwavering obedience to the Lord and was known for having a humble leadership approach that gained the respect of those he served. During their 34 years of service together, Tom and Ellen faithfully obeyed the Lord’s leading on their life.  Tom went to be with the Lord on March 28, 2025, but his life will remain a testament to the Lord’s provision from his time here on Earth.