Bunkowskes Receive Lifetime Achievement Award...
Dr. Eugene and Bernice Bunkowske, pioneering missionaries in West African Bible translation and in mission service around the world, were Honored with Lutheran Bible Translators (LBT) Lifetime Achievement Award.
The award was presented to them in recognition of their more than 50 years of Bible translation, linguistics, communications, mission, outreach, volunteer and education service to Christ around the world as well as in the U.S. Dr. Bunkowske is currently Professor of Christian Outreach at Concordia University, Saint Paul, MN.
Throughout their lives of Christian mission, outreach and service, they have been, and remain active and involved in Bible translation efforts, teaching, volunteering, and missionary service with the LCMS-World Mission, with the United Bible Societies and as LBT founders and as Board Members.
"Dr. and Bernice. Bunkowske have shared, lived, and acted on their passion for reaching out and spreading God's Word to the whole world over half a century… so far," Rev. Dr. Douglas Rutt, LBT Board Chairman said as he presented the award to the Bunkowskes at LBT's Annual Dinner.
"God has always showed us the way and blessed our efforts in His time. The glory is His", Dr. Bunkowske said. "In 1960, after graduation from Concordia Theological Seminary and feeling called to the mission field, we started our first overseas evangelistic and hospital mission efforts in the Ogoja province of Nigeria", he said. "There, Bernice and I joined with LCMS World Mission missionaries Rev. Morrie and Lois Watkins, helping to train local evangelists, and establish a Bible school."
Those early efforts, developments, mission needs, ideas, potential solutions and organizational efforts, helped lead to the 1964 formation of Messengers of Christ, Inc. Rev. Watkins became the first executive director of the organization, which later became Lutheran Bible Translators.
Through the 1960s, 70s and early 80s Dr. Bunkowske and Bernice identified and worked on many early Bible translation and language projects in Nigeria, including Yala, Boki, Yachi and Kukelle language translations. During this time they were instrumental in expanding LBT efforts, working with missionaries in Liberia and Sierra Leone.
Dr. Bunkowske and Bernice also served with the United Bible Societies (UBS) in Africa. He eventually had responsibilities for 60 African countries. Bernice served as UBS secretary from 1974 to 1980.
Returning to the U.S. in 1982, Dr. Bunkowske served as a professor at Concordia Theological Seminary, Ft. Wayne, IN. There he founded and directed the PhD Program in Missiology as well as the Lutheran Society for Missiology (LSFM). The LSFM publishes Missio Apostolica as well its Communicator newsletter.
Bernice finished her BA in education from – at that time – Concordia Teachers College, River Forest in 1984, and served as editor of the Communicator. She was also active in the Lutheran Women's Missionary League (LWML) serving at Ft. Wayne in the Indiana District as well as on the national LWML Christian Outreach Committee
Dr. Bunkowske also served as an LCMS vice president from 1989 to 1998. He earned a PhD in Linguistics with minors in Cross-cultural studies, Anthropology / Sociology and Communication from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). In 2002 he became Professor of Christian Outreach at Concordia University, St. Paul, MN, occupying the Fiechtner Endowed Chair of Christian Outreach at the Hoffmann Institute of Christian Outreach.
"Without God given experts like Dr. and Bernice Bunkowkse, who combine a life time fervor for mission outreach overseas through Bible translation with practical hands on and technical experience, LBT's efforts would not be nearly as successful," Dr. Marshall Gillam, LBT executive director said.
At present, more than 70 LBT missionaries are serving in 15 countries on 5 continents currently working on more than 80 Bible Translation and Scripture engagement projects. Through the efforts of these missionaries, supported by the prayers and financial donations of tens of thousands of supporters, Scripture has been translated into 33 different languages. This provides the opportunity for more than 7 million people to read the word of God and to learn about His grace and promise, in their heart language.
The Bunkowskes have four children and eleven grandchildren. They live in Maplewood, MN.
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