Robert Trenbeath
Bob and Marge Trenbeath were both raised on rural farms during The Great Depression, tutored in the knowledge of agriculture and survival. Although they grew up hundreds of miles apart, they would eventually unite under God’s incredible plan of service through World Gospel Mission.
Meanwhile, Bob was facing the prospect of being drafted into service during World War II; however, he continued to pursue a college degree at the Chicago Evangelistic Institute. During his senior year, Bob finally felt God’s distinct calling.
As he stood before a United States military draft board, Bob declared that he wanted to pursue a Christian education to enter missionary service and go wherever God led him. The board reviewed Bob’s plans and gave him full exemption from military service. Bob then applied to study at the National Holiness Missionary Society in Chicago, from which WGM eventually formed.
When Bob walked into the administration building for the first time, he saw his future wife, who was also there to prepare for missionary service. The couple spent five years in Kenya, until Bob needed to return to the States because of health reasons. After his recovery, they wished to return to Kenya, but political divisions had grown worse during their time away. Return was deemed too dangerous, so the Trenbeaths sought their next calling.
In 1961, Bob and Marge transferred to the Texas-Mexico border, where Bob served as principal for Taylor Institute, then a WGM-sponsored school for Spanish-speaking children. For the next seventeen years, Bob and Marge worked with other schools, including Southwest Indian School, which served children from Native American tribes. Bob and Marge learned Spanish themselves, developing linguistic and cultural understandings needed for their ministry.
Bob and Marge continued their ministry at Southwest Indian School until their retirement in 1988. On October 27, 2022, Marge moved to her eternal home with her Lord after a lifetime of faithful service.