Bob and Brenda both grew up in missionary homes

Bob and Brenda both grew up in missionary homes. Brenda was born in Frankfort, Indiana, and when she was five years old, her family went to South Africa where her parents, Don & Elizabeth Karns, served as missionaries. Bob was born in Presque Isle, Maine, and when he was in his teens, his family also left for South Africa where his parents, Milton and Patsy Bagley, served as missionaries.

Bob and Brenda became close friends during their high school years and were married 1977. They have three children, Joshua (‘81), Tracy (‘86), and Mary Beth (‘91).

Brenda earned a BA degree in Christian Education from Central Wesleyan College. Bob earned a BA degree in theology from Central Wesleyan College, an MA degree in missions from Columbia Biblical Seminary, and is currently enrolled in a Ph.D. program in educational studies from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School.

After pastoring the Crystal Wesleyan Church in Crystal, Maine, for 5 years, Bob and Brenda left for Emmanuel Wesleyan Bible College in Swaziland in 1981. After their first term as Bible college teachers ended in 1985, the Bagleys took an extended furlough to care for their daughter, Tracy, who was born three months premature.

In 1989, the Bagleys returned to Swaziland where Bob has served as principal and teacher in the Bible college. Besides teaching in the college and involvement in women’s ministries, Brenda has been home-schooling their children.

In 1995, the Bagleys returned to Africa for their third term of missionary service. The first two years of this term they continued their ministries at the Bible college in Swaziland. During the last two years of the term, they relocated to South Africa where Bob has been serving as mission director for Wesleyan World Missions in southern Africa as well as serving as director of ministerial training for The Wesleyan Church of Southern Africa.