Steve and Jenell were approved as BBFI missionaries to Korea in September 1983. Steve and Jenell graduated from Pacific Coast Baptist Bible College in San Dimas, California in 1982. They served their missions internship at Grayson Bible Baptist Church in Sherman, Texas. The Benders arrived in Korea in September 1984 and served there until April 1998 at which time God moved them to Springdale, Arkansas. In Springdale, Steve served as associate pastor at Temple Baptist Church until moving to Springfield, Missouri to become an Associate Mission Director for the Baptist Bible Fellowship International in August 2000. After serving 25 years at the BBFI Mission Office and overseeing missionary care, the Lord called Steve and Jenell back to the mission field to continue helping and encouraging missionaries around the globe. In September 2025, the Benders were reinstated as BBFI missionaries through the STEP program. Their sending church is Graceway Baptist Church in Springfield, Missouri. They can be reached at Steve.Bender@bbfimissions.org.