“His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things….” Mt 25: 21, 23

Jim and Phyllis Childress (Panama)

Jim and Phyllis first met at Bible Baptist Church in Cincinnati, OH, where Bruce Woodruff served as pastor.  It was there that God began weaving their lives together—not only in marriage, but in a shared calling to serve Him.

In the fall of 1965, both Jim and Phyllis left for Baptist Bible College. Phyllis completed her studies and graduated in 1968.  Jim’s journey took a different path. He spent four and a half years in the Army before eventually finishing his degree in 1975.  During his time in the Army, Jim was sent to Panama, where what he later described as a ‘Jonah experience’ became a turning point. It was there that the Lord clearly began to reveal His plan and direction for their lives.

In September 1976, Jim and Phyllis were officially approved as the BBFI’s first missionaries to Panama.  The following year, in September 1977, they went to Mexico to attend language school under Georgia Webb and Jimmy Lee.
Then, in October 1978, they arrived in Panama—traveling by pickup truck—sent out by Temple Baptist Church in Marshfield, Missouri.  This marked the beginning of a lifelong ministry.

Over the years, they were involved in starting ten churches.  In addition, they assisted approximately another dozen churches at various times. In one instance, they went to help a church for what they thought would be six months…but that short-term commitment turned into seven years of fruitful ministry. 

They are currently assisting three churches, helping with building programs and land purchases.  They have also been deeply involved in training future leaders—starting one Bible institute and teaching in three others.  Their focus has always been not just on starting churches, but on strengthening them for the long term.

One of the most impactful areas of their ministry has been medical missions. Jim admits that he was originally very hesitant about this type of work.  But over time, he saw how medical clinics could open doors, build relationships, and create opportunities to share the Gospel.  Through research and development, they helped establish evangelistic medical clinics in difficult-to-access areas of Panama. These efforts eventually led to the start of a ministry they call Operation Renewed Hope, which has now conducted around one hundred clinics in twenty-five countries.

Along the way, God opened even more doors for ministry. With the help of Dan and Cricket Young, Jim and Phyllis developed retreats for pastors and missionaries.  These retreats became an important source of encouragement and renewal, although they were paused during the pandemic.

Looking ahead, they still carry a vision for expanding their ministry—including developing a special activity and teaching center and possibly creating a foundation that could serve as a revolving loan ministry to help churches in Panama.

As Jim reflects on their journey, several observations stand out. First, they never planned to start an English-speaking church—but they did. Second, they always expected to focus on city ministry, yet their first church was started on the Atlantic coast in Belén, a small village named by Christopher Columbus in 1502.  And third, Jim’s perspective on medical missions completely changed.  What he once approached with caution became one of the most effective tools for opening doors to sharing the Gospel.

In sharing a more personal reflection, Jim jokes that he never planned to be accident-prone, but that seems to have been part of his life story. Phyllis, in turn, has said she never had any desire to be a nurse—yet through Jim’s many injuries, she found herself faithfully filling that role.  Through it all, their story is one of perseverance, humor, and God’s sustaining grace.

As they look to the future, Jim & Phyllis remain committed to serving in Panama for the rest of their lives—or until the Lord returns.  He envisions a day when his role may shift to that of a ‘rocking chair counselor,’ welcoming pastors who come with questions and offering wisdom gained from years of ministry.  It is a picture not of slowing down, but of continuing to invest in others faithfully to the very end.