Jim & Deloris Sunda

Jim was born in Lillian, Alabama, of immigrant parents from Czechoslovakia. He grew up unchurched until a pastor from Chicago visited his farm community and held services in the 2-room school house. There Jim heard about Jesus and his need of a Savior. God called Jim to serve Him as a missionary and directed him to Toccoa Falls Bible College. Following graduation, he pastored in Hazlehurst, Georgia for a short time, then was asked to go to Marietta, Georgia, to begin a new Alliance church.

"D" (Deloris) was born in Pensacola, Florida, and moved to Lillian, Alabama, when her Dad retired from the US Navy following the end of World War II. There she attended the new Alliance church and heard God's call to follow Him. She met Jim and together they planned to marry and follow God's leading to the mission field. After a time at Toccoa Falls College, they were married and D' joined Jim in the pastorate in Marietta.

They went to Oklahoma to attend the Summer Institute of Linguistics for a summer before leaving by ship to Netherlands New Guinea with their baby daughter Margie. After a three-month trip on the ship, they landed at last on the shores of New Guinea and began an adventure that still thrills them to this day as they remember with excitement the many wonderful experiences of seeing God at work among the primitive tribe of people called the "Dani" who lived in the interior of the island, hidden away from the rest of the world. While there, Joy, Doug and Susan joined their family.

During 39 years of missionary service Jim and D' saw God change an entire society of people living in deep darkness into the light of His Hope. People who had no knowledge of the Lord God came to know Him in reality and embraced His Gospel. They established literacy schools as the language of the people was reduced to writing. The people learned to read their own language and then delighted in learning to make "hen's scratching" that they were able to understand as meaningful words, called "writing."

They evangelized the people far and wide, and saw thousands of people burn their fetishes and charms, turning away from their fear of evil spirits and placating the spirits of their dead ancestors to the Living God and His wonderful reality in their lives. A Bible training school was established where many young people came to study God's Word and then went out to witness to their own tribespeople and establish churches in valleys near and far. Now hundreds of men and their wives pastor churches both in their native valley and in far-away places where the local church has sent their own native missionaries to spread the Gospel. Jim and D' translated God's Word, the Bible, into the language of the people, and rejoiced to see the local church self-propagating and self-supporting. The Bible School is now staffed by men and women trained in higher theological education.

Reentry to the USA was exciting as once again they saw God open new doors of ministry to His people in need of counseling and of deliverance ministry. This ministry has reached many people both in the local church and across many states as LAC has made them available to the Body of Christ.

Included in their ministry to LAC is the oversight of ministry to the senior members called The Primetimers. Jim guides a leadership team who plan activities for fellowship and fun for the Primetimers as well as ministry opportunities for the seniors as they reach out in visitation and encouragement, nursery assistance and many other out-reach ministries including to residents in assisted.-living facilities. Jim enjoys hospital visitation to the LAC family and beyond.

The light in their eyes reflects their love for the 7 grandchildren who live nearby and in NYC who bring great joy and satisfaction to them both.