ELKHART, Ind. (Mennonite Mission Network) – Lawrence Brunk, 91, died Dec. 18, 2013, in Walnut Creek, Ohio. His legacy of relationship building is remembered by his family and those who knew him during his 23 years of service as a pastor in Argentina.
Patricia Brunk, Lawrence’s daughter, remembers that her father made an apartment out of part of their house in Santa Rosa, Argentina. The Brunks offered the space to church members who needed a place to stay.
One time, the family welcomed three orphaned siblings who needed help, and they stayed at the Brunk home for about a year until the oldest one got a job. All three of the children became Christians and, eventually, each of them became financially independent.
“I’m imagining myself in the pastoral house the Brunks had turned into everyone’s home,” said Bernabé Corellano, who had been part of the youth in Floresta. “The oil stove was as warm as the Brunks were. I also see myself traveling in the old IKA station wagon that he let everyone use; or I’m looking astounded at the big bowl of banana pudding that Dorothy brought to the table. These were simple things, maybe, but things that were done lovingly.”
He believed that strong relationships with church members would help make Christian disciples.
Download full-resolution image.“First, he befriended people and opened up himself and his home; he accompanied them in daily struggles,” said Patricia. “Then he would add his teaching and would be an example.”
Mennonite Board of Missions, a predecessor agency of Mennonite Mission Network, sent Lawrence and Dorothy to Argentina in 1950 so they could support the Mennonites in central Argentina. The family lived in Pehuajo, Villegas and Floresta as Lawrence pastored different congregations.
He also visited other congregations, helped with summer church camps, and collaborated with the Argentina Mennonite Church Conference as counselor of pastors and churches.
In 1963, after 13 years, the family returned to the United States, and Brunk pastored Jefferson Street Mennonite Church in Lima, Ohio until 1968 when they moved to Santa Rosa, Argentina.
“Each time they left a pastorate, the church they left had grown,” said Patricia. “Many met God and grew closer to Christ. I am proud of their honesty and integrity, generosity, affection to all, and their lifetime of service.”
When the Brunks first came to Argentina, it was a Catholic country where Protestants were not well received. Nevertheless, Lawrence organized ecumenical Sunday afternoon get-togethers and invited families from the church and nonbelievers to play volleyball and drink mate, a traditional tea.
“[Like it says in 1 Corinthians 3:6], Lawrence wasn’t a planter of new churches; he watered those already planted so that God could make them grow,” said Patricia. “He helped raise leaders for churches before he would leave them, and helped the churches become self-sufficient so they wouldn’t have to depend on missionaries.”
Lawrence and Dorothy left Argentina in 1978 and Lawrence served in several interim pastor positions in Pennsylvania and Ohio.
Lawrence was born Jan. 29, 1922, in Elida, Ohio, to Reuben and Leah (Good) Brunk. He graduated from Eastern Mennonite College (Harrisonburg, Va.) with a degree in religion in 1946.
He is survived by his wife, Dorothy; his children, Gary Brunk, Louisa Weber, Patricia Brunk, Susan Brunk and Debra Brunk; and his grandchildren, Jessica Sprague-Jones, Leticia Weber, Daniela Boyajian, Felipe Boyajian, Amanda Sprague-Brunk, Keegan Brunk Fraederick, Therese Orbea and Matias Orbea.
A memorial service will be held March 22 at 3 p.m. at Aurora (Ohio) Mennonite Church.
(Update: We incorrectly reported that Lawrence Brunk pastored North Lima (Ohio) Mennonite Church. He actually pastored Jefferson Street Mennonite Church in Lima, Ohio.)
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Mennonite Mission Network, the mission agency of Mennonite Church USA, leads, mobilizes and equips the church to participate in holistic witness to Jesus Christ in a broken world. Media may contact news@mennonitemission.net.
