Gary and Janet Tomberlin

BBFI Missionaries to Brazil Since 1967

Gary was born on February 16, 1940 in Quenemo, Kansas, where his father pastored his first church. He was saved at the age of eight in his father's church in Chanute, Kansas. His family moved several times during his childhood, as his father started and pastored churches in Kansas and Idaho. During his high school years Gary played basketball and upon graduation received eight basketball scholarships. Because the Lord had called him to preach and because of his parents strong desire to see him prepare for the ministry, he passed up the scholarships and went straight to Baptist Bible College.

Janet and Gary met in Idaho, and started dating at Baptist Bible College. They were married on March 17, 1961. Four months after that event, they were given tickets to go to Brazil to visit Janet's parents, Dale and Wilma Barton, who were missionaries of the Baptist Bible Fellowship. During that trip the Lord burdened Gary's heart for the people of Brazil. They graduated from BBC in 1964, were approved as missionaries to Brazil in February of 1966, and arrived on the field in 1967.

The Tomberlins have three married children. Lori is a nurse and lives with her husband in Springfield, MO. Their two sons live in Brazil and are married to Brazilian girls. The Lord has blessed them with three grandchildren who all live in Brazil and do not speak English.