Missions - Dwight & Tracy, Andrew, Zachary, and Aaron Hensler

We are happy to be a part of the Grace Bible Chapel family as we serve with Wycliffe Bible Translators through SIL International (Wycliffe’s partner organization for field work) in Tanzania and Uganda, Africa. The GBC family has been a great encouragement to us through prayer and financial support as we work to support the work of Bible translation. You can read stories and current need about the work we are supporting at www.thetask.net.

Dwight Hensler grew up in a farming community in central Iowa. As a teenager he got involved with missionary work through short-term mission work on teams. He studied at Moody Bible Institute, majoring in International Ministries. During his high school and college years, Dwight connected with former GBC Pastor Charlie Nelson at various times and as a result of those connections spent two years as an Intern at Grace Bible Chapel after graduating from Moody. During his time at GBC, he worked with Grace Christian School, College and Career ministries, Junior High AWANA and other various ministries within GBC.

Tracy Hensler grew up in southern Oregon and also got involved in missions through summer missions teams as a teenage. She also studied at Moody Bible Institute and after college spent a year as an Intern at her home church in Grants Pass, Oregon. During that year as she sought God’s direction for long-term missions work, God began renewing her interest in getting involved in Bible translation. She joined Wycliffe Bible Translators, spent a year in linguistics training, and then left for Tanzania in 1995 to spend nearly three years doing language survey, gathering sociolinguistic information to help make decisions about where Bible translations are needed.

During the years after Moody, Dwight and Tracy kept in touch, and during Tracy’s first years in Tanzania, they continued corresponding until Dwight was able to go and visit her there. As they sensed God confirming their desire to be married, they also sensed His direction for them to return to work in Tanzania together. They were married in August 1998, and after spending a year in computer support training and administration support orientation, they left for Tanzania together in January of 2000.

In 2000 Dwight began serving as Operations Manager for the Tanzania headquarters, and served in that position for three years before also taking on the responsibility of Assistant Director for Administration. He currently oversees administrative support for all branch offices in Tanzania and Uganda.

After returning to Tanzania with Dwight, Tracy began working in the same administrative office as Dwight in the finance department. After their first son was born she continued to serve in this department on a part time basis, until the birth of their third child. She is now a stay at home mom, but still gets involved in support services when she can.