Pastor

Rev. Doug Bunnell

Born in Evanston Illinois, while his father was in graduate school, Doug began life in America's heartland. Soon after, though, the whole family, with a new brother, traveled out to California where the Bunnells settled in scenic Palo Alto. Doug grew up on the Peninsula enjoying sports, reading, and spending time with family and friends. It was in junior high that Doug's family moved to Menlo Park Presbyterian Church. That first Sunday Doug heard the gospel and immediately asked Jesus into his heart. Doug did his undergraduate education in his backyard at Stanford, where he majored in Biology and enjoying life. There he was privileged to row on the crew team, sing and dance in a musical, and spend two years as a Resident Assistant. He was active in the Menlo Park Presbyterian Church College Department and was wooed by the pastor to be an intern.

After months of resisting Doug was dragged "kicking and screaming" into college ministry, and it changed his life. He loved the experience, the students, and the job so much he decided to continue for three more years. During those years he met the woman of his dreams, Laurie, and they were married two years later. They spent two years at Menlo and two wonderful summers ministering together at Ponderosa Lodge in Mount Hermon. Doug attended the Fuller Seminary Extension in Seattle.

While in Seattle, Doug worked at University Presbyterian Church while Laurie worked for the Regent College Extension. Soon they were both blessed with a little boy named Zachary Kirk. Zachary was born with congenital Retinoblastoma, the same type of hereditary cancer that Doug had. Zachary and Doug have each had one eye removed. 

Doug received a call in 1995 as pastor to the University at First Presbyterian Church of Berkeley. This involved ministering to members of all different segments of the University of California at Berkeley. While in Berkeley they were privileged to adopt Zoë Linh, a beautiful little girl from Vietnam.

In 2002 Doug received a call to be the Pastor here at First Pres Bellingham. The whole family arrived in Bellingham in late December '02.  After six months of transition, the family was plunged into catastrophe.  Zachary was diagnosed, for the second time, with cancer, osteosarcoma, in his right orbital. He courageously endured a host of surgeries and a year-long chemotherapy program. At the end of the summer the family received the devastating news that Zachary's tumor, despite the long fight, had reoccurred.  Zachary died on December 24th, 2004 and celebrated Jesus' birthday with Him in Heaven.  The family continues to grieve the loss of their beloved son and continue to hope in Jesus. 

Other than this tragedy, the Bunnells love living in the great Northwest. Laurie has made new friends and started a new business staging houses for sale. (http://home.earthlink.net/~stage-it/index.html stage-it@earthlink.net) Doug loves Bellingham and his new life in the Northwest, surprising himself that he enjoys being Pastor of a "small" church and feels like he has truly found his calling.  Zoe is enjoying school, gymnastics, and her many new friends.