Meet Our Team
Bridging Panama is made possible by people in both Panama and the United States who share a heart for strengthening families and bringing HOPE. Our team combines local leadership, ministry experience, professional expertise, and a commitment to serving communities in a way that keeps Jesus at the center.
Executive Leadership
Bill Lewis
Bill has more than 20 years of ministry experience, including 10 years living and serving in China before moving with his family to Panama. His ministry experience has also included work in Uganda, Jordan, and India. Bill holds a Master of Theological Studies with a concentration in Cross-Cultural Missions and co-founded Bridging Panama with his wife, Jenna. He is passionate about strengthening families, equipping local leaders, and sharing the hope of Jesus through lasting relationships.
Jenna Lewis
Jenna holds a Master’s degree in Christian Education and previously worked as a special education teacher in the United States. She has served in various ministry leadership roles, including as a children’s director at a church. As Co-Founder and Director of Operations, Jenna oversees Bridging Panama’s daily operations, administration, team coordination, mission-trip support, and outreach efforts that strengthen families and local communities.
Panama Ministry Leadership
We believe lasting ministry is strengthened by local Panamanian leaders who know, love, and are deeply connected to their own communities.
Rodolfo González
Born and raised in Veracruz, Panama, Rodolfo holds a master’s degree in forensic psychology and has deep roots and relationships throughout the community. Although his education opened opportunities in other directions, Rodolfo believes the Lord has called him to serve his own community and invest in the families who call it home. As Director of Community Ministry, he helps lead community outreach, home visits, discipleship, ministry programs, and partnerships with local families, churches, pastors, and community leaders—keeping Jesus and authentic relationships central to every initiative.
Ministry & Program Leadership
Robyn Ward, PhD, PA-C
Robyn brings more than 30 years of healthcare experience to Bridging Panama, with a career spanning nursing, emergency medicine, cardiology, and surgical care. She began her career as a healthcare assistant while earning her bachelor’s degree in nursing, later becoming a physician assistant and completing her doctorate with a focus on research and education. Robyn has also served on medical mission teams around the world, combining her clinical experience with her love for Jesus and heart for serving others. As Medical Advisor, she helps guide Bridging Panama’s medical outreach, visiting medical teams, health programs, clinical standards, and delivery of compassionate, appropriate care in the communities we serve.
Matt Runzel
Matt is a retired U.S. Navy Commander and former Commanding Officer of VFC-12, where he flew F/A-18s during his career as a Naval Aviator. Today, Matt is a commercial airline pilot, entrepreneur, and passionate coffee enthusiast. He brings decades of leadership experience and a heart for the Lord to Bridging Panama, leading our coffee program as a sustainable way to support the ministry and further its mission.
Blake Peebles
Blake has served in law enforcement for more than 20 years and is actively involved in his local church as a deacon and member of the worship ministry. He and his wife, Shannon, have also served in the foster care and adoption community and share a heart for seeing families strengthened and restored through the Gospel. As Church Engagement Coordinator, Blake connects churches with the work of Bridging Panama while helping provide missionaries with spiritual encouragement, practical support, and resources for long-term ministry.
Board of Directors
Our Board of Directors provides governance, financial oversight, accountability, prayer, and strategic guidance to help keep Bridging Panama healthy and mission-focused.
Lisa Townsend
Lisa serves as President of Bridging Panama’s Board of Directors. She brings more than 25 years of experience in industrial engineering, process improvement, and organizational leadership and is a certified Six Sigma Master Black Belt. Lisa brings extensive professional leadership experience to the Board and a heart for strengthening communities and supporting families in Panama.
Matthew Darnall
Matthew serves as Treasurer of Bridging Panama’s Board of Directors. A licensed physical therapist by training, he owns and operates two home health care businesses in Texas and brings business leadership and financial oversight experience to the organization. Matthew also actively participates in mission trips and outreach efforts, giving him firsthand experience with the ministry he helps oversee.
Jenna Lewis
Jenna serves as Secretary of Bridging Panama’s Board of Directors in addition to serving as Co-Founder and Director of Operations. Her experience in education, ministry leadership, and Bridging Panama’s day-to-day operations provides the Board with firsthand knowledge of the organization’s ministry and the communities it serves.