OUR BOARD

Michael A. Cunha has spent most of his life seeking to honor God through service, leadership,
and faithful stewardship.

 

He earned his undergraduate degree summa cum laude from Washington State University and later completed an MBA in Accounting and Economics from Chapman University. Early in his career, Michael served for over six years in the United States Air Force, flying B-52 aircraft, and later worked with the General Accounting Office, conducting air base audits, where he developed a strong foundation in discipline, responsibility, and service.
 

Professionally, Michael has more than thirty years of experience in business leadership, finance, and operations. He has served in executive and board-level roles across manufacturing and food-related enterprises and currently leads and advises organizations focused on responsible growth and long-term stewardship.

A lifelong follower of Christ, Michael accepted Jesus as his Savior at the age of ten. In the early 2000s, he sensed God’s call to mission work and has since been blessed to serve in Guangzhou (China), Uganda, Trinidad and Tobago, and now Belize. He worships at Christ’s Church of the Valley in Phoenix, Arizona.
 

Michael is honored to serve on the Board of The Word at Work, bringing together his faith,
mission experience, and professional background to support the ministry’s calling to share God’s
Word and equip believers in Belize and beyond.

Rusty's passion for the country of Belize started on a 10-day vacation there on his 1st wedding anniversary with his wife, Barbara, in 1992. They spent several days deep in the jungle at a Mayan ruin called Chan Chich and the rest of that trip on Ambergris Caye.

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While on the Caye, they explored on beach bikes that took them beyond the scenic tourist areas to neighborhoods where the people that worked in the resorts lived. This, along with the kindness & sincerity of the Belizians they came in contact with, had a lasting impression on them both.

Years later, when Rusty's church, Covenant Presbyterian, in Austin Texas, announced they were planning a mission trip to Belize, he & Barbara were all in.

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Since then, Rusty & Barbara have been blessed to be part of more than a dozen short term mission teams to Belize with The Word at Work.   

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After graduating from Texas Tech, Rusty moved to Austin to pursue a career in commercial construction project management.​ Forty years later, Rusty is still managing commercial construction developments and looking for ways to use his learned skills to grow God's Kingdom.

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Rusty & Barbara, have two children who have both been with them on mission trips to Belize.

Sydney is a realtor in Colorado Springs, Colorado & Matthew is a Porsche mechanic in Austin.      

Dan’s heart for the Belizean people began on his first trip to Belize as an invited member of a mission discernment team from his church. The team was introduced to many amazing people through The Word at Work and witnessed many opportunities for Christian service in Belize. Dan was most struck by the joy he witnessed in the Christ followers he met. By Western standards, these people have truly little, but their faith seemed purer and more vibrant than many of the people in the churches he grew up in.

Since that trip, Dan has felt God calling him to serve the people of Belize in loving faith. He has served and supported other mission trips to Belize through The Word at Work. He was honored when asked to become a member of the Board to serve the needs of people The Word at Work supports and help identify other people groups not currently being served.

Dan is a retired IT Manager who lives in the Pacific Northwest. His ability to understand and promote online services through technology is helpful in this digital age. He has taken part and led many ministries in his church community, the First Presbyterian Church of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. Dan has served in church leadership for many years, volunteering and leading a myriad of church activities, Board duties, musical performances, and group leadership. Dan has a passion for Adult Discipleship which has led him to a program of study to become a lay pastor, with the support of the Pastor and Board of his church.

Dan is a widowed father of four amazing grown children, who are scattered throughout Idaho and Montana. He recently married his first love from college, Debbi, a faithful and loving Child of God. They continue to live in Coeur d’Alene while they discern where God would have them serve His kingdom.

Tony Biggs graduated in 1981 with a Bachelor of Science in Geology from Texas A&M
University. After a brief stint in the oil and gas industry, Tony moved to Amarillo, Texas, and
worked 34 years for the Pantex Nuclear Facility investigating and remediating soils and
groundwater that had been contaminated during World War II and Cold War era operations. At
Pantex, Tony managed the Environmental Projects Department that performed sampling and
analysis of environmental media, installed and monitored groundwater wells, and installed
groundwater pump and treat and bioremediation systems. He also oversaw landfill cover
maintenance and numerous construction projects requiring federal and state regulatory
reporting. He retired in 2023.

Tony is a devoted husband to his wife, Paige, of 40 years, and has three wonderful children:
Maggie, Jack, and Janie. Maggie performed mission work in Belize at Marla's House of Hope
and King’s Home from Fall 2011 through Spring 2012. Jack is an archeologist studying
ancient Maya culture in Belize and conducts two excavations per year. While in high school, our
youngest, Janie, attended a mission trip to Belize.

Tony accepted Jesus as lord and Savior as a high school student. Tony and Paige are long-
time members of Westminster Presbyterian Church (WPC) in Amarillo, Texas, where Tony has taught
both children’s and adult Sunday school classes. He has also served WPC as an elder, served on
numerous committees throughout the years, and is currently a Deacon. Tony is humbled to be a
Board member of The Word at Work and looks forward to the opportunities God provides to
serve Him and the Belizean people.

Geoffrey Wright has been a member of the Word at Work Board of Directors since 2012. He joined following a medical trip with other physicians from the Texas Panhandle, evaluating the oncologic care in Belize that year.  Service on the Word at Work Board has been a highlight of his life. 

Geoff is now a retired Otolaryngologist (Ear, Nose & Throat physician) who grew up and attended schools in Amarillo, Texas.  He subsequently received degrees from the University of Texas at Austin and the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, with a following residency at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. He and his wife, Lacy, moved to Amarillo in 1986, raised a family of 2 sons, and now enjoy 3 grandchildren.

Geoff has enjoyed previous experiences as an elder and teacher at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Amarillo, as a former trustee for the Amarillo Children’s Home, a past board member for MoRanch Presbyterian Assembly in Hunt, TX, and other community activities.

Geoff now enjoys family travel events, real estate investing, sports activities, and  ongoing community Bible study.