Bio

Cynthia grew up in a Christian home and trusted in Christ for salvation just before her third birthday. At six years of age, she followed the Lord in believers’ baptism. As she grew, her parents encouraged her in reading missionary stories and praying for missionaries. She studied Spanish in high school because she desired to be a missionary in Mexico. Later, she attended Bob Jones University and majored in nursing.

During her college years, Cynthia had the opportunity to go on a summer mission trip to Mexico. After graduating from the BJU nursing program in 1994, she gained four years of experience in many areas of nursing that would later be useful on the mission field, including labor/delivery, outpatient clinic, emergency care, general medical/surgical nursing, and pediatrics.

In 1998, God called Cynthia to teach in the nursing program at Bob Jones University where she taught for 17 years. During that time she graduated from Clemson University with a Masters in Nursing and a Family Nurse Practitioner focus and also completed a masters in Biblical counseling and a doctorate in education. 

While teaching at BJU, God allowed Cynthia to spend twelve consecutive summers in Mexico working with a traveling youth camp ministry – Campamento Meta - as their camp nurse, as well as fulfilling many other roles including teaching classes for the girl campers and counselors. 

In 2015, God unexpectedly led Cynthia out of the educational realm and back to bedside nursing for two years. During these two years, she was able to go on five one-week medical mission trips with Medical Mission Outreach to the countries of Guyana, Peru, Ecuador, the Philippines, and Kenya. 

In the spring of 2017, Cynthia’s early desire to be a full-time missionary was about to be fulfilled. One of her BJU nursing graduates, Rachel Langendorfer, contacted her regarding a need for another nurse in a medical missions clinic in Papua New Guinea.

That email hit her like a lightning bolt! She prayed for a number of days about the possibility, and it quickly became apparent that God had finally opened the door for her to participate in the kind of missionary service that she had desired for many years. None of her previous education, job experiences, or mission trips were wasted – all were preparatory for God’s calling her to PNG!

In February 2018, after a few whirlwind months of raising support and watching God do miracles with the speed in which her PNG paperwork was processed, she landed in Aibai, PNG for almost 22 months of service in the clinic and local church ministry. As a short-termer, she had the opportunity to learn Melanesian pidgin, serve in the clinic, participate in ministries with women and children, gain some understanding of the culture, and build meaningful relationships with the nationals. When Rachel left for a three-month furlough, Cynthia was able to cover the clinic ministry so that it could stay open during Rachel’s absence. Within a few months, Cynthia was certain that this was the place where God wanted her to serve Him. She also marvels at how He does give us the desires of our heart when we delight in Him.

Currently, Cynthia is on full-time deputation to go back to Papua New Guinea, with the desire to return to the field by the spring of 2021.

To view Cynthia McGuire's photo gallery, click the picture below.