John and Pansy Culpepper

John and Pansy Culpepper answered the Lord's call to missions during their middle-age years. John was raised near Chicago and Pansy in West Virginia. They met in Arizona while John was in college and were married in 1961. Both received Christ as teenagers. As adults they have been active in the churches they have attended. After 20 years in business, filling positions in sales, accounting, accounting management, human resources development and administration, John entered Biblical Theological seminary in Hatfield, Pennsylvania. He graduated in 1986 with a master of divinity and a master of arts in biblical studies. He was ordained in 1987. He is currently working on a doctorate degree from Pensicola Christian College.

After raising their three children, Pansy worked almost 25 years as an office worker, holding various secretarial, administrative and supervisory positions.

Following a two-year association with the Slavic Gospel Association, which included a two-month assignment working among Eastern European refugees in Austria, the Culpeppers were appointed by CBInternational in January 1989. They were assigned to Tyndale Theological Seminary in the Netherlands through a mutual agreement between CBI and the seminary. They arrived on the field in August 1991.

During the three following years the Culpeppers' time and talents were fully utilized. John was initially assigned to be director of admissions and registrar, while Pansy provided administrative support. When the vice president of administration resigned, the Culpeppers were asked to assume additional duties. By the following April, John had taken on the duties of comptroller and chief financial officer. In September 1992 he was appointed vice president of administration.

The Culpeppers praise the Lord for the positive changes which have taken place at Tyndale and their role in bringing them about. Founded as a ministry of Greater Europe Mission, the seminary became an independent ministry in July 1992. As a consequence Tyndale was required to assume responsibility for a variety of administrative tasks formerly handled by GEM. Pansy's skill with personal computers has been of great value in setting up the accounting system and maintaining students' records. John is particularly grateful for the role he had in the negotiations for the purchase of the building Tyndale occupies. Provided administrative functions can be controlled, John expects to assume limited teaching responsibilities when he returns to the seminary after home assignment.

CBInternational missionaries serving in the Netherlands work at Tyndale Theological Seminary, which is near Amsterdam. Tyndale is an independent, evangelical, international, Bible-focused post-graduate level institution. Training Bible grounded workers for Christ to minister around the world is the seminary's purpose. Tyndale, which uses English, opened its doors with seven students from five countries in 1985. Since that time 63 students from 14 countries have graduated and the present enrollment stands at about 40. Programs offered include a master of divinity, master of arts in world evangelism, master of arts in Old Testament and a certificate in biblical studies.

Source: Text prepared by Tyndale and submitted by Tom Culpepper, son of John and Pansy

Ancestry: John is the son of Abner A. Culpepper, #816