1.) What do you do at Tyndale?
I am a missionary serving as the Finance & Administrative Assistant. I will also be the School Management System Administrator. So, as of right now, most of my work involves bookkeeping.
2.) What did you do before Tyndale?
I've done a lot of different things in the years leading up to arriving at Tyndale. I managed a small business for some time, then was employed as a loan processor for a mortgage lender. I was also very involved in local church ministry and spent some years in elder training at a local church. Most recently my family and I were occupied with preparing to come to Tyndale.
3.) What do you do besides serving at Tyndale?
Bike. A lot. More seriously at the moment, outside of Tyndale, I'm mainly focused on my wife and kids. We're still settling into our new life here in the Netherlands. Once we are more settled we will be involved in serving our local church, and we'd like to work with a local ministry in Amsterdam that is something of an evangelistic hostel during the tourist months and a shelter for people without a house in the winter months. I also enjoy cooking, so one thing my wife and I plan to do more of is host meals and get togethers with our neighbors and friends.
4.) Why did you want to come and serve at Tyndale?
The desire started during my time as a Tyndale student. I came here with my wife and we had our first child in the summer between my first and second year here. For me, the seminary was a very unexpectedly beautiful place where believers from all around the globe were gathering to know God and prepare to better serve people. It was characterized by great love and unity amidst great diversity, which was so formative for both me and my wife.
Living here and being exposed to Tyndale is what God used to stir our desires to both serve in the Netherlands and at Tyndale. There is a need for gospel workers in the Netherlands and there are needs at Tyndale. Initially, we had no idea what serving here would look like, but we were determined to help the school in some way because we love what this ministry is doing. It's a seminary that embodies the self-sacrificial character of Christ as it provides an opportunity to many for whom theological training is practically and/or financially unavailable to receive training. In doing so, it is supporting the global church. Given the diversity of the school, students have an opportunity to experience the formative effects of living with people who are very different from what they might be used to.
The shorter answer is this: because it was such a blessing to us and is a blessing to the global church, we simply had to be a part of it.
5.) What have you enjoyed most during your time serving at Tyndale?
Being able to work with and be among old friends has been a real nice treat. So that's definitely been a high point. Getting to know the students (which is slow going) and being around them is also very enjoyable. It's honestly just fun to hear their theological discussions over lunch, to see them working hard on their studies, and to hear about their lives.
6.) What are your future plans?
Ultimately, we plan to stay in the Netherlands long term. Our desires are turned towards the people here, and this, we believe, is from the Lord. Eventually we would like to apply for permanent residency, to be partnered with or start something very similar to the hostel ministry mentioned above, and I would eventually like to serve a church in a pastoral role.
Perhaps you have a calling to serve as a missionary?
Prayerfully consider if the strategic mission of Tyndale Theological Seminary meets the desires of your heart and contact us at [email protected] to find out more.
The Lord can use your skills for gospel work. At Tyndale you can have a ministry impact that reaches Europe and beyond with the good news of Jesus Christ through our students. What are you waiting for?
