Tyndale

What made you choose Tyndale? What do you want to do with what you learn?

“I really wanted to study in Europe because I hope to work here in the future. When I started looking at programs I found that Tyndale’s MET program had the combination of Biblical studies, theology and practical skills that I felt would best equip me for the future. I don’t know exactly how I will use my studies (another reason for a varied degree) but I want to use what I’ve learned in the service of the church and especially to further the work of the gospel in Europe.”

Lauren (USA)

“I chose Tyndale because there are a lot of subjects about Biblical languages. With what I learn I want to teach and equip other Christians to live out their life better.”

Artur (Spain)

"I chose Tyndale because an alumnus recommended it to me, and also I had heard good things about Tyndale from other sources. I will want to continue pastoral work and also pursue a PhD in order to qualify to teach in a Seminary University."

Maxwell (Ghana)

“The classical theological disciplines, and the fact that Tyndale is a relatively small community with a warm atmosphere was the decisive factor. I study theology because I think this is what I have to do and because I want to know God: who is He? The question of purpose is secondary to me.”

Piet (Netherlands)

“Despite being born in a Pakistan Christian family, I did not know God personally. I accepted Jesus Christ as my savior at the age of 16. It was my mother’s desire and commitment to the Lord that I will serve Him. Until the age of 16 I did not like this idea, but when Jesus changed my life, I decided to serve Him for the rest of my life. After graduation I started to look for a Bible school (Seminary). I came to know about Tyndale Theological Seminary and I applied here. God answered my prayers and made it possible for me to become a part of this wonderful international community.

I always prayed to God for my seminary education, because Pakistan as being a Muslim country has not got much opportunity to get knowledge of God’s Word. For me, Tyndale is the best place, I really feel blessed to be a part of Tyndale Theological Seminary.

My vision is to serve God in Pakistan as a pastor and teach of the Old Testament. I want to evangelize and preach the Good News to the parts of Pakistan, where it has not reached yet. I hope to study further after I complete my Masters of Divinity Degree. I really love a quotation, which I read somewhere that says, ‘to know God and to make Him known.’ I feel that it perfectly describes the goal of my life.”

Yasir (Pakistan)

“I always loved the idea of a small community, not huge crowds. Tyndale is a nice small community, and harmonious which is why I am here. My parents are missionaries in Nepal. After Tyndale I want to go to Nepal to help them for some years, and then go out from there.”

Hannah (India/Nepal)

What brought you to Tyndale? What ministires are you involved with?

“At first I came to Tyndale to start my theological studies. It was here I met my wife. I returned to Tyndale to teach as an answer to the call on my life. I am involved in the life of the church mostly by preaching.”

Szaszi Bene (Romania)

“We had been missionaries in Serbia, but had known about Tyndale Seminary. After Phil’s PhD study in Belgium, we prayed about going back to Eastern Europe, but because our children had learned Flemish/Dutch in Belgium, Tyndale was a good option for our family. We both train Christian leaders, pastors, evangelists, and scholars who will return to their home countries all around the world. Linda is also the Tyndale librarian. Phil is also active in Zaporozhye, Ukraine, and in Serbia, in teaching Christian workers.”

Dr. Phil & (soon to be Dr.) Linda Gottschalk (USA Pittsburgh, PA)

“My wife and I came to help develop international Christian leaders. I am on the faculty of the Evangelische Theologische Fakulteit in Leuven, Belgium. We are missionaries with European Christian Missionary (North America, Inc.).

Dr. Drake Williams (USA, PA)

“I came to Tyndale after retirement. I worked at a travel industry. My children are all abroad. I volunteered at Tyndale to copy, clean, and do odd jobs. After 1 ½ years an employee at Tyndale retired and I was asked to take over her job as Bursar (or financial manager). I had known about Tyndale from before through church connections. Tyndale is a good place for me, with lots of people who understand what it feels like to have children abroad.”

Dory Hofstra (Netherlands)

"I believe that Tyndale is a very strategic training place for cross-cultural missions in two dimensional ways. The first one is a centripetal way; Tyndale has students from many different countries and continents, and so Tyndale is a multi-cultural spot, Tyndale then offers students cross-cultural training in this community before students get into their cross-cultural ministry contexts. The second one is a centrifugal way; Tyndale sends off students to their home countries in Europe, Africa, Asia and rest of the world as cross-cultural missionaries. In addition to them, as Tyndale offers sound evangelical theological training by evangelical faculties, students could get involved with any ministries on the basis of evangelical foundations.

I am a faculty of missiology at Tyndale as well as an OMF missionary. First, I am building up evangelical leaders in Tyndale by offering missiology and theological educations. In particular, as a faculty of missiology, I am helping students have a missiological perspective for their ministries. Second, I would like to challenge Dutch and European local churches for their spiritual awakening, and to mobilize them to be missional churches. Third, I am involved in diaspora (or immigrant) ministry; as there are a large number of immigrants in Europe including Netherlands, it is necessary to reach out them with the Gospel."

Dr. Daniel Ahn (Korea)

“We (my wife Janice – the Executive Admin. Assistant at Tyndale) and I came to Tyndale on 28 September, 2012. At that time, we had been serving as missionaries with WorldVenture in Romania for 12 years. I was involved in theological education there, both in a church-based Bible College, and in the Baptist Theological Institute. We had gone back to the US in 2011 for our home assignment and also to see our twin daughters enter college (Cornerstone University, Grand Rapids, MI). A year or so previous to that, we began thinking about where we should serve in Romania, and what we should be involved in. The city where we were living (Sibiu) had a lot of missionaries, and while we had ministries that we were involved in, we felt that we could do more, and also that we were not particularly needed where we were. So we explored a few options, and planned to make that our goal when we returned in 2012. To that end, we asked our supporting churches to pray with us concerning where we should go, and what we should do. The question, ‘what should we do?’ was particularly important for Janice, since the ministry that she was principally involved in was one that she became involved with because it was a chance to bring our daughters into the ministry. Now – with them in college – the situation had changed, so Janice was not sure what she would be returning to do.

With only a few months remaining in our home assignment, we went to our mission’s annual conference. There, we were approached by two people and told about an opportunity at Tyndale, and encouraged us to check into it. They both felt that I was under-utilized in Romania (as did I). So I did, not really knowing what opportunities were available. They contacted me and asked if I would be interested in teaching and heading up the division of Intercultural Studies and Practical Ministries. That was a surprise to me, since those areas had never been a focus of mine. But there was a need, and I did have experience as a missionary. I prayed about it, and felt that I could at least contribute a good theological base for ministry and missions. We had returned to Romania in the middle of April, 2012, and had our interview at Tyndale in the beginning of May. We also found that there was an opening for an Executive Admin. Assistant, which fit Janice’s gifts and experience well. We interviewed, and were accepted. While I did not necessarily feel qualified for this position, I did have a strong sense that God was calling us here. God confirmed that calling through the leadership of our church, through the encouragement of friends and teammates, and by enabling us to raise the extra amount of support we need to come here in a remarkable short amount of time.

My ministries here at present include teaching 4 courses in the Intercultural and Practical Ministries division, occasionally teaching 1 course in Systematic Theology, being the chair of this division, being the director of Mentoring Program (Spiritual Formation), and being the Vice President of Academic Affairs (as of Dec. 1, 2014). In addition, I lead a home group in our church, and occasionally preach in the area churches. Since coming here, I’ve traveled and taught in several international locations, including Myanmar, Ukraine, Romania, Germany, and Ethiopia.

Through this move to Tyndale, God has opened up several new opportunities to grow, learn and serve. It has been a stretching experience! But God has been faithful in providing for us and enabling us to do what he has called us to do. We certainly are not under utilized anymore!”

Dr. Jim Dahl (USA)