Meet the Missionaries of MTW Bulgaria!
 Dave
Culmer |
 Monica Farling
|
||
 Stephanie
Glass
|
 Mike
and Susan Hershberger
 Tony
and Amy Myers
|
 David
and Erin Pervis
|
 Craig
and Lisa Sheppard
|
 Jonathan
and Katherine Taylor
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|
Craig and Lisa Sheppard
Craig is from Wichita, Kansas and Lisa is from St. Louis, Missouri. They both graduated from the University of Kansas, where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication Studies, and she received a Bachelor of Science in Education degree. They have four sons and a daughter (Jared, 10/3/90; Nathan, 8/20/92; Luke, 7/11/95; Andrew, 4/7/98; and Abigail, 10/9/2000). They served together on the staff of Campus Crusade for Christ for four years before Craig attended the Reformed Theological Seminary in Jackson, MS. There he received a Master of Divinity degree in Missions, and a Master of Theology degree in Theology. While in seminary, Craig served on the staff of the First Presbyterian Church of Jackson. He is ordained in the Heartland Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church in America. Currently, Craig is the Country Coordinator for Bulgaria and the Regional Director for Eastern Europe. The Sheppards have been in Sofia since the spring of 1996.
David and Erin Pervis
David grew up in Georgia and Alabama, and attended Auburn University where he received his B.S in chemical engineering. He also received a CELTA certification for teaching English as a second language. David worked in the chemical processing industry for thirteen years, during which he served in the singles ministry of First Presbyterian Church of Augusta, Georgia. Erin was raised in Augusta, Georgia, and graduated from Duke University with a Middle East studies emphasis. In 1984 she joined Arab World Ministries and worked among Arab-speaking Muslims until 1995. She served a term in England, France, and Jordan. After completing a Masters degree in Teaching English as a Second Language, Erin served as a "tentmaker" in a language institute in Syria. David and Erin were married in June 1996. They and their two children, Clara (9/9/97) and Josiah(1/26/99), joined the MTW team in 1999. David serves as the director of the Teaching English Ministry in Bulgaria.
Tony and Amy Myers
Amy grew up in Brighton, Michigan and Tony in Melbourne, Australia. They met while attending Michigan State University in East Lansing, Michigan. They both graduated in 1993, Amy with a B.A. in Hotel and Restaurant Management, and Tony with a B.S. in Medical Technology. Following college they were involved in church planting in Lansing, Michigan. Tony graduated in 1999 from Columbia Biblical Seminary in Columbia, South Carolina (M.Div.) and is ordained in the Palmetto Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church in America. While in seminary, Tony served on the staff of Cornerstone Presbyterian Church of Columbia, SC. Tony and Amy arrived in Bulgaria in May, 2000, and have four children: Wesley (12/31/97), Libby (6/11/99), Colby (2/2/01), and Timothy (11/10/2002).
Jonathan and Katherine Taylor
Originally from South Carolina, Jonathan and Katherine Taylor met while teaching in that state's public schools in 1983. They hold bachelors degrees in education, he from Clemson University and she from Erskine College. A gifted classroom teacher, Katherine has also served as the Director of Christian Education in a local church. Since 1988 Jonathan has, among other roles, served as pastor of a small rural church, as a church planter and as the missions and outreach pastor of a large suburban church. Jonathan holds a Master of Divinity degree from Covenant Theological Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri, is a member of Missouri Presbytery in the Presbyterian Church of America and currently serves as the Sofia team leader. Katherine is assisting to develop Sofia Christian Academy. The Taylors arrived in Sofia in 2004 and have two children: Katie (3/16/1991) and Owen (4/18/1993).
Stephanie
Glass
Stephanie was raised in St. Louis, MO. Over the last ten years, she participated in numerous missions trips through the missions ministry of Twin Oaks Presbyterian Church. Through these experiences God cultivated a heart for missions in her. In the spring of 2000, Stephanie graduated from Covenant College and taught at an elementary school. Three years later she went on a missions trip to Bulgaria for Vacation Bible School and English classes. God has since opened the door for Stephanie to be the Administrative Assistant to Craig Sheppard, the Regional Director for Eastern Europe. Her job will include supporting Craig as well as the other MTW missionaries serving in Eastern Europe. She will live in Sofia, Bulgaria and be involved in local ministries as well.
Dave
Culmer
Dave grew up in Tampa, Florida, and attended Emory University, where he became a Christian through the ministry of a believing friend. Two years later, he transferred to Covenant College and finished his undergraduate in biology with a premedical emphasis. Subsequently, he earned his medical degree at the Medical College of Georgia and spent seven years in residency and part-time family medicine practice in Greenwood, South Carolina. Dave has enjoyed the privilege of both discipling and being discipled during his college and medical school careers and beyond. The Lord has combined his gifts and training, and a long-recognized call to the mission field, to take him to Sofia, Bulgaria. There Dave will use his medical and discipleship gifts for mercy ministry and developing leaders as part of the MTW team’s church-planting work.
Monica Farling
Monica
grew up in Dover, Delaware, and came to know the Lord through Young Life leaders who connected her
with a PCA church. There she became active in children’s ministries and
realized God’s love for families. She
received a B.A. in English from the University
of Delaware in 1996 and returned to Delaware State
University in 2001 for teacher education
courses. Monica is currently working
toward a certificate in biblical studies from Reformed Theological Seminary.
She taught for one year in a public middle school and spent two years
writing curriculum for a Christian high school in southern Delaware.
The study of Scripture filled her with gratitude for the Lord’s saving
work for His people, and two short-term missions trips to Peru
strengthened her longing for the world to know the hope of the gospel.
Monica's missions vision and educational background come together at
Sofia Christian Academy
in Sofia, Bulgaria. There she has the opportunity to minister to the
families of the missionary community by providing a Christ-centered
education to their children, allowing the parents to stay on the field longer
and giving them more time to devote to evangelism and discipleship of the
Bulgarian people.
Mike and Susan Hershberger
Mike and Susan’s missions interest in
Eastern Europe first took root in the 1980s during their undergraduate days at
the University of Kansas. Through their involvement with Campus Crusade for
Christ, Int’l they were sent out as part of summer missions teams to Hungary
for the purpose of sharing the Gospel and laying the groundwork for a strong,
long-term Christian presence in that country. Upon graduation in 1987, Mike
joined the campus staff of Campus Crusade at the University of Iowa, and Susan
joined in 1990 soon after they were married.
In 1993 the Hershbergers moved to Jackson,
Mississippi where Mike attended Reformed Theological Seminary and graduated
with a Master of Divinity – Missions degree. Living in the Kansas City area
the last seven years they have been members of a PCA congregation where they
have gained valuable experience and learned essential Biblical truths
regarding their role in the church and the church’s call by her Lord to go
and make disciples of all nations.
In 2001 their hearts once again felt the
pull toward the mission field of Eastern Europe. Through persistent
recruitment from missionary friends and an affirmation from their home church
they began preparations for long-term missionary service in Bulgaria receiving
official acceptance from Mission To The World in November 2003. As a teaching
elder in the PCA Mike will be mentoring and equipping national pastors as part
of MTW’s church-planting movement strategy for Eastern Europe.
Mike and Susan have four children: Cameron
(5/31/91); Zachary (2/5/94); Ellen (10/6/95); Mary (2/21/98)
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