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Nelson Edward Kauffman (October 5, 1904 - June 18, 1984) was a bishop, pastor and leader of the "Old" Mennonite Church denomination. He served as secretary for home missions for the Mennonite Board of Missions and Charities from 1955-1970, as president of the Mennonite Board of Education from 1950-1970, and from 1934-1956 worked with his wife, Christmas Carol Kauffman, as a missionary in the Hannibal, Missouri area.

Personal Life
Nelson Edward Kauffman was born on October 5, 1904, in Garden City, Missouri, to David Gideon Kauffman and Mary E. King. When he was 10 years old, Kauffman's family moved to Minot, North Dakota and began operating a dairy farm there. After gaining an interest in mission work, Kauffman pursued higher education by enrolling at Hesston College. At Hesston, he met Christmas Carol Kauffman, and the two were married on June 10, 1929.

Hannibal Mission Work
In Spring, 1934, Nelson and Christmas Carol Kauffman accepted a call from the Mennonite General Missions Board to begin a mission church in Hannibal, Missouri, where they founded a Gospel Mission under the South Central Mennonite Conference. The Nelson and Christmas Carol would remain in Hannibal for 22 years, performing several mission projects attached to the Gospel Mission, including significant work in prison ministry, as well as Nelson's radio broadcast, "Christ for Today," and his involvement in revival meetings across the country. Nelson was also appointed as a bishop for the Gospel Mission and several other congregations in 1940.

Church Administrative Positions
In 1950, while still working in Hannibal, Kauffman began serving as a president of the Mennonite Board of Education, and remained involved in its administration until 1970. During these years he was involved in the creation of Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary as well as the Conrad Grebel Projects Committee, which worked to make college resources available to those outside of the typical college age range. In 1955, Kauffman was appointed secretary for home missions for the Mennonite Board of Missions and Charities, and