Helen was born to missionary parents in southern Colombia, South America. She realized her need for a Savior while very young and made a decision to follow and serve Him all of her life.
Helen was homeschooled, then came to the US for high school, graduated from the Latin American Institute, NYC, and a three-year evening Bible School program.
She married her husband, James Tielmann in 1958 and both went to serve in Colombia as missionaries under Christian Missions in Many Lands for 20 years. They were directors and teachers in their mission school, served in the local church, organized camps, traveled into the mountain and jungle areas to visit small congregations and to evangelize until 1974.
Helen has three children: Margaret Chornay (who lives in Maryland), Philip Tielmann, a member and active at Bethel Memorial Baptist Church, and Miriam who lives in Queens, NY. She has 10 grandchildren.
She served with Wycliffe Bible Translators in their Base in Loma Linda, Colombia for two years in order for her children to attend their English-speaking school.
Helen and James settled in Doylestown, PA in 1976.
Because of her husband’s illness and the need to be near their son Philip and family, we moved to Tatamy, PA in 2004, and God led them to Bethel Memorial Baptist Church and has been ever since. Helen serves on the Missions Committee, Assistant Missions Treasurer, Awana, and anywhere needed. Her husband Jim went on to Glory in 2011 after a long illness.