John A. Appel was born in Fresno, California on August 20, 1945, to missionary parents.  The family moved to China later that year.  When the communist party took over China in 1948, they evacuated to Taiwan.  Then on to Hong Kong, Bangkok (Thailand), Columbo (Ceylon, now Sri Lanka), and Poona (India).  While John’s parents were working in Bombay in 1957, he was baptized by his dad, Alva R. Appel.  After Bombay they moved to Karmatar and then returned permanently to the US in 1959. 

John then attended John Nevins Andrews for 8th grade, Blue Mountain Academy for high school, and then Columbia Union College where he graduated in 1969.  John changed his major from pre-med to theology while at CUC.  After graduating from CUC, he went on to the Seminary at Andrews University.

He has served as youth pastor in Richmond (VA) and was a pastor in Manassas and Warrenton (VA). He was ordained in New Market (VA) in 1976, and then was the pastor of Sligo (MD), pastor of Atholton (MD), Associate Youth Director in the Oregon Conference, Chaplain and Bible Teacher at Forest Lake Academy (FL), pastor of Apopka Highland (FL), pastor of Frederick (MD), and then in 2006 became the Ministerial and Stewardship Director of the Chesapeake Conference.

John met Sally McKendrick while attending Blue Mountain Academy and they were married in 1969. They have 3 adult children (John Scott, Mark Allen, and Jennifer Lynn) and 2 grandchildren (JJ and Katelynn).