Academic Dean’s Blog

Ministry of Kyiv Theological Seminary is focused on preparation of “believers for an effective ministry who are able to lead others in a growing relationship with Jesus Christ” (KTS Mission Statement). Among seminary students we have active ministers and ministers to be. Both categories of students are of vital importance for the seminary as we reach out through our graduates and students to the lost world. Our Church Planting undergraduate program attracts not only future but also active pastors.

I am delightful to hear about KTS students who apply to their ministries what they learned in the classroom. In fact, we expect exactly such actions from them: practicing what they learn. This puts responsibility on us as trainers and educators: we want to make sure that what they learn is practical, applicable and contextualized to their ministries.

These hot summer days seminary program directors spend with their students, assisting and extending training and mentoring. I invite you to read this report by Joel and Mary Ellen Ragains about one of KTS students from Eastern Ukraine who follows the call of God in his life. Joel and Mary Ellen RAGAINS – Baptism at Oleg’s Church

Photo Credit: kievkonnect.com

Today we uploaded photos taken during Bachelor of Theology Commencement 2008. You can view them on our seminary website in Gallery section of it under BTh Commencement 2008 title. These pictures were taken by professional photographer and personally I enjoy her work. Such a great accompaniment to such a significant event for the seminary and graduates.

Tags: seminary, alumni, ukraine

This afternoon after In-service training for Kyiv Seminary faculty special presentations of diploma projects took place. Six students who studied in Bible Education by Extension Institutes in Ukraine gave presentations of their final projects at KTS. Five out of six projects were dedicated to area of discipleship, mentoring, counseling and training evangelical believers in local churches. Sixth project was on stewardship of personal and family finances. I was pleased to see that in various regions of our country evangelical believers grow in appreciation of discipleship, mentoring and biblical counseling and willing to practice and train others in these important areas of Christian walk.

Photo Caption: Graduates of BMin program with KTS Administration, May 28, 2008

Kyiv Seminary partners with Association of Bible Institutes of Ukraine “BEE-Ukraine” and confers honorary diplomas of Bachelor of Ministry to students who completed full course through this institutions. We honor dedication to the Lord and persistence in studies of these students for whom it takes about six to eight years completing this program. We understand and communicate to graduates and leadership that these are honorary diplomas, not academic degrees. In order to strengthen the program we initiate conversation with leadership of BEE-Ukraine to revise requirements for graduation and 6-12 credits earned in residence. This will provide opportunity to these students to expand their exposure to academic study and may foster greater interest in college or seminary training. My desire is to see them enrolling in one of our academic programs of undergrad and graduate levels.

Tomorrow morning I plan to represent our seminary at the graduation ceremony in Central Baptist Church, Kyiv Ukraine. Why two commencements, you may ask? Tradition, my answer is. Traditions are changeable too.

I just uploaded all photos that I took during commencement ceremony today to my web album. Not many pictures this time, I had to charge my battery right there in the church building during the event.

Kyiv Theological Seminary celebrated achievement of 13 faithful men today. Trust my words even when you look at this picture. Only 12 graduates are there. But 13 names where announced. Thanks to my wife who practiced with me last night at home and guided me to the best announcement style. Does anyone of those who attended agree with me, or I just boasting in vain?

I must add that It was God’s service today! Yea. Just two examples.

Photo Caption:: Dr. Grigory Komendant speaks at KST Commencement 2007

Firstly, former President of Ukrainian Baptist Union Dr. Grigory Komendant spoke prophetic words. He said that some people may say that we have no reason to celebrate today: Kyiv Seminary exists for 13 years and today we have 13 graduates. But it is God’s day, he said – and very next year we will celebrate KTS commencement in new and renovated conference-hall of Kyiv Theological Seminary. His words received a great applause from the audience! I wish we would have official video recording of his speech, but the school has no video equipment. I have a ‘digital 8′ format of the video camcorder but have difficult time of getting tapes for it, outdated format. So no video I have to show you here. But what I have I want to share. My Zooomr Photo Album has a Commencement 2008 Photo Set. Go and see for yourself.

Secondly, I want to share at this moment that God kept speaking to us at commencement. Dr. Yount, our commencement speaker, shared the message on building on the foundation of Christ with gold, silver and precious stones. He gave great and – importantly – simple and clear explanation of difference between building with gold and building with hay and straw. Motivation and Focus - these are two main things that define what we build with.

10 According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it. 11 For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw- 13 each one’s work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. 14 If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire. (1 Corinthians 3:10-15, ESV)

I am thankful and glad that Dr. Yount kindly agreed to teach at KTS faculty in-service Monday through Wednesday next week. All KTS faculty are expected to attend his lectures, of course those who are available and are still in Kyiv. I personally look forward to his class.

As I greeted and congratulated each fresh alumnus after the ceremony I wished him (and myself) to go on and build with gold for God’s glory and be satisfied with nothing cheaper. Could you pray for me and our graduates as we going and living our lives to do the very best thing that God expect us to do, just as we’ve heard today and may read every day in the Book.

I am thrilled to go to this morning to Kyiv Theological Seminary commencement. Dr W. Rick Yount from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (SWBTS) will be our keynote speaker at KTS commencement ceremony. I will announce graduates, their degrees and majors. Our Seminary President Anatoly will hand each one of the thirteen students a diploma. What a great time and event of the school year!

I am thankful to program directors and teachers who worked hard finishing grading and submitting those grades to KTS Academic Office in time making us able to graduate these students. I commend you, my dear hard working colleagues, for you dedication to education of KTS and this graduating class. Thus along with Bachelor of Theology Diploma these graduating students will receive their transcripts.

I recall a passage from one of Paul’s letters: I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing. 2 Timothy 4:7-8, ESV

Putting in efforts and reaping a reward. These graduates reap today their reward for months and years of diligent study and one day they along with us will reap a greater reward on the Day of Christ as we stand before our Lord. Be we all faithful, fighting the good fight, trusting in his grace.

As I read a statement on personal blog of one of our seminary professors my heart is lifted up and it gives thanks to God for committed faculty members of Kyiv Theological Seminary:

Well, I have been in Ukraine for 9 year now. I feel like there are some areas that I need help on. So if you are a teacher, how do you get further education? You go back to school. So I am pursuing the next level. I am not planning to get this degree so that I can leave Ukraine. Rather, I want to receive further instruction so that I can do what I am doing in Ukraine better.

Get degree and leave the mission field? My understanding is this is not uncommon practice, unfortunately. I personally have not witnessed examples of this but I already heard of such tendency from several of our seminary professors. I speak of doctoral level degree here. But I did witness (I heard of more examples, though) as few of Ukrainian seminary graduates immigrated to other western countries, particularly to US. My point is not of addressing the issue now but highlighting positive example set forth by our seminary professors.

Mark McDonnel, KTS Professor and Biblical Studies Program Director, continues with such prayer request:

Please pray for me during this process, that I can learn and do the work, and that we can afford the tuition. The benefit of this program is that I will only be required to be in Belgium one week out of the year. So I will not need to leave ministry in Ukraine in order to study. And I am already putting my studies into use in my teaching, so it is very practical. Thank you for your prayers.

Thus my prayers are flavored with praise for commitment to the call that our faculty exemplify in their lives. I also pray for our local Ukrainian faculty to be raised up and being able to remain in ministry provided with sufficient resources to keep on with such important task as teaching God’s truth to text generation of believers how to impact their generation for Christ.

Yesterday was August 24 – our great Independence Day. Celebrations in many places entertained people. But not every one was partying. My family postponed celebration to another time, there are couple of reasons for this.

First of all our little Matvey is still at the hospital with jaundice. This coming Monday may be the day of family reunion! Today doctors said we can not continue infusions, his veins are Also our my wife’s grandfather is in the hospital again and his condition looks less promising. Earlier this year he underwent two operation on his digesting system and his health has been steadily declining since. Please pray for him to reconcile with the Lord, he is not stubborn but we very concern for his soul. Read the rest of this entry »

Although this Summer we have been enjoying our stay in mission’s apartment kindly provided by SEND Ukraine we feel that we are like strangers in our native land. What a feeling! Reminds me of Abraham. But how do we pray? We pray to have God’s guidance and provision. We also ask others to pray for us this way. Now we look forward to move into our own housing. This surely will happen one day. The Lord leads us his way. I am sure. Things happen in his timing, not ours. So we trust, wait and obey. Not always successfully though. I admit that God has been always faithful, even at times when we failed him. Oh, how gracious and merciful he is! He is faithful in all sorts of provision: spiritual and physical. He always has been good and faithful providing what we needed.

This happened to me today. I talked with my seminary class mate who lives in Kyiv. I shared my need of permanent housing with him and when he asked me how much money I receive he did not want to believe me. He said, I thought the school is funded very well. And I went into explanation in general terms basics of seminary existence and renovation of facilities. I tried to overcome his misconception with words, ‘this is my service” and ‘“this is a miracle’. God’s miracles happen sometimes unnoticed by us when we are insensitive to his ways. Yes, it is His miracle that can be seen in regular daily things of life and we thank Him for miracles that we can share part in. It is amazing that we could live in capital city for so long for such little income. If I would tell you the numbers you’d be very surprised and hardly believe me.

My deepest desire is to see our local national faculty grow in numbers and in quality. But this will hardly happen without serious strategic plan that require much of investments. I dream of the day when our alumni, my class mates and myself can help their Alma Mater significantly (I guess saying this I miss something that already is happening). I am confidant that it will begin happening one day. But it starts with an idea and it starts with thinking. Good, sound, careful and critical thinking. It starts with people who have vision. Advise and counsel of many is also needed in these matters. I am confidant and thankful we have got people around who have vision, who can provide advise and counsel and who can help us start this process.

Women in Ministry Conference 2007 website is now available for public view. I put small green banner on front page and few other pages from which people can access it; plus I added an entry in seminary calendar. Mass mailing was done to about 180 students and alumni; electronic email was sent out to all our students as well.

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I am glad that our people at Kyiv Theological Seminary are actively involved in various seminary related events. For example we have active (I mean more then simply existence) group of women formed of faculty, staff and faculty’s wives who constantly seeking ways to serve our student community. This year on November, 8-10 they plan to have another conference for women providing more opportunities for spiritual growth, genuine fellowship, biblical teaching, friendship and mutual encouragement. The conference is open to students and alumni of the seminary. You can have a preview for the conference website to be launch this week.

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