Academic Dean’s Blog

Next week our we have special event night when Dr. Scott D. Edgar presents his dissertation findings at KTS Public Seminar on Wednesday February 4, 2009. According to Dr. Edgar, he wants to “encourage mentoring relationships among the students at KTS and in the churches and organizations in which they serve”. Topic of his presentation will be Mentoring – the missing link in Ukrainian Theological Education for Ministry.

I am excited that Dr. Edgar and his wife Becky came to our seminary to teach two intensive courses this month. It’s my delight to welcome old friends of Kyiv Theological Seminary who served here in Ukraine as missionaries in 2000-2002. Dr. Edgar served as full-time faculty and active Academic Dean of KTS at that time.

You can download reproducible poster to print and share with your church this weekend. Poster Seminar Edgar A4 Eng Rus

Please pray for this event and for Dr. Edgar as he presents this important topic to us.

Interesting and fun way to represent words in visual way. Here you can see my blog presented visually with some words used here. I think that http://www.wordle.net is a great tool for teachers to bring a creative element into their classrooms. I plan to test the service and see how well my students respond to it.

NT 201 Class – Fall 2008

KTS students who take NT201 with Dr.Perdue. I translate for him in class. Photo by RK.

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

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.

More about this event you can read on http://www.268generation.com/worldtour/

Easter Break this year is late in spring semester but it was so refreshing to spend whole week with my family. I am expecting this month to be very intensive as we wrap up the semester and prepare for next fall semester. What can we expect this month as long as seminary events are concerned?

Events this week:
KTS Open House – May 6 (Tomorrow!)
Executive Council meeting – May 8
M3 modular students are in session for next two weeks

Events next week:
Faculty Meeting, regular – May 15 @2:15 PM (location: A21)
Talbot MA session – May 19-23

End of the month:
Graduation – May 24
M1 Gen Ed session: May 26-June 6
Faculty In-service – May 26-27-28

Talbot Kyiv Extension students meet with Dennis Dirks and Mike Brady