Photo by renner.org

Visiting instructors at the Kiev Good News Seminary

The evening traffic of Kiev can be heard from the second-story window as many make their way home on a crisp winter evening. But for those who have made their way from their jobs and businesses to walk up the stairs and fill the room that is home to the Kiev Good News Seminary, several more hours of the day will require their steadfast attention. Soon the rather small room will reach its capacity as 60 seminary students take their places and turn expectant eyes toward the instructor, reports Rick Renner Ministries.

It's been more than a decade since the fall of the former Soviet Union when evangelicals rushed through the newfound open door for the Gospel. Even so, there is still a sense of awe in the hearts of the Kiev seminary instructors to think that the uncompromised Word of God can be freely taught and preached in the capital city of Ukraine — once one of the largest former Soviet block nations. This freedom to proclaim life-giving truth creates a deep sense of thankfulness within the instructors, as well as a strong desire in their hearts to pour that truth into the hungry hearts of the students who sit before them.

Recently American missionaries Katherine and Bob Dickerson traveled to Kiev from the Moscow Good News Church to teach in the Kiev Good News Seminary for two weeks. Katherine recalled one particular night of teaching seminary classes: "On this particular evening, the courses included Biblical Finances and Spiritual Guidance. Notebooks were out and pens were moving fast as students endeavored to take full advantage of each word we spoke."

Katherine continued, "As I taught that night, I scanned the room of students and realized that I was looking at a myriad of gifts and callings just waiting — and preparing — to be released into the harvest fields surrounding us in this capital city of more than two million people. I tried to determine who among those students had the hungriest hearts. Was it the group of young adults under the age of 25, who listened so intently to grasp what they were hearing about the hope to which they are called and their rich inheritance in Christ? Or was it the future evangelist, pastor, teacher, counselor, and Sunday school supervisor I saw in the group of middle-aged men sitting in the far right corner of the room? At that moment a woman my age glanced toward me. I could see in her countenance that she had just received an answer her heart had long been searching for.

"It was this kind of hunger and openness in the students' hearts that continually urged Bob and me on, compelling us to pour everything we could into those students during the time allotted for us to teach them."

Victer Kulakevich, one of the Kiev Good News Seminary students, is 16 years old. When asked about his first semester of classes, Victer said, "I have learned so much in these past classes. I am so thankful for all the teachers and speakers who came along the way, because without them I wouldn't grow and become stronger in Christ.

"God has blessed me through this seminary! I come to class and experience love, kindness, joy, and the Holy Spirit. I am very glad that God gave me a chance to attend this wonderful school."

Every week, the Kiev seminary instructors keep encouraging, strengthening, and training the students to take their place in the work of God's Kingdom. The staff cheers the students on, teaching them faith, imparting wisdom, and giving practical instruction on how to live a successful, godly life; manage their finances; write a sermon; and be led by the Spirit of God. The instructors understand their mission well: to teach the uncompromised Word of God, challenging the students to intimately know the One who wrote the Word so they can walk out His purposes on this earth.

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[02/12/2008]

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