International Theological Education Ministries, Inc.

International Theological Education Ministries, Inc. (ITEM) began in 1991 as Christ for Russia, Inc., the result of an influx of requests to the Back to God Hour radio broadcast for advanced training. Because such requests were beyond the scope of the Back to God Hour’s ministry, Dr. Joel Nederhood discussed the need with Rev. Nick Vogelzang of Denver, Colorado. Rev. Vogelzang organized a local board and began researching and raising funds. In the beginning, Christ for Russia supported a tiny effort in western Ukraine and supported the work of an itinerant lecturer between Moscow and St. Petersburg.

Shortly, a partnership began with the regional Evangelical Union in Donetsk, Ukraine, and Christ for Russia undertook the support of a new training center, the Donetsk Regional Bible School, then Donetsk Regional Theological College and now Eastern Ukrainian Theological Seminary. As the work of Christ for Russia became known on a wider scale, more and more requests for assistance came in from various places across the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) and Central Europe. In 1995, due to ill health and the need to advance the ever-expanding ministry, Rev. Vogelzang turned over the presidency of Christ for Russia to Dr. Gerard Van Groningen. A seminary professor and past president of Trinity Christian College (Palos Heights, Illinois), Dr. Van Groningen’s early ministry included 14 years of missionary service in Australia with a focus on church planting and pastoral training. In 1997, Dr. Van Groningen fulfilled his two-year commitment to Christ for Russia’s presidency and now has emeritus status on the Board as an advisor.

Also in 1995, the board hired Dr. R. David Ludwick to become the ministry’s Executive Director. At the same time the board expanded to achieve representation from a number of denominations, and the headquarters moved to St. Louis. The board enacted some additional administrative changes in 1997 and named Dr. Ludwick president effective January, 1998. In April 1999, Andre V. Bouravnev (M. Div.), then a Russian student at Covenant Theological Seminary, joined staff responsible for translation work, media, and publications. The ministry also employs a bookkeeper and an Administrative Assistant Rebekah Hagar on a part time basis.

Effective June 1, 1998, in order to organize and promote the ministry more clearly and efficiently, Christ for Russia began to do ministry as International Theological Education Ministries with umbrella “ministry groups” for the work in various countries.

Since 1995, the Donetsk Regional Bible School has grown and graduated its first class of pastors and church planters. A new building has been built in Makeyevka, Ukraine. The school has been fully accredited, having completed the governmental registration process as the Donetsk Regional Theological College and Eastern Ukrainian Theological Seminary. The Donetsk school began full time classes in the fall of 1998.

Since 1995, ITEM’s work has expanded to include:Odessa Presbyterian Seminary, Odessa, Ukraine. This new seminary serves the Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Ukraine, an emerging denomination in southern Ukraine that has grown out of the follow-up to the ministry of CoMission. In January 1998, ITEM sent Rev. Rod Gorter, a minister of the Christian Reformed Church, and his family to Odessa where Rev. Gorter served full time as a professor in the new seminary and ITEM’s field representative in Ukraine. With Rev. Rod Gorter fulfilling his mission term another ITEM missionary has stepped in to serve in Ukraine: Alister Torrens.

Since 2004, ITEM has been working with several more schools and budding Reformed beginnings in Poland, Lithuania and Ukraine. And the work goes on as new opportunities open and works in progress mature.

“Laboring in our Lord’s Harvest is no burden, it is gratitude for grace”
cf. Luke 10
“Stewardship is what man does after he says, ‘I believe’”
W.H. Greever