Picture: Kiev, Ukraine: Sunday evangelistic outreach in village of 100 where gospel never been heard before. This is our students' field work and day to day life, as many of them come from such places.

Office of the President

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
I am delighted to bring you excerpts from conversations I had with some of the students in the theological college near Kiev, Ukraine where ITEM sends Reformed professors and pastors to teach sound biblical doctrines to national Christian present and future leaders. They asked me to thank all who support this mission effort for their faithful financial and prayerful support. They asked me to tell you that they love you and thank our Lord for the support extended to them!

My name is Nikolai Monatiuk. I have been a church member for three years. And all that time before, I think, I would have become a church member and my salvation would have taken place much earlier had I had the knowledge. And the knowledge that I have received in my church is not yet sufficient to communicate with people, but when one obeys the Word of God, and if you know that he knows it well, people pay better attention to such person, and it makes it easier to evangelize at home, out on the streets, on buses and trains, in various places, at work, where people look at you and your actions as a Christian, and then there inevitably arise opportunities for sharing faith and fellowship. And to do that, one needs to have knowledge, deep and solid knowledge of Scripture. This is why I need to study at this Bible College.

The most important thing that I can tell you about myself is that the days between repentance and Baptism, that took place forty days after conversion, seemed like an eternity to me. I could hardly wait to be baptized. I would repeatedly come up to my pastor and ask him, “Let’s do it sooner. Why not now?” That is why I want others not to waste that time, that they find Christ as soon as possible, that they receive blessing and forgiveness and salvation.

I leave it up to God to let me know what I will do after graduation. I know I will keep obeying Him. I have a desire to serve our Lord and so I will serve Him and participate in evangelism.

I want many more people to know the Lord as their Savior.

I am very thankful to our American brothers and sisters for helping us spiritually and in evangelism. I personally arrived at the conclusion of the importance of Baptism after I listened to a professor from America who taught dogmatics. And after having listened to his lectures I decided that I needed to study theology.

My name is Dima Dmitrik. I am 22. I am single. I decided to study at this college to better know the Word of God. I came to church for the first time in 1991, October 31 st. My mom and I were invited and I started attending the Sunday school. In 1993, I went to summer camp, where I got “hooked” on God’s Word. I repented in 1997. In 1999, I was baptized and now I am involved in various ministries at our church. After graduation I will do my best to use my education in my life to be involved in an existing church or ministry. Please learn Russian and come visit us!

My name is Alla Brazhkina. I was born in a Christian family. From early childhood I heard the Word of God and became a Christian in 1975. During my Baptism I vowed to serve God with all my heart. Since then I have had no regrets and I do not anticipate regretting my commitment to the Lord. The reason I desire to study at this college is that I minister to my fellow sisters in Christ; I meet with women who ask me a lot of questions. So I want to learn the Word of God more thoroughly, to know biblical principles and to give the right answers to tough questions based on Scripture.

After graduation I want to continue my ministry to women, sisters in Christ, mothers, orphans, widows, helping them, telling them about God’s love, showing them mercy, as God teaches us. God has been helping us up to this moment. And I know that He will keep helping us.

We are very glad that we have this college – a wonderful spiritual foundation, where many desire to study. And we pray for it and ask you to forward to our American friends that we love them and pray for them and ask them to pray for our college, for us students, that the Lord may bless us spiritually and financially!

Timur Anikin, BSTS Student: “I’m married and have two children. I have been Christian for almost 14 years. Currently I’m working with a Russian-speaking Reformed church plant in Riga, Latvia. I really enjoy the studies at the seminary for it has answered many questions with which I struggled. But it is more than just theological studies – I feel that God has called me to minister to the Russian speaking community here in Latvia and to share these Biblical truths which I have learned at the seminary.”

Martins Martinsons, BSTS student: “I am leading youth group at Riga Reformed Bible church located in the very center of Riga, Latvia. I’m also active in several other church ministries. …the one thing I like the most about my studies at the seminary is the interaction that is between students and professors who come. It has always been very encouraging for my personal growth as well as for the ministry I am leading. My goal for studying at the seminary is to be prepared for pastoral ministry and I am planning to be involved in church-planting. I also wish to do further studies in the Reformed theology.”

Alvils Strikeris, BSTS student: “I am a member of Riga Reformed Church pastored by Rev. Ungars Gulbis. I am actively involved in the church ministry - leading a weekly Bible study, preparing and leading prayers in Church services and participate as a disciple in elders meetings. ...studies at the seminary have helped me to get to know God and gain understanding about the Bible, it helps me as a Bible-study leader and also it is my preparation for pastoral ministry which is my ultimate goal.” 

As we move toward what He has found for us in the future, we ask again as we have asked in the past, that you join with us and them in the preparation of His Bride, His Church!

In His service and in yours we remain,
Dr. R. David Ludwick,
on behalf of ITEM staff, professors, volunteers and students.

Joshua 1:6-9