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Pastor’s Training in the Former Soviet Union
“Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised is the city of our God, in the mountain of His holiness. Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth is Mount Zion…” (Psalm 48:1,2).  The church of the Lord Jesus Christ is most beautiful. It is there that sinners find peace, rest, righteousness and salvation. In the Former Soviet Union, the church of Christ is (presently) being planted. The beauty of Christ is being reflected in lives of men and women who first lived in darkness, but who have now been changed – their lives have become marked by Christian love and faith. The churches continue to grow rapidly.
Immediately after the fall of communism in 1989, young men in various parts of this immense country saw the opening given to them to proclaim God's Words of life and salvation to a lost people. Local churches sent out men to preach God's Word even in the remotest areas of this vast country.
 Immediately the need was felt to train local pastors to spread the Word of God to their own towns and villages. Astounding conversions took place. Criminals were converted and changed into meek lambs, zealous to preach the Word of life. Peasants with only some basic elementary education, and men from indigenous tribes in the far north now proclaim the Word of God.
All these men see their need for theological training. Simple training centers have been set up. Often they consist of nothing more than one-week seminars, meeting every six months at which an experienced Russian pastor or missionary gives lectures on theological topics.
Funds are needed to pay for the travel of the attendees. Some live up to 1000 km. away from these regional centers, but have to travel close to 2000 km, in order to bypass the numerous lakes and rivers in the far north of Russia. Some have old cars which are prone to break down in the Russian winter. COAH supplies these local pastors with means of travel or funds in order to reach these regional conferences.
 Besides these training sessions arranged by Russian ministers themselves, COAH also has the opportunity to provide instruction to these pastors in extra training sessions. The topics of the lectures are suggested by the local pastors themselves. These conferences are highly appreciated. These pastors certainly value the fact that they receive such support and training from North American pastors. It is during these pastors’ conferences that sound reformed and Puritan theological books are handed out. The responses are overwhelming. COAH sends men into Russia and Ukraine to teach and preach to these pastors and in their churches various times per year.
Besides these rather ad hoc approaches to pastors’ training, there are also various seminaries where full time teaching and more formal training is provided. These seminaries are based on evangelical reformed principles.
There is a Bible School on the Mongolian, Russian border in the town of Tuva, with around 20 graduates a year. In the far-east Primorya region around Vladivostok, there is the “Far East Bible Seminary” having 40 graduates per year. Some of these graduates will continue their secular jobs, but will function as elders or youth workers in local churches. Others will serve churches as pastors, while again others will be sent out as missionaries.
Within the huge area of what is known as Siberia, limited means of theological training have sprung up in recent years. Pastors will travel thousands of miles to be present at training conferences held in the cities of Yakutsk and Irkutsk. Around 10 years ago, there were hardly any churches in these regions, and now churches are planted and their pastors receive weeklong training sessions every 6 months.
 Towards the center of the former Soviet Union, there is a seminary in which men are trained to preach God's Word to Muslim people. The graduates are sent out to preach in a hostile environment. There is much opposition and the work is dangerous. Suffering is experienced for the Name of Christ, but the work continues. The Lord is giving the increase.
Towards the West of Russia there are several seminaries, as well as in various locations in the Republic of Ukraine. There one can observe a remarkable interest for Reformed teaching. Students are discovering the riches of Reformed theology with the wish to be instructed in these principles. John Calvin’s “The Institutes of Christian Religion” is used as a textbook in several classes.
Originally the Baptist churches in the former Soviet Union, established in the 19th century under influence of German settlers, were reformed in their persuasion. Later on, during the 20th century, Arminian tendencies became dominant. Once again this past decade has witnessed a return to the Reformed theological roots of these Baptist churches. This is evidenced by the fact that within the mainline Baptist Union there is a growing thirst for Reformed theology.
COAH is able to facilitate in this development by supplying lectures and Reformed literature to these students.
Through means of this education may men be equipped to teach and preach God's Word. May sinners be saved, and the Name of God glorified. The Lord grant that the words be fulfilled of what we read in Psalm 48:10, “According to Thy Name, O God, so is Thy praise unto the ends of the earth.”
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YOU MUST READ THIS!
You can almost feel the hunger and thirst as you read the responses from many in the former Soviet Union for the books that are being distributed by the thousands!
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