On May 15, 2000 we started a Bible Institute for both men and women interested in serving the Lord on a full-time basis. Our purpose is to teach and train young people for the ministry. We are offering an intensive three year program with time off during the summer for evangelism and church planting.
The men are being trained as preachers and the ladies are being taught to work with children, and if the Lord allows, to be pastor's wives. Each student is required to put in 10 hours a week of personal evangelism, handing out tracts and soul-winning, in addition to their studies.
Everyone of our students is required to take English in order to be able to read, learn and study the King James Bible. The reason for this is so they can preach and teach correct Bible doctrine. The Russian Synodal text, translated by Orthodox priests, presents many conflicting views with the Scriptures and our students have learned the importance of understanding English in order to rightly divide the Word of God.
In addition to English, our students will learn a number of the books of the Bible, plus other courses on Christian character, how to preach (men only), working with children and practical everyday living in order to have a successful ministry.
Bible Institute Staff
Bro. Todd and Susan started the Bible Institute in May of 2000. Bro. Todd teaches all the Bible courses and has a separate preaching class just for the men. Susan teaches English and music and is also a student herself working on her Master's in Christian Education.
Their New Swords
Helen, Sasha and Osxana were delighted when we gave them their first King James Bibles after only one semester of English lessons. They were required to memorize several verses and passages in English as part of their final exam and they all did very well.
Armed and Dangerous
Susan and our students, Sasha, Helen and Osxana ready to hit the streets in the village with gospel tracts and invitation flyers to our village meetings.
Dennis
Dennis started working for us in June of 2001 after graduation from university as a language major. He primarily translates written material but also helps Susan out with Junior Church on Wednesday nights and wherever else he is needed. We thank the Lord for Dennis' talent in translating much of our work into Russian.
I Want To Learn English
Dennis came to visit us one Sunday morning in April and told us he was interested in learning more English. At the close of service that day he accepted Jesus Christ as his Saviour. A few weeks later he asked us to pray for the salvation of his mom. He brought her to church at the end of May and she got saved too. His sister, Dasha (15) and cousin Igor (9) both got saved in September. Please pray for the salvation of his dad and also his aunt, Igor's mom, who has cancer.
Helen
Helen loves children as you can see from this picture. She enjoys working with the kids in the Junior Church and Bible Club and they really take to her very quickly. She is a tremendous help to Susan with the children's ministry. We hope that someday God blesses her with a large family of her own.
Oxsana
Oxsana was saved five years ago in a Baptist church in her home town. She began attending our church three years ago in Dnepropetrovsk. She helps keep tract of visitors and those wanting Bibles. We have a policy that if a person comes out to church faithfully for ten weeks then we will give them a free Bible.
Preacher Boy
Sasha is a real blessing in many ways. He works closely with Bro. Todd learning the "ins and outs" of the ministry. He leads the singing in Russian and also translates during the services. He feels called to preach and has done so on several occasions. Although he doesn't understand music, and by his own admission can't sing, the Lord has given Sasha the ability to translate many of the old-fashioned camp-meeting songs into the Russian language. This past summer he helped Susan work on the new hymnal for the church.
