Church Planting in the Former Soviet Union

Classes here at Kiev Theological Seminary go from Monday-Saturday; and Monday-Thursday. The students take classes for 8 hours a day for two weeks before returning home. These are some dedicated men. All of them have to work jobs to supply income. One friend, whom we are sending a team to this summer, Joseph, has to ride a train for over 14 hours to get to school here. He lives west of the Carpathian mountains in Western Ukraine. He is planting a church among the Gypsies, the largest people group in the world without a home country.

KTS is the only school of its kind, in regard to church planting. The school, led by my friend and contact, Joel Ragains, requires that every church planting graduate plant a church or be on a church planting team within 5 years of graduation. In about 5 years since his arrival, Joel has seen 22 new churches started in Ukraine and the former Soviet Union (we have students from Georgia, Belarus, and other surrounding countries).

The school is adding on to a the small facility that they have. They need all kinds of things. There is no heat in the chapel, the rooms are ... let's just say, need some love. They are trying to finish the project that they are in, and have, by God's grace, been able to raise some significant money. More than these physical needs, is the need for curriculum. You can only do so much with The Purpose Driven Life! There are few tools in Russian or Ukrainian. I have contacted Ed Stetzer in hopes that we can get Planting Missional Churches in the tongue of this area.

Despite these challenges, this is an amazing school, with some of the most genuine and gracious faculty members. The students are sacrificial and steadfast. Last Friday night we had a pizza party after a long week, and it was sweet. I have a deep love for these students and this country. It needs awakening. The Reformation never made it here. They have not had an "awakening" as such.

Today I gave a testimony and a mini-sermon on "letting the Word of Christ dwell in you richly." I challenged Sergay's church (the pastor who is also my translator in class) to (1) read, (2) hear, and (3) memorize Scripture. I told them that Scripture memory is needed for (1) purity; (2) prosperity; (3) power over Satan; (4) prayer; and (5) proclamation. Of course, the "P's" don't work. You don't need a sermon you can "P" on in Ukraine.

So this afternoon, I completed my listening guide for next Sunday night's theology study on the person of Christ, who is the hope of Hattiesburg and Ukraine. I also worked on the AM sermon, which will be on the 7 cries of Jesus on the cross. I pray that Christ would continue to call out many to himself as His sufficient Son is proclaimed around the world.

I miss our faith family at Temple, and I miss my wife so badly that I have been drinking tomato juice and quoting country music songs. We hope to hear some good news on Monday. Hopefully, Lord willing, our stuff will be submitted for adoption, and we will receive word in a few weeks about when we may travel to pick up some of these cute kids. And maybe, James Sergay or Anna Soffia will like to drink tomato juice with mommy and daddy.

Until next time friend,

Pastor Bourice