The Recent Past and Future of Evangelicals in Ukraine

This does not mean that life for young evangelicals will get any easier. In their resolve to look to the future, to apply best possible standards (most often Western), to insist on teamwork, to deny competing motives for ministry (cultural, national, financial or personal), they will be regarded as mavericks. Therefore the role played by Kyiv Theological Seminary (KTS) never has been and will not be an easy one. Flexibility and innovation of the seminary team helps KTS to adjust to changing circumstances and needs. New cultural developments do not become a painful challenge but rather a window of opportunity, an incentive to learn, and an occasion to look outside of traditional values and familiar patterns. With all of these, a firm evangelical foundation gives KTS the necessary stability as reliable Reformed theology gives necessary direction in stormy seas of competing uprooted traditions—traditions accumulated through years of communism and, at best, useless in the new free environment of Ukraine. Honestly, KTS is too small by itself to create the evangelical foundation for the future evangelical church and community, but it already serves as a beacon pointing a way for the evangelical direction, warning of the dangerous currents and underwater reefs that leads to theological shipwreck and ministry ruin.

Kyiv Theological Seminary consistently promotes not competition but mutual love and respect even toward those who do not consider themselves the seminary’s friends. KTS faculty have resolved not to talk back even if badly informed accusations are leveled against the school. KTS teachers pointedly avoid encouraging competing traditions; they insist on teaching the Gospel undiluted. The seminary makes it its task to avoid church jargon and use plain understandable words to communicate biblical truth. KTS strives to be practical in its teaching and attitude, understandable to the local church, and helpful to any pastor or church member looking for education or counsel. At the same time, the seminary seeks to show the Bible’s relevance to Ukraine’s political and economic situation. In times of political turmoil, KTS faculty, staff and students do not stay aloof but take positions as active citizens who truly care for their country’s future.

In addition to regular educational guidance and encouragement, the KTS team leads a church planting project (with 50 new churches already planted by qualified pastors) and also encourages and supports a new movement for healthy churches, which currently consists predominantly of KTS graduates. This movement is the first attempt to be a tool helping to create churches that are planted and managed and led according to biblical standards. KTS seeks to play a positive role in the Ukrainian evangelical church by planting seeds of practical patterns of healthy church growth and development, being a consulting specialist, and a direct participant in real-world projects of evangelism and church planting.

Evangelicals in Ukraine not only must import high quality people and materials to renew evangelical foundations in the country; but also must use these important resources effectively. That is why the partnership with Talbot School of Theology is so strategic for KTS specifically, and for the evangelical community in Ukraine in general. Talbot gives KTS a model to follow which is not available in the territories of the former USSR. The best people come to teach, the best pattern for production is used, and the best standards are applied. This gives hope for the best output and lasting effect. Evangelical education in the region is still in its infancy stage and still requires close, high quality mentoring, encouragement and motivation. Therefore KTS considers its partnership with Talbot School of Theology a special provision from the Lord that extends hope not just to KTS but to the whole country of Ukraine.

At the same time, looking back on the vast wilderness of the communist wasteland, we should not expect instant results. It is always easier to destroy than to build, and what was destroyed for several generations cannot be restored easily in one. Still that should not deter us from continuing in the effort to advance evangelical educational without which no other benefit is possible. This task of restoring the Gospel to its rightful place and giving the gift of a truly evangelical Church to our country and the vast regions beyond is in itself a blessing which has mutual and lasting benefits.

Anatoly Propkopchuk (MS, Kyiv State Polytechnic; Th M, Dallas Seminary) is the founder and president of Kyiv Theological Seminary. He is passionately committed to theological education for establishing a healthy future of the church in the former Soviet Union. His theological interests are in apologetics and creation origins. Anatoly lives in Kyiv with his wife Galina, daughter Natalie and son Slavik. He enjoys photography, gourmet cooking and fine coffee.