“There is always a danger that academic knowledge can be at odds with ministry in the church.” Pastors and church leaders can sometimes fall into the temptations of knowing much, yet not living out the things they “know.” For Igor in the story below, he was able to experience ministry before he was able to gain a greater knowledge of God’s truth. He had served in a new church because he loved God and wanted to be a part of the ministry. Later though, he realized the importance of knowing God and knowing Scripture.

For a pastor, the two go hand in hand. You can’t be an example of something you don’t know in your heart and mind. And you can’t know so much that you aren’t still called to apply it to your life. “One of the most important factors is that almost all the teachers are active ministers, mostly elders.” 

Igor was able to see this played out while he attended the SGA-supported Novosibirsk Biblical-Theological Seminary (NBTS). It is thanks to the generosity of friends like you that men can receive more Bible training at NBTS and two other SGA-supported seminaries, as well as at three Bible institutes, and dozens of Antioch Initiative sites scattered across the former Soviet Union.

At NBTS, Igor saw how the teachers all had great knowledge of God and His Word, but he also saw how they were actively involved in ministry through their local churches. What an example of Jesus Christ being displayed to the hearts of future pastors and leaders. Please pray that these instructors would continue to teach biblical truth and be an example through their words and actions.  

My name is Igor. I am a preacher in my church. I am also a leader of one of the Fundamentals of Christian Life groups and administer this ministry. I serve on the church board as a district small group leader.

I believed in Christ as my Savior and Lord in 1995 when I first came to the church, and was later baptized that same year . . . My conversion to Christ came through personal experience, difficulties in my family life, and later its destruction. The usual foundations of life were shaken, and I began to seek God. I read the Bible and prayed, asked God questions, and even received answers, finding comfort in the fact that I communicated with God. Then my friend Alexei invited me to youth camp and then to a Baptist church. Soon I became involved in youth camps as a minister and later as a youth leader. I also participated in a youth newspaper, which was new for evangelical Christians at that time.  

In 2000 I married Olga, and in 2001 we were invited to be part of a team to organize a new church. We accepted the invitation. There were 10 of us at the time. My wife and I were involved in teen ministry, holding backyard soccer tournaments for unbelievers to witness them about God. At that time, we cooperated with the local administration, which allowed us to do this. The congregation grew and we had to change the addresses of the rented premises so that there would be enough room for everyone. After a while I was ordained to the deacon ministry in the church. For 22 years we served in that church, but God eventually led us to return to the church where we were born spiritually. For the past two years, we have been back in my “home church.”

I am currently an undergraduate student at the Novosibirsk Biblical-Theological Seminary at their satellite campus based in St. Petersburg. My fourth year of study is coming to an end, and I would like to share my observations, joys, and challenges. 

For quite some time, I had been looking for different options to study in a Bachelor’s-level theology track in order to better serve. This is due to the realization that there was a lack of ministry skills. There was a lot of experience, but I felt a lack of academic knowledge. I wanted a better theological base as well as improvement of my preaching skills. It was important to me that it would be an evening course. Just at that time, another enrollment to Novosibirsk Biblical Theological Seminary was opening and I was able to join it. It is still difficult to combine this with my current job. I had to ask my bosses to reduce my working hours, and they miraculously agreed. I see the hand of God in this. 

I have come a long way, and I am very satisfied with my studies. One of the most important factors is that almost all the teachers are active ministers, mostly elders. There is always a danger that academic knowledge can be at odds with ministry in the church. This is where I see practical theology oriented to the local church. Academics and ministry go hand in hand. When you receive a systematic education, many views change. I am very sorry that we started a local church without a basic theological education and the mistakes we made. My advice for those who start new churches is that they should prepare themselves and their teams to be greatly balanced, with those who know systematic and practical theology.

I developed a holistic view of the history of Christianity and the history of Russian Baptists. We had a whole course devoted to it. For many years I lived without this knowledge, I did not fully understand how these churches emerged and were formed. Modern churches need continuity, and I would like all church members to know about it. As a student group, we have become close during our studies, brothers from different churches know about each other’s lives and help each other. Inter-church connections are getting stronger.

Now I am preparing to write my thesis, and the teachers are orienting us towards the interests of the local church, so that the topic of our thesis work answers practical questions, and does not just remain a theory, but instead this work can be used. Basically, these are topics about ecclesiology, practical theology, and ethics.

When you are involved in teaching the church through preaching or in a small group, you need a good theological background because it is a very demanding and responsible task. It is also important to understand the original texts of the Holy Scripture.

My gratitude to God for NBTS that carries out three programs in St. Petersburg simultaneously—daytime, evening, and correspondence courses.

Please pray for NBTS so that the teaching staff grows, and that there is strength to travel to St. Petersburg to teach. Pray that graduates can serve blessedly in churches and be useful for the kingdom of God.