Sergei Yakimenko
Graduate Student of Irpen Biblical Seminary

Sergei Yakimenko

I received Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior in April of 1992. But God had been directing me toward repentance long before. I had been working in Far East Russia as a mine blaster, when one day an explosion went off with me nearby.
At that moment, my sinful life passed before me, and I started to look for answers to questions that worried me.

It wasn’t long before I met believers and asked them for something to read. They gave me a New Testament and I started to read it. I realized right away that the words of Scripture were very important words, and the Holy Spirit was touching my heart. I was invited to a gathering of believers and began going along with them. On my fourth visit, I went with the intention to pray and receive Christ. But my wife did not yet know the Lord.

For the next seven years, I prayed about my wife’s repentance. We ended up being on the verge of divorce, but then she repented also and that had great impact on my parents. They knew of the difficulties in our marriage, so when my parents saw her changed life it influenced them strongly.

Sergei teaching children at Sunday school.

When I became a Christian, I had a strong desire to mature spiritually and have a Christian education. I enrolled in various distance-learning courses and programs. Then in 2000 on my pastor’s advice, I entered the Pastoral Ministry track at Irpen Biblical Seminary, graduating in 2004. Because of family matters, I was not able to continue my education at the Irpen campus, but I studied through a regional ministry training program in Cherkassy for 4 years. Then in 2012, I entered a ThD program and after completing it, went into an MDiv program.

My time at Irpen laid a good theological foundation, which helps me to discern false teachings and stand firmly on guard of the church that has been entrusted to me by the Lord. The resources and knowledge I obtained help me to better prepare sermons, and it was beneficial for my spiritual growth to have fellowship with instructors and other students.

Today I am a pastor in Bobritsa, which is in the Cherkassy region of Ukraine. In our church we have Sunday school for children, Bible study and prayer meetings. I participate in holding a small group in Kaniv and preach in other churches when needed. Whenever we organize local training programs, I teach there. During the summer I organize children’s and youth camps and evangelistic events. We are also engaged in social ministry helping elderly people and local schools.