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Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Poland 2019 Highlights

First BMI Conference in Siberia!  

Did you know that there are large cities in Siberia?  It’s not just polar bears and ice! 

In November, Jonathan traveled to Novosibirsk, Russia.  Novosibirsk is the third largest city in Russia.  

Heritage of Ministry

Rev. Vitaly Bak is the leader of the Baptist denomination of Siberia.  He is a fourth generation Christian Leader and both of his grandfathers were put to death during the communist years for their faith in Christ!  Rev. Bak leads a vibrant ministry throughout Eastern Russia, and we are privileged and excited to partner with him!  

 

Novosibirsk Biblical-Theological Seminary

There is a vibrant seminary in Siberia training Christian leaders all throughout the region. Novosibirsk Biblical-Theological Seminary is led by Rev. Eduard Genrikh.  Rev. Genrikh has partnered with BMI and the seminary has just finished a BMI Biblical Training and Mentoring Program cycle of training.  Rev. Genrikh is seen below in the pictures holding 20 year old BMI training manuals.  He remembers as a young Christian Leader attending a BMI conference with David and Jonathan Burnham, and has continued to refer back to these manuals from time to time!  

 

In November, Jonathan also held conferences in Nizhny Novgorod, Russia, Minsk, Belarus, and visited Warsaw, Poland for strategic planning with the President of the Baptist Union of Poland.  

Photos from Nizhny Novgorod, Russia:

Top Women Leaders Brought together in Minsk, Belarus

At the BMI conference in Minsk the top women’s ministry leaders gathered to discuss strategic planning and the BMI program for women called WMP – Women’s Ministry Program.  The women’s ministry leaders for the entire Baptist Unions of Belarus and Ukraine participated along with other top women leaders from these countries.  We are thankful for these faithful women!  

Dr. Vitaly Sorokun, the BMI Director for Eastern Europe and the Former Soviet States continues to teach the BMI training curriculum at Irpin Biblical Seminary in Kiev and also is heavily involved in Minsk Theological Seminary (Belarus) and Novosibirsk Biblical-Theological Seminary in Siberia.  He is also very invested in ministry in Africa because he is the pastor of New Hope Church in Kharkov, Ukraine, which ministers to foreign students attending universities in Ukraine.  Many of these students are from African countries!  

In case you didn’t know, there is still an ongoing war between Ukraine and Russia.  No airline flights are allowed to fly between the two countries, and Vitaly is not able to visit Russia at this time.  Please keep his family and the situation in your prayers! 

 

 

Women’s Training in Ukraine

UKRAINE: Nadia Morokhovets held a women’s conference in Lozovaya which is near Kharkiv. Nadia (pictured front right) leads BMI Women’s Ministry for Eastern Europe. Looks like it is cold there – even inside – but hearts were warm and spirits joyous! We are so very thankful for Nadia and her ministry!

Russia, Ukraine, Belarus and Poland

Russia, Ukraine, Belarus and Poland 2018

In November 2018 Dr.’s Jonathan Burnham and Vitaly Sorokun traveled To Voronezh, Russia to conduct a Seven Steps of Christian Living conference for pastors and district superintendents from different areas of Russia. The group was also able to Skype with Rev. Sonam Kabo, BMI Regional Director for South Asia. 

FIRST OF ITS KIND MEETING:  Also in Russia a group of prominent Russian businessmen met to discuss BMI Marketplace Biblical Mentorship Program. This is designed to help the business population use their Christian faith in their places of work. They study the 7 Steps, Encountering Christ, Christian Leadership and Management, and Financial Stewardship! The future is exciting in this new area of ministry. Kerry Olin, Microsoft Executive and BMI Board Member joined the group via Skype.

If you want to hear the beautiful singing from these Russian businessmen, click the video under these pictures! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

RUSSIAN BUSINESSMEN SINGING REVELATION 15:3-4

After Russia, Jonathan and Vitaly traveled to Minsk, Belarus, to Minsk Theological Seminary (pictured below) to train pastors, seminary professors and some top women leaders from Ukraine and Belarus in Encountering Christ, Part 1.  The group will meet next year for Part 2.  Dr.’s Vitaly Sorokun and Jonathan Burnham also met with leaders from Minsk Theological Seminary who have already gone through the BMI training as well as their own higher education. These leaders are dedicated to the proclamation of Christ-centered theology and want to adopt the BMI Biblical Training and Mentoring Program into the seminary!  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Next, Jonathan and Vitaly traveled to Kiev, Ukraine to Irpin Theological Seminary where many of the top women leaders in the Ukrainian Baptist Union met to learn about the BMI programs and training for women’s ministries.  Sue Burnham and Faith Burnham had the privilege of Skyping with this wonderful group of dedicated and talented ladies!  Irpin has adopted much of the BMI training materials into their curriculum, and Vitaly Sorokun travels regularly to teach there.  See these pictures and those of Vitaly’s trip as well below:Â