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!