Russia’s need for trained Christian leaders is greater than ever

Founded in 1992, Kuban Evangelical Christian University (KECU) in Russia began in the form of intensive seminars offered in the city of Krasnodar. Today, the university has over 225 graduates serving as pastors, church planters, professors, Bible teachers, youth leaders and lay ministers. KECU says the need for trained Christian leaders in all parts of society is greater than ever.

The university has maintained good relationships with churches in their region. Because it has become more difficult to plant new churches, KECU encourages students to strengthen existing churches, and therefore, students serve in practically every church in Krasnodar. A large demand for education by extension exists, so the university holds seminars in churches for active ministers who cannot be involved in theological education. A new program has also been started in order to maintain participants’ full-time ministries, and KECU provides additional seminars for church pastors to improve their professional skills and youth leadership.

To train leadership at the grass roots level, KECU has instituted a series of extension programs in areas such as youth and biblical counseling. Students have the opportunity to study intercultural communication and spread the Gospel through the Internet. As a part of the Evangelical Christian and Missionary Union, the university also has a strong spirit for missions – over the past eight years, KECU students have taken part in 18 short-term mission trips.

Aside from teaching at KECU, graduate Alla Baby is working toward his DTh in Missiology and is involved in biblical counseling in his church. “The help which you so generously offered me has been an important confirmation that I have been accomplishing God’s will,” Alla says. “Practically, your help gave me the opportunity to work only part-time, investing my [spare time] into research. May our Lord bless you in this important and significant ministry of educational development of those who seek to serve the Church.”