Finishing the Fall Semester
The fall semester at UBI has come to a close and our students are now on break until the middle of January. The transition to a more full-time schedule online has gone very well, and we praise God for how thankful the students are for their studies.
During the last three-and-a-half months, our first-year students have taken Survey of the Bible, Bible History I and II, Life of Christ, Introduction to Exegesis, Wisdom Literature, Practical Evangelism, Acts, and Christian Home. Our second-year students have studied Letters of Peter, Sacrificial Systems, Fundamental Theology, and The Gospel of John. Each Friday, all the students are together for Spiritual Formations.
One of our first-year students, Tatiana, had this to share about her first semester:
”Three months of studying at UBI has been a special time. I feel like I am resting in the palm of God's hand as wonderful teachers share their knowledge. During my studies I have gained a better understanding of God's Word, and now I am not afraid to talk to people about Jesus. I am looking forward to continuing my classes. I am thankful to God for the opportunity to study at UBI.”
Thank you so much for being a part of this special journey for each of these students. We look forward to getting back to the classroom in January. We already have two new students ready to join us mid-year, and we are praying there will be more.
Saying Goodbye to Another Staff Member
The last few years have brought many changes to the Ukrainian Bible Institute, and those changes continue to come. Our longtime office manager and accountant, Ludmilla Torshina, has made the decision to step away from her work at UBI.
Ludmilla graduated from one of UBI's first classes in 2000 and has worked with the school ever since. Her presence in the office (and on the phone!) is almost as well known as the school itself. She is someone who makes connections and maintains them. She is someone who is always ready to help. We will miss her.
Twice a refugee herself, she has been living in Poland since the beginning of the full-scale invasion last year. In addition to her work with the institute, her presence has been a real blessing to many Ukrainian refugees around Poland.
Ludmilla’s daughter lives in the Seattle area and has invited her mom to join her there. Lord willing, Ludmilla will be making the move to America at the end of January. We are sad to see her go but we believe God will bless this new step in her life.
The Meaning of UBI
We recently interviewed several of our students for a recruitment project we are working on. I was so blessed by their comments that I wanted to share some of them with you today. (If the subtitles don’t turn on automatically, tap the “CC” button within the video player.)
Merry Christmas and Thank You
As 2023 comes to a close, we reflect on another year God has given. In February we will mark two years since the war began and unfortunately there are no signs things will be over soon. It has always been our prayer the war will end and Ukraine will be victorious, but until then, we pray we can be faithful with the time and the tools He has given us.
By His grace we have continued to serve Ukrainian Christians through our Bible and ministry training program, and we have grown our humanitarian aid outreach in ways we couldn’t have imagined two years ago. It’s thanks to your consistent support the people of Ukraine are experiencing the love of Christ in very special ways.
On behalf of all of us at UBI, we wish you a very Merry Christmas and another blessed year to know our Father and grow in the knowledge of Him!
Until next time,
Brandon Price
I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all, making my prayer with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now (Phil. 1:3–5)