The Bible school has become one of the ministry priorities of the Belarus Union of Churches Conference. Every congregation seeks to have Bible study classes with people on a regular basis. Every pastor understands that without this ministry—without finding people for Bible studies—without systematic work in this direction—it is impossible to count on the growth of communities.
That is why Vadim Derkach, executive secretary and head of the Sabbath School and Personal Ministries Department at the BUC, together with Ivan Ostrovsky, secretary of the BUC Pastors Association, took the initiative of organizing training for BUC pastors on September 27 in Minsk, Belarus, through the program "School of the Bible." Victor Kozakov, secretary of the EAD Pastors Association, and Jean Taranyuk, director of the Sabbath School and Personal Ministries Department of the EAD, were invited as speakers. They not only presented seminars on organizing Bible studies but also held practical workshops with pastors in Belarus. Ivan Ostrovsky, in his seminar, noted the importance of the spiritual condition of Bible teachers as an integral part of the success of the evangelistic work.
The day was very rich. Ministers got directions for further development of work with lessons in their congregations and saw how to integrate Bible school into all existing ministries in their communities. Each pastor received electronic materials they could use for training Bible school teachers in their congregations, the Bible School Manual, and lesson kits and posters for an online lesson study resource.
During the concluding remarks, Vyacheslav Buchnev, president of the church in Belarus, presented the vision of the BUC for the development of evangelistic work and called ministers to dedicated service in God's field. This was followed by a prayer of consecration to the ministry.
"The plan of holding Bible-readings was a heaven-born idea. There are many, both men and women, who can engage in this branch of missionary labor. Workers may thus be developed who will become mighty men of God. By this means the word of God has been given to thousands; and the workers are brought into personal contact with people of all nations and tongues. The Bible is brought into families, and its sacred truths come home to the conscience. Men are entreated to read, examine, and judge for themselves … God will not permit this precious work for Him to go unrewarded. He will crown with success every humble effort made in His name” (Ellen White, Gospel Workers, p. 192).
The original article was published on the Euro-Asia Division Russian-language website.
