The Seventh-day Adventist Church in the Baltic region is celebrating its first graduation of locally trained pastors in 50 years. A group of 10 ministerial students graduated during ceremonies at Riga, Lativa, on the weekend of July 27. The students were the first to graduate from an off-campus theological program provided by Newbold College, England, in cooperation with Griggs University, Maryland, United States.

“When the Baltic States became independent [from the former Soviet Union] in 1991, the Adventist church faced new challenges,” says Dr. Gudmundur Olafsson, director of the Riga program at Newbold College. “God had opened the doors for proclaiming His message of salvation, but many pastors during the communist regime were unable to receive ministerial education.”

Alfreds Jakobsons, 64, was the oldest graduate in the group. He shared his joy in being able to participate in this program. “In Soviet times we couldn’t get any formal pastoral education. We used what older pastors could share from their heritage, and from those few books that we had [printed in the 1930s]. This course has broadened my horizon of comprehension.

“The personal contacts with teachers and the possibility to listen to their experiences have enriched my ministry for the church and our Saviour Jesus Christ,” he added. “I am sure this is the same for all students.”