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Dear Friends:
Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? Isaiah 43:19
God is always calling us further. While
I'm grateful for all God's blessings in the past, there is nothing to
compare with the joy of continuing to follow him into new opportunities
for service, new relationships, and new challenges. I'm writing to you
now to tell you about a "new thing" God is doing in my life and to invite
you to join with me.
You may remember that since 1991 it has
been my privilege to help prepare hundreds of students for Christian ministry
in the countries of the former Soviet Union. Now, through Mennonite Mission
Network, I have the opportunity to deepen my commitment to training church
leaders by joining the faculty of Odessa Theological Seminary (OTS), an
institution of the Ukrainian Association of Evangelical Christian-Baptist
Churches.
I taught at OTS for several months at a
time in 1993 and 1999 and have kept in regular contact over the years.
It is one of the most respected evangelical theological schools in the
former Soviet Union. Now they have plans to develop a master's degree
program. I have been invited there for the next three years to fill in
some of the gaps in their schedule by teaching Church History courses
for a professor who will be needed in administration and by mentoring
students doing research projects.
Besides the work in Odessa, I expect to
teach intensive courses several weeks every year at other schools in Ukraine
and Russia. Additional time will be spent writing, editing, and translating
for theological journals. Finally, I will maintain contact with other
Mennonite-related ministries in Ukraine and Russia.
Why does OTS consider a master's degree
necessary? Consider the immense changes that the evangelical churches
in Ukraine have undergone during the seventeen years since the breakup
of the Soviet Union. The Christian community has moved out of the shadows
and into society, taking on demanding ministries to people in deep need:
homeless children, drug addicts, AIDS patients, and others. Christians
are finding a voice in education, politics, and other spheres that were
closed to them in Soviet times. In the process they are encountering issues
they have never dealt with before.
There is a great need for educated church
leaders who love Christ deeply and are prepared to meet the new challenges
of the surrounding post-Soviet, globalized culture. One of the ways God
keeps the Christian church relevant in a rapidly-changing, chaotic world
is by calling some believers to critical theological study that will support
creative ministry.
Isn't this a position more suitable for
a national instructor? Yes it is, and the plan is that I will be replaced
in three years' time. On the other hand, I'm honored by the trust my friends
in Odessa have shown by inviting me. The doctoral studies I recently began
technically qualify me to work with master's level students. I've already
invested many years in theological education in the former Soviet Union
and I believe that's where God would have me stay as long as I can.
Will you join me in this ministry? Nobody
does anything alone. I've relied on your prayers, friendship, interest,
and gifts in the past, but I'm asking if you would be willing to make
a new commitment. I am particularly concerned that there would be people
who would agree to pray regularly with me and for me and the people with
whom I hope to serve.
What is more, OTS and the other schools
where I teach cannot pay me a salary. They still rely mostly on foreign
donations although local sources of support are slowly developing. The
fact is that although the Ukrainian economy is growing, prices are growing
faster still and ordinary Christians struggle to meet their expenses and
support their churches and educational institutions. OTS can help me with
some food costs and maybe a little more, but I will need to rent an apartment,
pay utilities, travel to Russia about once a year, and so on. Your financial
support will allow me to teach at OTS and other schools while freeing
up their local funds for other needs.
Thank you for considering this request.
If you have questions or comments, please contact me at: Mary Raber, 3849
Louis St., St. Louis, MO 63116 or write to HYPERLINK "mailto:maryraber@gmail.com"
maryraber@gmail.com
With peace,
Mary Raber