Convicts and Cheaters

What do convicts and cheaters have to do with the International Reformed Theological Seminary in Donetsk, Ukraine? Well, they have a lot to do with it. This September I asked our new students to introduce themselves and tell us something about their backgrounds. The oldest student, Evodna, said he was 42 years old and had spent 17 years in prison. He is an excellent student and smiles all the time.

I taught Homiletics and one of the students used an interesting sermon illustration. He was a Junior in college when he was converted and he realized he could no longer pay his teachers for passing grades (a usual practice in Donetsk).

Now what do these two men have in common? They both had dramatic conversions and they are overcoming great difficulties to study and be approved workmen of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Covenant of Grace Reformed Church

Another new student, Anatoly, started classes in September with one of his main goals being to help RITE with our new church. Covenant of Grace Reformed church had its first service on September 9^th. We rented a small room and we had 28 adults in a standing room only situation. We are looking for a larger place for worship. Of the 28 adults we had four male Muslim students from Syria. They went to the church office after the service for a time of fellowship and desserts to eat, but they remained non-committal about themselves. Many of the people that came did not know what ‘reformed’ was, but they will find out with time. Rev Artyom did an excellent job of preaching and conducting the service. Our Lord has been gracious to allow us to be part of the beginning of this reformed church after just four years in Donetsk.

Gift Of Books

Through some special donations we were able to purchase some theological books that are printed in Russian. We purchased 25 copies of the following: Calvin on “Romans &Galatians”, Matthew Henry’s commentary on the New Testament (6 vol), Matthew Henry on Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes and Song of Songs, The “Westminster Shorter Catechism &Commentary”, Thomas Watson’s, “Doctrine of Repentance”, Octavius Winslow’s, “The Work of the Holy Spirit” and Spurgeon’s 4^th book of Psalms. We got 30 copies of the Heidelburg Catechism. We purchased three copies of William Guthrie’s, “The Christians Greatest Interest” and Thomas Watson’s “Heaven Taken By Storm”. The last two sets were for our seminary library. We also purchased about 10 copies of the Geneva Study Bible and Calvin’s Institutes for those who lacked the Bible or the three volume set of Calvin’s work. We certainly appreciate the special gifts to purchase these books. Now for the first time students will have theological books at home for their personal study.

Visitors

In September we had the pleasure of having two ladies from Canada visiting classes and some orphanages. Mrs Thea VanDixhoorn and Mrs Anje Boer were there for about a week. I think they were tired when they left, but they saw a lot and met our present students and some past graduates.

Dr Merle A Messer, merlemesser@bellsouth.net Cell 24/7 1-601-573-8974

By: Glenn Gerdes

I had the privilege of traveling to Donetsk and teaching for RITE during the first two weeks of January, 2007. Although it was not easy to be so far away from my wife and three young children for that length of time, I was delighted to be part of this wonderful ministry and the congregation I serve was excited to send me. Why? Because RITE is fulfilling the Great Commission in a strategic and wise way.

Concerning this, I would like to share five encouraging thoughts with those of you who are supporting or serving with RITE.

First, RITE is effectively building up and encouraging pastors, teachers and other servants of the church who are part of the Ukrainian culture. I say this to accentuate a significant difference between the ministry of RITE and that of a full-time cross-cultural missionary. Whereas it takes a lot of time, money and effort to train and send one full-time missionary into a culture other than his or her own, RITE is graduating many students who are from the culture and who desire to serve the body of Christ in it. After the recent joy of teaching for RITE, I can affirm that these students are willing and dedicated to the task that is set before them in Ukraine.

In saying this I am not trying to down-play the need for full-time cross cultural missionaries, rather I am emphasizing how RITE plays a distinct and significant role in the spread of the Gospel.

Second, RITE students are eager to test and approve what is true and minister accordingly. For instance, while in Donetsk, I taught a course titled, “Hard Sayings of the Bible,” and the various passages we looked at lead to profitable discussions concerning specific Reformed doctrines, Christian living, and church discipline. The students asked many challenging questions and because of the answers they discovered in the Bible they are becoming more Reformed in their thinking.

Third, Doctrinally Reformed church plants are desperately needed in Donetsk and the work of RITE is and will help fulfill this need (see thought number two). It was exciting to meet a graduate of RITE who is now seeking to plant a church of Reformed persuasion in Donetsk. Because the students are eager to learn and RITE is committed to solid teaching, by God’s grace and power we anticipate more of this fruit in the future.

Fourth, the translators who work for RITE are not only proficient in their work - they are dedicated to serving Christ and advancing the work of RITE. I mention this because they serve a vital role in this ministry. The students hear through the translator not only the knowledge the professor is teaching but also his passion for Christ and God’s Word. Therefore a Spirit-filled translator who is zealous to see Christ exalted is crucial to the process. RITE students are blessed to have such translators! And let me also testify that this is a blessing for the professors as well. The translators welcomed us to Ukraine with the love of Christ and helped us live there and enjoy their city.

Fifth, let me mention a Scripture passage that comes to mind as I write to those of you who are supporting RITE financially and in prayer. In Philippians chapter 4 (starting with verse 17), the apostle Paul writes the following concerning the monetary support the Philippians had been providing for his ministry: “Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that increases to your credit.  I have received full payment, and more. I am well supplied, having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God. And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.” (ESV)

Those of you who are supporting RITE should take great encouragement from this passage. None of us earn anything from God but God does graciously and eternally reward the faithful, sacrificial work of his servants (see Luke 12:32-34, Matthew 25:14-30, and II Corinthians 9:6-8.) So even though your feet may never walk the streets of Donetsk, the work being done there is being credited to your account because you are supporting it! Your gifts are “a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God.”

May God continue to bless the work of RITE, raising up eager students to learn, gifted professors to teach, and more people to pray and support the ministry.

You Can Share In Our Work


By Dr. Merle Messer



My wife and I recently took a trip to Hawaii to celebrate her graduation from Nursing School and her birthday. (I cannot tell which birthday.)

  Before the Gospel reached the Hawaiians, the Hawaiians would quite often have wars with other islanders. Here is how their battle strategy worked. When boats from an island would land on another island, the natives of that island would get their warriors and go down to the beach to greet the ships. If they were friendly, that was fine, if they were not friendly, they would just start fighting. It was chaos, no battle plans, no strategy.

  Isn’t it wonderful that our God is not that way. He is a God of order, discipline, plans and strategy. We have seen this God of order at work in Ukraine and especially in the Donetsk Region. RITE formed with a commitment to follow the leading of our Lord Jesus Christ through the operating power of His Holy Spirit. Our Lord formed RITE and the International Reformed Seminary of Donetsk and He has been directing our paths for three full years.

  Since our Lord is directing and causing all these things to come about, does that mean that His people have no responsibility towards supporting this work? Since Ephesians 1:11 says that Christ works all things according to the counsel of His will, what is our part?  Let’s face it, normally God works in and through His people to do His will.

  Each person reading this newsletter (&even a few others) can share in the work of the seminary in Donetsk and have a part in building the Reformed faith in Eastern Ukraine.

You can pray diligently for this ministry, you can help recruit good professors to teach and you can contribute financially.  Think of prayer, the Bible says that the effective fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. If you can commit to praying regularly for RITE, please drop me an email stating your willingness in this area. Think of recruiting good professors. Each person reading this newsletter undoubtedly knows a good pastor or professor or teacher who would both enjoy the opportunity to teach in Donetsk and would be good for the students. If you can help recruit, please drop me an email stating your willingness in this area. Think of financial giving. The Bible teaches about returning unto the Lord a portion of what He has given us. I do not know of any ministry where every dollar that is raised goes directly to supporting a ministry the way it is used with RITE. No American gets any type of pay or remuneration even as a reimbursement for expenses. Every dollar raised goes directly for student stipends, rent, salaries of Ukrainians hired to work for the seminary or for food for the professors while in Donetsk.  If you can contribute financially, please drop me an email stating your willingness in this area.

  It is true that God is working out His plans with RITE and the International Reformed Seminary in Donetsk. Yet, even in His sovereignty He is looking forward to His people rising up and helping to advance this ministry. 

  When the Gospel reached Hawaii, the wars between the islands stopped and a new order was in place. In the Donetsk Region of Ukraine, the Reformed faith is bringing order where there has been theological chaos. If you can either pray, recruit or give, or do all three, please join in our efforts to replace chaos with the Reformed faith.

  Email: merlemesser@bellsouth.net     Cell 24/7:  601-573-8973

OUR SECOND GRADUATION

By Dr. Van Lees

This June we had our second graduation in our school.  Seven students graduated, five from the bachelor of divinity program and two from the certificate program.  The bachelor students are required to write a final thesis paper of approximately 50 pages in length.  Part of my work in Donetsk is to supervise and assist our students in writing their final papers.  This consisted of helping with initial outlines and suggesting sources as well as interacting with them during the writing process.  When I was there in June, Natasha Seleznova, our translator and administrator, translated and read their papers to me.  All of the students wrote on various topics of Reformed theology and did good work.  Two of the papers were especially good.  One dealt with God’s sovereign providence and issues of suffering the other examined the doctrine of sin and total depravity.  Each student gave an oral presentation of their work to the class and then answered questions from me and my teaching partner, Rev. Jim Carmichael.  After we finished questioning them, some of their fellow students asked questions.  It was especially gratifying to see a strong commitment to Reformed theology reflected in these papers.  Their work demonstrates a growth in understanding and theological maturity that has been cultivated through their time of study in our school.  Four out of the five B. D. graduates were admitted to our master’s degree program.

     Besides our graduation, I did part two of a class on covenant theology and taught a class in Koine Greek to our master’s degree students.  We have Machen’s beginning Greek grammar in Russian in our school library.  It corresponds well with the English version so this facilitates teaching through translation.  I began the class on covenant theology with the B. D. and certificate students only a somewhat simpler level.  As always, the students are attentive and eager to learn.  They hang on every word that is spoken in class and give good interaction with the material.  It is always encouraging to see what God is doing in his church in that part of the world.

Teaching Report
By Rev. Dennis Royall

When I had been asked to return to Donetsk again by Rev. Merle Messer (the President of R.I.T.E.), I understood that there would be two sections of classes to teach, but thought that the way we had done in previous years would continue, namely, that each professor would teach one section for two hours and then the other for two hours, teaching for a total of four hours per day. Rev. Ferguson and I were surprised to learn our first day that we would each be expected to teach all day - 4 hours for the "Certificate" class and then four hours for the "Seminary" class. An EIGHT-HOUR teaching day! We would teach from the same material in each group, but as the Certificate students are not as advanced in their education as the Seminary students, we would need to adjust the quantity and depth of our teaching between each group.