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 Gods 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 masters degree program. Besides our graduation, I did part two of a class on covenant theology and taught a class in Koine Greek to our masters degree students. We have Machens 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. |
