History of Almaty Bible Institute (1991-2011)

The key persons of the Almaty Bible Institute History

Bob assumed the presidency of SGA in 1994 at a critical time for Bible- preaching churches in the former Soviet Union, He is thoroughly com- mitted to serving these faithful churches, many of which suffered terribly at the hand of the communists, and are now devoted to reaching their nations for Christ. His heart’s desire is twofold: to see a Bible preaching church in every community in the vast lands of Russia; and, to see Bible-preaching churches in the USA, Canada, England, Australia, and New Zealand have a part in gathering the wonderful Russian harvest. In Russia, alone, more than 100,000 communities are ready but still waiting for their first evangelical church.

In 1990 when the communist empire was crumbling, Bob was sent out by the elders of Grace Community Church of Sun Valley. CA to initiate ministries in the previously closed nations. In the early post-communist years, he began and developed ministries in Albania, Belarus, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Poland, Romania, Russia, and Ukraine. Since 1994 he has led the development of SGA’s strategic support of national church ministries in Belarus, Kazakhstan, Russia and Ukraine, while beginning new work in Armenia, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan.

Bob’s background in corporate and ministry leadership has prepared him well. After eight years in business management, he served as director of supporting services at Grace College and Theological Seminary, as senior associate pastor of The Chapel in Akron, Ohio, as executive vice president of The Master’s College and Seminary, and as European director for SEND International. He holds a B.A. in Russian, from Syracuse University, a M.Div. From Grace Theological Seminary, and a D.D. from The Master s College and Seminary. He and his wife, Louetta, have three children who are all serving the Lord.

Call SGA to schedule Bob as a speaker and hear how Christ is gloriously building His Church in nations that for seventy years tried to eliminate all Christians. Bob is eager to help your church ha\re a vital part.

1. History of institute

Any God’s thing has its own commencement. The history of our institute creation can be similar to creation of other theological educational institution in CIS countries.

Organization of soul advancement knowledge courses became possible for Christians of our multinational sovereign in different regions of the Republics and locally since Soviet Union Collapse and further on set up Theological educational institutions.

The ancient dream of our brothers to create theological educational institute in the Central Asia came true only in 90th of the 20th century. However, remoteness of Kazakhstan and Central Asia from the center generated difficulties, such as: impossibility to participate in seminars and meetings devoted to education. Insufficient number of qualified staff because above 150 churches in suburbs and cities of Kazakhstan did not even have a pastor (attendant), only few of brothers miraculously get their theological education.

The cause or powerful spur to Biblical course creation, where the sisters and brothers could study from the different Republics of the Central Asia and Kazakhstan was the conference (August 1991) on education in one of the Almaty central church. The attendants and teachers of Sunday schools from allover the Kazakhstan, with participation of Russian and Uzbekistani representatives came here to share experience. The conference participants got over the wonderful sincere feelings and came to the sole decision -necessity to organize permanently existing courses for preachers and teachers of Sunday schools. Such courses were opened immediately after the conference, where 13 brothers studied and graduated from.

In 1992-1993 years became imminent to create permanently existing theological educational institution where taking into account the situation in the Central Asian republics could be taught students-messengers of churches located on the territory of Islam states. By that time, appeared preachers who received theological education abroad and who had experience in issue to organize the educational institutions. This issue on education was considered on the second descent Baptist Union of Kazakhstan and was made a decision to open the Biblical Institute, Zinchenko Victor Vasilievich was in charge of the director.

I in the new building of the 2nd Almaty Church (16, Budenniy St.), Biblical Institute started set dfthe first students to thee three faculties: Pastor’s, Teacher’s of Sunday schools and Regent’s.

The first teachers of the BI became attendants of the local Kazakhstan churches brothers from far and near abroad.

The goals which were put before teachers of the institute are to advance level of the Biblical knowledge of the students necessary to preach properly, to give certain volume of essential theological special disciplines and to practice it in the local church.

The optimal form of education was chosen -internally extra-mural within 2 years. The internally extra-mural education proposes 4 sessions in year. The educational programs are continuously advanced in the work process; the experience of the other educational institutions was taken into consideration, accumulated methodical materials and the librarian completeness.

Set of the students is held on the competitive base in accordance with requirements of each faculty: institute entrants pass interviews and exams.

In May 1996 was the first graduate of the Pastor’s faculty, BI — Almaty, which, coincide with the first session of fresher students.

New set was composed from students of the Kazakhstan churches and representatives of brother churches of the Central Asian republics.

In the autumn of 1995 was opened the facility of the BI in Shuchinsk city, ’Northern Kazakhstan region. Lauer Leonid Vilgelmovich was person in charge for the facility. Pastor’s faculty was completed by 18 students amongst which presbyters and other attendants of the West Kazakhstan region.

16 students graduated Teacher’s faculty and 20 students of new set start their study in May of the current year.

In Shuchinsk, 1998 was fulfilled the set to Missioner faculty (20 students).

The institute workers and teachers take care of student’s study and leisure time.

Thematically communicate on the Christian issues; holidays and evening preach times, private conversations leave sincere grace in the hearts of students and graduates.

Going to the mountains, birthday celebrations and even trips to zoo, as a subject «God -Creator» became a good tradition for students.

Thanks God that gave the opportunity to purchase kinder garden’s building for the Biblical Institute.

Due to sacrifices of foreign brothers and sisters, on 21 st of September students of the Pastor and Teacher’s faculty can start session in new beautiful building.

Workers of the Institute have a hope that this building will become the place where many interesting plans -projects for educational knowledge advancement of the brothers and sisters from Kazakhstan and Central Asia will be fulfilled. «Until this time God helped us!»

Thanks God, Jesus Christ for preaching appearance of Churches, continuously care and management of the Church Advisors Union EXE, and also for the kindness of our foreign friends and soul unity of all co-operators in the God’s things.

2. Results from 1991 to 2011

The country from the students are Kazakhstan, Kirghizstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan.

Quantity(amount) of the graduates BI — (1991-2011) — 546 Students:
Kazakhstan — 421
Kirghizstan — 87
Uzbekistan — 22
Tajikistan — 16

Pastor’s faculty — 159;
Missionary — 133;
Sunday school teachers — 157;
Cantor’s faculty — 83;
Christian Ministry — 14

3. What we have for today

1) Pastor’s faculty — 31 students

2) Missionary — 10

3) Children and Youth Ministry — 16

4) Cantor’s faculty — 12

5) Christian Ministry — 83 (Saran — 20; Karaganda — 16; Taldy-Kurgan — 47)

4. The plans for future

1. Increasing of academic education.
2. Making a special accent on formation of Christian character of the student.
3. Development of intellectual and creative abilities.
4. Increasing of quality of doctrinal education.
   The technique of training gets the increasing importance in doctrinal education. Teachers not simply have to teach certain subject, but also to prepare the students for various ministering. The lecture cannot be considered as a unique (sole) pedagogical means, suitable for doctrinal education. The huge importance is represented by discussion of doctrinal questions among the teachers and students. The students expect greater, than simply listening huge number of lectures. For this reason we put the purpose: to find the best philosophy and methods of teaching.
5. Selection of good teaching structure.
6. The library is an important source of doctrinal training and doctrinal program of our institute. (We have of about 5000 names but it is necessary at a category «C» to have 8 000 names of books). Our purpose is: to complete the library with good books as a source for education of our students.
7. Starting Regional Biblical Institutes in different areas of Kazakhstna, with a purpose to give biblical education to those men and women who cannot start their education in ABI for different reasons, to prepare pastors and missionaries for Central Asia.

5. Philosophy of Education

Denominational Belonging:
Almaty Bible institute is a part of the Church Union of Evangelical Baptist Christians of Kazakhstan.

Missionary Statement:
Bible Institute is an international educational school of CUEBC of Kazakhstan. The institute prepares Christian workers to do God’s ministry to spread the good news of salvation for all the people and especially of those who live on the territory of Central Asia and Kazakhstan. The ministry of the institute is to serve the Lord and to accomplish His Great Commission: «Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. (Matt.28:19-20)»

The Purposed of the Institute:
The purpose of the Bible Institute of the Church Union of Evangelical Baptist Christians of Kazakhstan is supply the members of CUEBC of Kazakhstan and the Central Asia with qualitative biblical and theological education to prepare men and women for effective ministry in the context of Central Asia in roles of pastors, missionaries, Christian educators, chore directors and Sunday schools teachers.

To Reach this Purpose there are Several Steps:

1. Help students to get academical knowledge
2. Help students to form Christian character
3. Help students to determine their spiritual gifts and start ministry that is in agree with their gifts
4. Help students develop their intellectual, creative and other abilities
5. Help students develop theological understanding, methodology of evangelization, Christian education and Church music.

Also teach students to be good practitioners and apologists of the teaching of Bible

Ministry of graduated student and teachers

The graduate of Kazakh group — 1, Bolat, who continue his education on bachelor of ministry program, with his people among whom he is doing ministry.

Murat the graduate of Kazakh who group — 2 is doing his ministry in Kazakh villages

Current Rector of Almaty Bible Institute — Karyakov Alexander

My name is Alexander. I am married and have three children: Daniel 11 years old, Sofia 9 years old and Mari 3 months old. My wife’s name is Tatiana. I was born in Almaty city in 1969. The happiest day in my life was a day of my repentance. It happened at the 11-th of September of 1994 when I was 25 years old. My life was changed because Jesus Christ became my Lord and Savior! At the 17-th of December of 1994, I was baptized in the first Baptist Church of Almaty and at the beginning of January 1995, I told my first sermon in small village Church. From the 1998-th up to 2000-th I was a student of the Pastoral faculty of Almaty Bible institute. After successful graduating ABI my family and I moved to the Ukraine for studying in bachelor program of Odessa Theological Seminary. After graduation of OTS we returned to Kazakhstan to Almaty for ministry to God in our home Church «Golgofa» (Calvary in English). From the 2009, I became a rector of ABI. I teach five different subjects in Almaty Bible Institute and on the outside. I hope that Our Lord will go on use me for His glory!