Although Cheri and I have been attending graduation ceremonies at Kiev Theological Seminary since May of 2000, this year’s was by far the best.  It was unique because it included the first student who trained specifically to serve the Lord as a foreign missionary. He is the first fruit of the World Missions Department that we founded in 2008. (See next week’s article for a brief history of how the World Missions Department came to exist.)

If you have been reading these articles regularly you will have guessed the student’s name: it’s Artur N. He completed this four-year program in only three years. The Lord called him to serve in China, and he has already been to that country twice. Watch a brief version of his testimony at  http://youtu.be/8-72cMSo8oM

Artur has made arrangements to return to China this fall where he will begin ministering to university students. We love him and will miss him very much, but we are confident that he will faithfully serve the Lord. Please pray for him.