Arthur was 19 years old, had never left Ukraine before, and spoke no Chinese.  But with his church’s help and his mother’s blessing (she had become a believer, also) Arthur went to study in China.  “When I arrived,” he says, “all I knew was a little about fung shui and about Confucius.  I could speak a little English, and found some Chinese who spoke it also.  And a few people at the college spoke Russian.  There were six students in all from Ukraine – my roommate soon became

my closest friend.”

Arthur began to learn Mandarin, and became fascinated with Chinese culture. He made many friends, and attended “underground” church services.  By the time he went home to Ukraine, he had determined to major in Chinese so he could return to China.

“Majoring in Chinese meant four more years of college for me,” says Arthur.  “I knew I could make a lot of money in Ukraine if I was fluent in Chinese – businesses would want to hire me.”  But God put the challenge before him to return to China as His ambassador.

Long-term foreign mission work is still a relatively new concept for Ukrainians.  Arthur knew no other Ukrainian missionaries, had no example to follow.  His own pastor did not know how to help guide him.  What Arthur did know was that he needed specific training – Bible, theology, and practical missionary skills.  He began looking for a school where he could get this training.

“I heard about schools offering missionary training, but they were in America, Europe, and there was one in Russia.  None seemed right.  My church pastor was a graduate of Kiev Theological Seminary, so I went to the KTS website but found no missions major.  I was discouraged.”

Arthur had no way of knowing that there was a brand new World Mission department opening at KTS that very year (2009).  Soon after he began his search for a school, a Christian friend interested in KTS asked Arthur to look up the website again, to find the deadline for seminary applications.  “I opened the website, and there it was!  A new Missions major, exactly what I needed!”  He applied immediately, and was soon accepted into the World Mission department’s first class of students.

Arthur studied hard at KTS that first year, and also worked toward a degree in English/Chinese Translation at a Ukrainian university.  That summer, he was offered a scholarship to once again study in China.  His heart felt drawn toward China, but he didn’t feel God directing him to go.  “I had initiated a youth ministry in my home church, and I couldn’t leave that ministry without a leader,” he says.  He studied a second year at KTS, and then the offer of a China scholarship was extended again.  This time, he said yes, taking a one-year leave of absence from his seminary studies.

(read about Arthur’s return to China next week, on this website)

Cheri Strahm

Equippers Network international