Three years at the Seminary…

Three years…. Some people would think that this is a lot and some would think it is not. For me these three years at Odessa Theological Seminary were very important. God has blessed me with studies at OTS and it was very precious time. I did not simply learned subjects but God has taught me to live Christian life of ministry. He taught me to take care for people I was with and to spend time in a wise way (you know students always lack time). God gave me a wonderful opportunity to serve people during church practical work and I needed that a lot to grow spiritually.

You know, it is good to have a lot of Biblical knowledge but this knowledge would not make a lot of change for people if we just receive but do not share it with people. That is why practical ministry during my training was very helpful for me.

During my seminary training I understood how it is important to have unity in prayer and in ministry. We, students, had many happy days as well as many difficulties. The most important is that these difficulties united but did not separate us. Now looking back I can say that these three years made us, students, very close to each other and these years showed that people from different towns, different countries, and different cultures are one in Jesus Christ. God was at work in the hearts of all of us. I can surely say that my training at Odessa Theological Seminary was a very powerful spiritual tool for my ministry.

It was a wonderful experience of building relations with God and people I was with and served to.

Maria Philipskaia (graduate of Bachelor of Christian Education program)