Summer Speaker Series (Adult Classes): Dr. Ivan Rusyn

9:45 am: Dr. Ivan Rusyn speaks in Stone Fellowship Hall
12:15 pm: Dr. Ivan Rusyn continues his discussion with a light lunch served in Jones Hall in the Education Building (school)

What is the future of Christian community? As the world comes to grips with the impact of the pandemic and quarantine, exacerbated by increased polarization, what does that mean for the followers of Jesus Christ? Each Sunday this summer we’ll hear about an important aspect of our life together—as the Christian community and as Christians in the larger community context in which we live our daily lives. We will meet in person in Stone Fellowship Hall, 9:45-10:45 am, beginning Sunday June, 18 through August 27. We will also take advantage of technology to enable both remote attendance each week, as well as to have one or two remote speakers join us from across the country.

To check out the speakers and their topics, please click here or use the blue button below to visit our Classes webpage.

Zoom link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87391794908

Speaker: Dr. Ivan Rusyn, President, Ukrainian Evangelical Theological Seminary (UETS), Kyiv, Ukraine
Title: Ministry on the Front Lines in Ukraine

Since the first days of the full-scale war, Ivan Rusyn and others from UETS provide regular worship and communion to Ukrainian troops close to the frontlines of the war. He has led the seminary through missile attacks and an energy crisis, transitioning the campus to provide a massive relief effort to people in Kyiv and surrounding areas. He has been able to receive special permission to leave Ukraine from their government because of the favor the church has received resulting from these relief efforts. He is coming to the United States to share stories, engage in dialogue, and say thank you for our financial and spiritual support for Ukraine.

Dr. Ivan Rusyn is the president of the Ukrainian Evangelical Theological Seminary (UETS) in Kyiv, Ukraine, and teaches mission studies applied to the Ukrainian and Central Asian contexts. Ivan holds a PhD in missiology from the Drahomanov National Pedagogical University in Kyiv, Ukraine. He is an ordained minister of the Ukrainian Evangelical Church and co-pastors a church plant in Kyiv. His humble and faithful leadership within Ukraine and Central Asia is recognized by the World Communion of Reformed Churches and other global church councils.

Ivan and his wife Liudmyla (Luda) live in Bucha, a suburb of Kyiv. They have a miraculous story of escape from Bucha just as Russian troops took the city over. Since that experience, the tragedy of the ongoing war and the extreme suffering of people have reshaped his understanding of God, humanity, and mission. Topics such as reconciliation, justice, prayer, and experiencing the presence of Jesus in times of suffering have taken on fresh meaning and have thoroughly transformed his leadership, ministry, and teaching. He has been deeply moved by the generosity and support of people from around the world.