Moscow Theological Seminary (MTS) is the center for all ministry and congregational leadership training for the Russian Baptist Union. The Russian Baptist Union, founded more than 140 years ago, is the largest evangelical protestant group in Russia. Throughout the 20th century, Russian Baptists dreamed of having their own Seminary. God answered their prayers in the fall of 1993. The leadership of the Seminary is entirely Russian - a strategic decision to ensure the sustainability and relevance of the Seminary.

Today, Moscow Theological Seminary operates nine Learning Centers across Russia: Moscow, Chita, Chelyabinsk, Golgotha, Noyabrsk, Leninsk-Kuznetsky, Rostov-on-Don, North Caucasus and Khabarovsk. Because of the time and expense involved in traveling to Moscow, our nine Learning Centers, strategically located across Russia, provide seminary training to hundreds of students who would otherwise not be able to attend. The majority of our students are bi-vocational pastors.

The Seminary’s current enrollment is 875 students and growing, with about 400 of those students attending classes in Moscow. The largest site outside of Moscow is the North Caucasus Bible Institute with approximately 125 students.

Students follow an “adult education” model. Intensive two-week class sessions are held once, twice or three times a year to complete a five-year Bachelor program, depending on the program. Academic programs include pastoral ministry, Christian education, worship arts and counseling. Seeking to be relevant and responsive to the local church’s needs, Moscow Theological Seminary also offers certificate programs in areas such as church-state relations, rehabilitation ministry, social work, youth ministry, and church administration.

The Seminary is a place of vitality with a high level of activity.  Many weeks, more than one cohort of students are in classes on campus, two active and growing churches meet in our building on Sunday and two nights per week there are “English Clubs” for people in the community sponsored by one of the churches. In addition, several times per month various faculty sponsor theological discussions for Moscow pastors and church leaders.

HISTORY

As early as 1905, at a meeting in London, Baptist leaders from Russia asked delegates of the Baptist World Alliance to pray that Russia would have its own seminary. 88 years later, Moscow Theological Seminary (MTS), the flagship seminary of the Russian Baptist Union, was founded in 1993. In November 2007, MTS merged with Moscow Theological Institute, also under the auspices of the Russian Baptist Union. This merger combined full-time and part-time education opportunities.

CONTINUING TO GROW

Our newest center opened in Golgotha Church, Moscow, in 2010 with 25 students in our Rehabilitation Ministry program. This is our 9th Learning Center. We are actively exploring more partnerships and Learning Center possibilities across Russia through our "Take the Education to the Student" Regional Learning Center Strategy. MTS’s growth strategy includes opening new regional Learning Centers, often in partnership with area churches and ministries. Most MTS students are bi-vocational pastors and our Learning Centers across the country allow us to teach many students who would not have the resources to travel to Moscow.

SUPPORT MTS

Please join with us to pray for:
*  Students and faculty as classes are held in Moscow and our regional centers.
*  Additional resources to provide student scholarships and pastor's libraries.
*  Financial partners to help open new centers and other church-based bible school affiliates.
*  Our Russian brothers and sisters as they live out their faith in the challenges in their culture each day.

Your financial gift will directly impact the education and lives of our students. Learn how more about how your gift will be used and how to make your gift by clicking our "Make a Gift" button.