Izhevsk Training Center Praises God for Record Enrollment!

An update from Izhevsk Training Center, Pastor and Director Nikolai Tretyakov:

The Moscow Theological Seminary (MTS) was able to successfully hold its off-campus sessions, which were a truly memorable experience for our brothers and sisters. We want to share with you not just dry statistics, but a living story of how these gatherings are transforming people and ministry in our region.

Izhevsk is a main city of the Udmurt region where the training takes place: 

We have formed a true “theological fellowship.” Two study groups—39 people! That’s 23 brothers studying practical theology and 16 sisters dedicated to the spiritual and moral education of children and teenagers. 

Among them, 13 brothers are already actively in leadership ministry, putting their new training knowledge into practice. Six sisters are actively involved in Sunday school ministry. Education is an investment in tomorrow.

We see enormous potential! Fifteen people aim to become pastors, and 10 sisters have a goal to mentor and counsel troubled teens. This is what helps us look to the future with hope, and we pray that, as a result, several new churches will be established in our region.

Evangelism here isn’t just theory—it’s real life. Our students serve in local churches, lead Sunday schools, and youth groups. One of our students has found a unique approach: Every Friday, he goes to the waterfront or the library with reproductions of great paintings on biblical themes. Through this art, he shares eternal themes and ultimately the Gospel with passersby.

Pastor Nikolai and family

This training provides a systematic understanding of the faith, enabling us to speak about the Gospel more deeply and confidently. It inspires and unites teams for a common cause.

The challenge of evangelism in our region stems from its unique character. This is a national republic with its own language and culture (the Udmurts are a Finno-Ugric people). In addition, we face an acute shortage of personnel: we are sorely lacking experienced pastors, youth leaders, and deacons.

Christianity in Udmurtia does create a unique challenge for evangelism. The Udmurts are a Finno-Ugric people with a very ancient and enduring culture. Their indigenous faith is generally referred to as “Udmurt paganism” but is ancestral Tengrism—the deification of the forces of nature.

At the heart of their faith is the worship of the sky god Inmar, as well as the numerous guardian spirits (lud, kuala) of the forests, rivers, and fields. Nature is perceived as a living organism, full of sacred power. This connection to the land and one’s lineage is so strong that it has become an integral part of national identity.

Pagan rituals performed by the indigenous Udmurtia people

 Communism's Impact:

In the 20th century, traditional religion suffered a double blow. First, the Soviet regime waged an active campaign of anti-religious propaganda, demolishing places of worship and persecuting clergy of all faiths. Second, this propaganda was often presented as a struggle against the “vestiges of the dark feudal past of small peoples” as it was termed. As a result, many rituals went underground and became family secrets, but they did not disappear. They survived in rural areas as part of the cultural code.

For many Udmurts, especially in villages, Orthodox Christianity has historically been associated with Russian culture and the state. After the collapse of the USSR, there was a powerful surge in national consciousness. A renewed interest in their language, culture, and, consequently, their ancestral faith became a form of self-identification. In such a situation, a return to one’s roots can be perceived as an act of patriotism and a means of preserving the uniqueness of one’s people. Christianity, on the other hand, is sometimes viewed as something imposed from the outside.

Even So, We Preach Christ!

Through it all, we endeavor to "preach the Word, being ready in season and out of season'. This fall, we are praising God that we have a full cohort of students, pictured below who are being trained to impact this culture that has gone astray. In our Practical Theology courses, these men will learn the art of biblical study, preaching and pastoral care. The women's focus will be applying their theology studies in counseling care and Christian education.

Making the most of our limited financial resources and facility, the Izhevsk Training Center meets in our church's sanctuary. We feed and house students for two-week intensive courses over the span of three years.

We are so encouraged by your partnership!