MTS Graduate Opens New Regional Training Center in Izhevsk

Meet MTS graduate and Pastor Nikolai Tretyakov:

"My hometown, Izhevsk, is located in the Udmurtia Republic on the eastern plains of European Russia. It is the birthplace of the famed composer, P.I. Tchaikovsky. He lived and worked in our city, the same city that was formed thanks to the construction of the arms factory by A.F. Deryabin in 1807. The region is the edge of freshwater springs, the Kama River flows through the republic.

City of Izhevsk. Despite Russia's vast land mass, 66% of Russians live in high-rise apartments.

Our church was the first Protestant church in all of Udmurtia! It was planted in 1911 by a sailor who brought the Gospel message after returning from a St. Petersburg infirmary. Sociologically, there is a mix of both ethnic people in this region, known as Udmurts as well as Russians. The Udmurts have their own pantheon of gods, as well as their own ancient language and culture."

Izhevsk Evangelical Baptist Church

Back in the 14th and 15th centuries, Orthodox Christianity came to Udmurtia with forced conversions upon both Russians and Udmurts by Ivan the Terrible. Today, around 30 percent of the population consider themselves atheist and 15-30 percent consider themselves Orthodox. Less than a quarter of 1% of the population are evangelical Christians. There is great opportunity to address this need through training men and women to rightly handle the Word of God.

Pastor Nikolay and family

The need for a Regional Training Center in this area is significant. With an overwhelming number of people not knowing about the true saving power of Jesus Christ, many laborers are needed for the harvest. Yet most of the current ministry leaders have little, if any, training to manage this great need.

The Izhevsk Evangelical Baptist Church congregation

The training center will begin its classes in September of 2025, offering certifications in both Practical Theology as well as Spiritual Formation in Adolescents. Courses will be held at the Izhevsk Evangelical Baptist Church. Here is an inside look of rooms where students will have class, take meals, and sleep:

Because there are so few evangelical Christian seminaries in Russia, students often travel far distances to attend, requiring dormitories and meals.

Please pray with us as we continue to plan for the center's remaining needs:

• for the organization and training and preparation of teaching staff

• strengthening for the ministry team overseeing the training center

• remaining supply needs: tables, overhead projector, whiteboards, etc