Ukrainian Evangelical Theological Seminary August 2025 Update
Standing with Ukraine: A Trusted Partnership Amid Crisis
On August 15, 2025—day 1,269 of Russia’s brutal invasion—Ukrainians were glued to their media outlets awaiting word from the Trump-Putin summit in Alaska. Their hearts are heavy yet hopeful for a just peace. In this tense moment, The Outreach Foundation, rooted in our mission to fuel the global mission of Jesus Christ through trusted relationships, hosted a stirring conversation between a faithful donor from Northern Ireland and Dr. Ivan Rusyn, President of the Ukrainian Evangelical Theological Seminary (UETS) in Kyiv. Our partnership, forged through three wartime visits delivering relief and trauma counseling training, embodies Christ’s love in action.
“We live with scars—tank tracks, shell holes, drones overhead,” Ivan said from Bucha. We noted that he is tired and somber from years of war and faithful service to the gospel among his people. Since this was the first conversation our donor had with Ivan directly, he wanted to hear the story. Ivan was happy to share. “My apartment was violated; we’ve buried colleagues.” Yet, he and his wife stayed, driven by a divine call. “We are present as Jesus is, sharing our people’s wounds,” he said, his resolve inspiring many of us who know faith shines through sacrifice.
We talked about why this war matters. “This is for Ukraine’s soul, not just its soil,” Ivan declared, his voice rising with energy. “Thirty years ago, Soviets persecuted us, killed our Christian leaders, and those of us who survived were told we would amount to nothing. Our pacifism resisted a machine that crushed our people. Now, we love our nation and soldiers—and they love us.” Several seminary teachers, including the counseling program director, have family in the military, bearing war’s scars and grief. UETS meets Ukraine’s spiritual, physical, and psychological needs. “God is reshaping our society through this pain,” Ivan said, offering hope amidst exhaustion.
UETS’s state-licensed chaplaincy program, a key development supported by our donor, is a lifeline for battle-weary soldiers. Protestant chaplains, trained by UETS, offer spiritual care, counseling, and relief supplies. “When we carry messages between soldiers and families, tears flow—this is Jesus’s face in our darkness,” Ivan said, having served as a chaplain on the front lines. This growth is evident: UETS graduated a record 300 students this year, with 600 enrolled in September, half new, and the master’s in counseling is now its second-largest program.
Asked about UETS’s greatest need, Ivan spoke emotionally of 60,000 Ukrainian amputees. “Young men and women from war return limbless, dreams shattered,” he said. “They seek solace and crave learning about their faith that has been born in tragedy.” UETS must adapt its old Russian-built facilities to provide access for those who are disabled physically, out of this war. “How can we speak of our commitment holistic mission without offering a space for the disabled to learn among us?” Our support will help UETS transform despair into dignity for those most scarred by this war. Join us in prayer and giving—together, we share Ukraine’s wounds and dreams.
Rev. Dr. Tom Boone
Associate Director for Mission
The Opportunity
The Outreach Foundation is seeking gifts to support the mission and ministry of Ukrainian Evangelical Theological Seminary. All gifts of any size are needed to help UETS with chaplain support and to provide scholarships for chaplain couples to attend the spring retreat in Kyiv (the cost is $600 per couple for the three days). You may make a gift by sending a check to the address below or you may make an online gift via the button below.