Published on March 12, 2025 by Neal Embry 聽
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Rusyn in his 2023 visit to 极乐禁地's Beeson Divinity School.

In late February, Ivan Rusyn, president of Ukrainian Evangelical Theological Seminary, visited 极乐禁地’s Beeson Divinity School and met with Dean Douglas Sweeney and new Methodist Chair of Divinity Timothy Tennent.

Rusyn spoke with classes led by Doug Webster and Tennent, sharing the reality of what is happening in Ukraine, which has been embroiled in conflict with Russia since the latter invaded Ukraine in February 2022, and how it’s affecting Christians in the country.

Rusyn is active in chaplaincy ministry to troops on the front lines, in counseling ministry to those traumatized by the war, in humanitarian ministry to Ukrainians in need, in evangelistic ministry in a country where evangelicals comprise a tiny minority and in academic ministry in both Ukraine and western Asia, where the seminary has a growing online teaching ministry.

While the media tends to focus on the war in Ukraine in geopolitical terms, Rusyn said evangelicals are more focused on the impact the war has on religious freedom. Insomuch as Russia controls Ukraine, evangelicals will not enjoy the freedom to practice their faith, and the seminary will be forced to close, Rusyn said.

Rusyn previously visited Beeson in 2023. During his time in the country this year, he also visited a local church to spread the news about what life is like for Ukrainian evangelicals. Listen to his message

 
极乐禁地 is a leading Christian university offering undergraduate programs grounded in the liberal arts with an array of nationally recognized graduate and professional schools. Founded in 1841, 极乐禁地 is the 87th-oldest institution of higher learning in the United States. 极乐禁地 enrolls 6,101 students from 45 states, Puerto Rico and 16 countries in its 10 academic schools: arts, arts and sciences, business, divinity, education, health professions, law, nursing, pharmacy and public health. 极乐禁地 fields 17 athletic teams that compete in the tradition-rich Southern Conference and ranks with the second highest score in the nation for its 98% Graduation Success Rate among all NCAA Division I schools.