NR #1995-30: For Immediate Release Christ for Russia Places Two Christian Reformed Pastors as Guest Lecturers in Ukranian Seminaries by Darrell Todd Maurina, Press Officer Reformed Believers Press Service (March 25, 1995) - Christ for Russia, an interdenominational Reformed mission agency based in Denver, Colorado, has announced the appointment of two retired Christian Reformed ministers, Rev. William Ribbens and Rev. Jim Bultman, to serve as guest lecturers at an affiliate seminary in the Ukranian city of Donetsk. Ribbens and Bultman will fly out of Detroit on March 29 to begin a six week teaching tour at the Donetsk Ukranian Baptist Bible School, a theological institution serving over 300 churches in the Ukraine. With a population of 1.25 million, Donetsk is the largest city in the immediate area and has been receiving broadcasts from the CRC's Back to God Hour radio ministry for over a decade. Ribbens' teaching will focus on Louis Berkof's Summary of Christian Doctrine as well as additional courses on church history and an Old Testament introductory course. Bultman will focus on the Heidelberg Catechism, the book of Genesis, and the gospel of John. Bultman and Ribbens will team-teach an introductory course on the New Testament. Much of this teaching load was not anticipated. "Special prayer is requested for Ribbens and Bultman for they had prepared lectures from 9 to 12 each day; however, the students are begging them now to teach a greatly additional load," said Rev. Nick Vogelzang, executive director of Christ for Russia. "Both men will have to utterly maximize their output and will depend on the close guidance of the Holy Spirit and depend on their previously acquired general knowledge." Bultman, now living in Zeeland, Michigan, retired in 1986 after thirty years of ministry to Christian Reformed churches in Iowa, Michigan, and South Dakota, and currently serves as the treasurer of the Committee of Concerned Members. Ribbens retired to Burke, Virginia in 1987 after 38 years of service to Christian Reformed churches in Indiana, Michigan, New York, Illinois, Virginia, and New Mexico. "What we're teaching is basic Reformed doctrine, if they want to immerse their kids, that's fine, and we're also not touching Revelation," said Vogelzang. "We'll teach our doctrines and the methods we use to interpret Scripture, but we're not being hard-nosed about it." Vogelzang, also a retired CRC minister, served Christian Reformed congregations in Utah, Illinois, Iowa, and Washington. As a home missionary in the heavily Mormon state of Utah, he served as the organizing pastor for all four of the state's Anglo congregations. While in Utah, Vogelzang also began an evangelistic youth worker program as a Reformed alternative to Mormon youth missionaries - a program which eventually developed into the CRC's "Summer Workshop in Ministries." Although he retired over a decade ago, Vogelzang has kept quite active in his retirement and has successfully recruited a number of other retired CRC ministers to assist him. Future guest lecturers at Christ for Russia's affiliate seminaries will include former synod president Rev. Peter Brouwer and may include Dr. Paul Schrotenboer, former general secretary of the Reformed Ecumenical Council. Vogelzang said that nineteen other ministers, teachers, and professors are planning to teach in the Ukraine - including Dr. D. Clair Davis, moderator of the faculty at Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia, who hopes schedule adjustments will make it possible for him to serve as a guest lecturer. Christ for Russia opened its first affiliate seminary in September 1994 in Tivadarfalva near the Ukranian city of Beregova. The Tivadarfalva seminary operates in conjunction with the Gereformeerde Kerken in Nederland (Vrijgemaakt) using faculty from that denomination and is supported by a financial grant from the Christ for Russia board. The organization also has a Bible teacher in Moscow who is recruiting students and searching for a location to begin a third seminary. Christ for Russia's central strategy is to focus on the creation of Reformed seminaries. "There are 500 seminaries in the United States and Canada," said Vogelzang. "There are 290 million people in both the US and Russia, and far as I can tell there are only 20 seminaries in Russia. Our thought is we need to build 50 seminaries in 50 years, each graduating 50 students per year. "That ought to be able to Christianize Russia and make it Reformed," said Vogelzang. A key factor in Christ for Russia's work has been the favorable exchange rate with the now-independent countries which made up the former Soviet Union. Using American currency allows a Russian pastor to receive room, board, and four years of seminary tuition for a total cost of less than $2000. So far, the total cost to support two seminaries for a year has been less than $28,000. Board members of Christ for Russia currently include members of the Christian Reformed, Orthodox Presbyterian, and American Reformed denominations. The Christ for Russia advisory council also includes members of the Alliance of Reformed Churches. Cross-References to Related RBPS Articles: [No related articles on file] Contact List: Rev. Peter Brouwer 1410 Evergreen Dr., Luverne, MN 56156 * H: (507) 283-4391 Rev. James A. Bultman, Guest Lecturer, Christ for Russia 325 - 1/2 W. Washington, Zeeland, MI 49464 * H: (616) 772-9382 Dr. D. Clair Davis, Moderator of the Faculty, Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia Box 27009, Philadelphia, PA 19118 * O: (215) 887-5511 * FAX: (215) 887-5404 Rev. William Ribbens, Guest Lecturer, Christ for Russia 3221 Billy Mitchell Dr., Front Royal, VA 22630 * H: (703) 635-9788 Dr. Paul Schrotenboer 1677 Gentian Dr. SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49508 * H/FAX: (616) 455-1126 Rev. Nick Vogelzang, Executive Director, Christ for Russia 14152 E. Linvale Pl. #303, Aurora, CO 80014 * H/O: (303) 696-8558 * FAX: (303) 696-6302 ------------------------------------------------ file: /pub/resources/text/reformed: nr95-030.txt .