The first session of the Ukrainian Institute of 
Ministry was held in Kiev on January 15-25, 2010. Besides the two official Seminar sessions of four days and three days respectively, Gordon Ferguson met with the main staff leadership group in Kiev twice and also once with their small group leaders.
Additionally, Gordon spoke to two of the four Regions of the Kiev Church of Christ on the Sunday that he wasn’t teaching an Institute course.
The more official part of the program consisted of a four day Seminar for the Ministry Track students on the subject of “Sound Doctrine and Church Discipline.” A four lesson version of this material was taught in Hawaii during a teaching day there, entitled “Developing a Biblically Balanced View of God,” and is available from Illumination Publishers International (IPI) as a DVD video set. Of course, the four day version was much more in-depth by design. For this course, 50 ministry staff students attended from the Ukraine, and 4 from Latvia and Russia.
The en
thusiasm of students in both Tracks of the Institute was nothing short of amazing. Gordon and Theresa will be going back to Kiev in April for three weeks, during which time the next two courses will be taught (“Old Testament Survey” for the Shepherding Track students and “Homiletics” for the Ministry Track students). Additionally, if all of the translations can be done by then, Gordon also plans to conduct a Dynamic Marriage Facilitator Training Seminar as well. Finally, we also have a teaching day scheduled for the whole Kiev church on the subject of “Romans.” With Theresa accompanying Gordon this time, she will also have some special opportunities to work with the women there. A special part of the plan is for Shawn and Lena Wooten, dear friends and fellow workers in God’s Kingdom, to get some special discipling times with the Fergusons.
articipated in the first courses of the Institute. These will help you understand the great hearts of the people in Eurasia and how anxious they are to learn and grow in spiritual leadership. It will also help you understand why Gordon feels so amazingly blessed to work with training programs like this one and the very similar one in Asia (Click Asia-Pacific Leadership Academy). 
and views of different things. In particular the article "Motivation: Guilt or Grace?" made a big impact on us. We were so happy to be able to learn from Gordon coming to Kiev and to be able to ask him questions about the ministry. Probably the most important thing was that all we learned from Gordon we could put into practice right away in our ministry in our church. Thank you very much for this deep and practical teaching!”
moment it even seemed that for 14 years in Christ I have not come to know God. I know that we will never comprehend God's grace even if we try. But I was sure that I knew something about my Creator about his love for people. Now I see that I know nothing... Though my prayers sometimes were zealous even to the point of pride, I let myself make conditions to God. Listening to Gordon, I understood something about myself as well. I realized what a selfish person I am! Everything I've got - my husband, children, place to live, my friends and the church – is all because of God's grace. Not because of my deeds: I couldn't earn a tenth of it all. He did more than any person could imagine – he gave up his Son (not even just a son – Himself!) Because in John 10:30 Jesus says that God and He are One. What I can do is to express my gratitude for this hope to Christ for the rest of my life and to help other people to get that hope. Thank you, Gordon, for the revolution in my heart!”“Ever go to a cafe and order a salad... and in your mind when you ordered it ... it was this little bowl, with just a few leaves and some green things that you never really know what they are called? Then the waiter brings out a plate just a few inches larger than the table you are sitting at, and the salad towers high a little like the Rocky Mountains? And you think: This is so much more than I thought I ordered! Well, that describes my 12 days with Gordon Ferguson! I thought a few greens and some blue cheese was what I needed! I got the meal of a lifetime!
This month we have started a month of "Repentance" in the Kiev Church (Thank you, Ed Anton – for letting God use you in such a great way!) God used Gordon as a prophet to not only bring great teaching – but strong discipling, the kind that brings great refreshment and hope! I am thankful for the Ferguson family, and for the ministry they share together. Pray for us to clean our plate, and not miss any of the teaching that we have received! For more info from Gordon Ferguson, see his website: http://gftm.org/
Shawn Wooten, European Evangelist Trainer
posted by Jerry Maday, Worcester, MA