Throughout the Bible we see God specifically calling certain people to be ministers of His gospel. Part of that calling was God guiding these leaders to receive special training in order to preach Christ well. The same holds true today.

Nikita is a young brother committed to Christ, he serves in a worship group and he’s a beginning preacher. He lives in a distant village that’s a few hundred miles away from the Antioch Initiative Training Center. Nikita wanted to study at the school so much that as soon as he was discharged from the army, in December 2023, he headed straight to an SGA-supported institute. After his first AI classes, Nikita was so impressed by the training that he made the decision to further his studies at the Novosibirsk Biblical Theological Seminary (NBTS). Our SGA Storyteller caught up with Nikita to share a little more about his journey:

My first class of the AI course was Hermeneutics. It was the most enlightening study I have ever experienced in my Christian life. I’ve never heard so many biblical truths in just few days. I had never approached the Word of God with such thoroughness and accuracy. This is what my heart wanted for so many years. I long to know my Lord more and more. My goal is not merely acquire knowledge and be a smart man—but to serve my Lord better. And in so doing—to serve His church better.

I have a job and I hope that my boss will let me go to NBTS classes the necessary three times a year. I pray for it and ask you to support me in endeavor. My church was encouraged by my decision to get a biblical education, and they all support my desire to study.

SGA friends and partners; we rejoice at seeing what God is doing through these training centers and seminaries. Through biblical teaching and equipping, these students are able to embrace God’s calling—to spread the Gospel to every corner of the earth.