Meet the Gorbachevs

One of the privileges of working in a Christian ministry is the challenge of fund raising. Not only do Claudia and I live in faith through the support of our donors in the States (please see the side column and complete profile), I often must raise funds for our school in Moscow. So what you see below is from my heart.

Alexei and Tatiana Gorbachev are charter members of the Russian Church of God since 1993. Our denominational leaders quickly recognized their potential and found a way for them to study at our seminary in Cleveland from 1996-1998. Upon their return to Russia, they joined the faculty of the seminary in Moscow (ETSM). Both of them have served not only as exemplary instructors, but also in various functions at the seminary.

Tatiana is a part-time teacher and full-time mother of three. She also supervises our students' ministries. Alexei oversees our computer network and is also our Academic Dean. Additionally, Alexei is leading a church plant that meets in the seminary. While secular opportunities are possible, they have dedicated themselves to work with the Church of God in training pastors and leaders.

The excellence of any seminary is its faculty and its desire for personal and spiritual growth. The Gorbachevs are no exception. Both Tatiana and Alexei began their doctoral studies (the Russian candidat naug) in 2002 at the prestigious Linguistic University of Nizhniy Novgorod on a part-time basis while continuing their duties at ETSM.

Both Alexei and Tatiana are researching in the field spiritual and moral development: Alexei is looking the psychological aspects of spiritual and moral development; Tatiana is looking at the teacher's role in the process. By design, Tatiana will defend this spring (March/April) and Alexei in the summer.

In the last three years, tuition fees at state universities have increased by more than 300%. This comes at a time when Moscow's rate of inflation was 12% at the end of 2007 and the dollar exchange rate against the ruble is at its weakest since 1999 - and our school's budget and salaries are based in dollars. Additionally, Russia's financial and banking infrastructure is still very rudimentary - there is no such thing as student loans.

The Gobachevs must have $4500 before they can defend. This is impossible for them. There is no credit, no system to pay later! Covenant Church of God of Charlottesville, VA (Dr. Harold Bare) and Christwalk Church of Fernandina, FL (Dr. Jim Chamberlain) are both helping with $1,000. We have also collected gifts from several individuals, but we still have a need of about $1500.

We are looking for sponsors who can give $50-$250. If the Lord places the Gorbachevs on your heart, we need your gift by March 1, 2008.

In a very true sense, helping the Gorbachevs means helping the seminary and the Church in Russia.

Can you imagine the power of having two Ph.D.'s added to our seminary staff in Moscow? Believe me when I share with you that this will give our seminary much integrity with government officials and other educational institutions.

Hopefully you can give usa positive answer. Your gifts and donations may go through Church of God World Missions (project name: ETS-Students / Teachers - Gorbachev, project number 710-0072), Keith at 25th Street, NW, Cleveland, Tennessee 37311.