Bible Institute Bear Valley Ukraine
Monthly Report – May & June 2025
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
Grace and peace to you from our Lord Jesus Christ!
We are pleased to share with you the latest updates from the Bible Institute Bear Valley Ukraine for the months of May and June 2025.
1. Graduation of Two Students
We are overjoyed to report that this year, two students have graduated from our program — Maksym and Vadym. This is a great milestone for the Institute and a reason for thanksgiving.
• Maksym will serve and assist in the ministry of the church in the city of Bila Tserkva.
• Vadym is already preaching full-time in Poltava as a minister of the Word.
2. Fruit of Ministry
A wonderful piece of news reached us recently — last Saturday, in the congregation where Vadym preaches, there was a baptism! One man obeyed the gospel and was added to the Lord’s Church.
This moment reminded us again that despite the war and the many challenges Ukraine is facing, the Lord’s work continues. We are training servants who in turn bring people to salvation.
3. Graduation Ceremony - May 24
The graduation event went smoothly and safely. Both students traveled to Bila Tserkva, where they received their diplomas in person. Our faculty joined the ceremony online, and we praise God for this opportunity to celebrate their accomplishments.
4. Open Day – June 21
On June 20, we hosted an Open Day via Zoom. We had the opportunity to speak with several potential students, and we are hopeful that 4 or 5 new students will join the program this year. The conversations were encouraging, and we pray that those who expressed interest will indeed become part of the BVBIU family.
5. Gratitude to Teachers and Sponsors
We want to express our heartfelt thanks to all teachers — both from Ukraine and the United States — who faithfully serve in this program.
We are also deeply thankful to our American sponsors and supporters, who continue to bless the work of the Institute through their generosity and prayers.
6. Looking Ahead – Curriculum Updates
We are currently preparing the schedule for the next academic year and have made some changes to our curriculum:
• We are introducing new courses focused on youth ministry and women’s ministry — equipping future workers to serve these important groups more effectively.
• We are also launching a pilot program for distance learning. Students will receive materials and recorded lessons (from our growing YouTube library) and stay in contact with instructors. While this format won’t lead to a Bachelor’s degree, participants will receive a certificate of completion of the BV Bible program.
We are not yet sure how effective these new initiatives will be, but we are committed to doing everything possible to share the truth of God’s Word, even in wartime, using all online tools and resources available.
With respect and gratitude,
Denys Sopelnyk
Director, Bear Valley Bible Institute Ukraine