The Russian Call

Sunset reflects on a decade of work in Barnaul, Russia

Sunset International Bible Institute marvels at the accomplishments of God through so many people. SIBI now can see, after ten years, significant plantings of Churches of Christ from the west boundary to the far eastern boundary of Russia. Hundreds of souls have obeyed the Gospel in the Altai Region, and the numbers are multiplying throughout Russia. The last decade has brought results that are satisfying, but the need for the spread of the Gospel remains great. The need requires SIBI’s vision to enlarge and its commitment to be constant. Sunset International Bible Institute’s mission remains to train whole men to preach the whole Gospel to the whole world that God might be wholly pleased.

Deans

Training men not only includes a study of the Scriptures but also involves seeking faithful men to propagate the Gospel to their people.  Early conversions of 1993 soon demanded an entity for maturation of those Christians. 

American gospel preacher, Harry Summers, became the Dean of the founding school in Barnaul, Russia in 1994.  Frank Chappell succeeded Brother Summers and served as Director of the training school until 1998 when Sunset International Bible Institute took the oversight, re-organization, and planning of the school.  Jerry Sisemore was appointed by SIBI to be Dean of SIBI Branch School of Barnaual, Russia. Jerry Sisemore has served well until the present.  Now, SIBI is transitioning Andrey Skyelerov into the role of Dean of the Barnaul Branch School. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Faculty

Early converts studied and accepted the responsibility of Russian faculty.  Andrey Skyelerov, Vladislav Remizov, and Eugene Shegolkov became vital in the growth of the work in Barnaul, Russia.  Their willingness to walk by faith attracted men like Alex Makrov and Sergei Besedin among others.  As the training reached its maximum level with Dean Sisemore and four of the five early Russian men, SIBI began a rotation where one faculty member would be brought to Lubbock, Texas to the residential program of SIBI for advanced training.  Of the men, those who spoke and understood English were brought first.  The cycle of training included Alex Makrov, Sergei Besedin, and Andrey Skyelerov.  As each returned to Barnaul to enhance the program of training, benefits came in abundance to the school.   Each returnee contributed so much in attaining SIBI goals of their mission statement.   

 

 

 

 

 

Sunset International Bible Institute attempted to make the advance training for the Russian faculty complete in 2002.  Vladislav Remizov, the only non-English speaking faculty member, was brought to study with the assistance of his wife Svetlana as interpreter.  Although Vladislav and Svetlana were doing very well in school at SIBI, an unexpected aneurysm and imminent death of Vladislav cut short the prescribed program of training of the faculty for further growth of the Branch School in Barnaul.

Partners

Sunset International Bible Institute takes evangelism and church planting seriously.  SIBI considers its role as an assignment and privilege in accomplishing God’s mission.  SIBI understands the need for partners to maximize its efforts in carrying out God’s mission.  Trusting God to supply partners, SIBI constantly seek churches and individuals to join them for different mission efforts throughout the world. 

Expansion of God’s mission demands churches and individuals prayerfully look to God to advance His purposed, planned will and to give from their blessings to make possible an organized and funded work.

Many churches and individuals throughout Texas, New Mexico, and Tennessee have given one-time donations for various causes.  Also, certain churches have been partners on a consistent and monthly basis.  Without monthly partners, the decade of evangelism and preacher training could not have been as significant as it has been in Barnaul, Russia. 

Partnering churches of Christ are Pasadena Church of Christ of Pasadena, Texas; West Erwin Church of Christ of Tyler, Texas; Whitney Church of Christ of Whitney, Texas; Tolar Church of Christ of Tolar, Texas; Broadview Church of Christ of Broadview, New Mexico; Central Church of Christ of Sparta, Tennessee; and individuals, Dan and Lynn Snow of Andrews, Texas, who have been faithful in God to use SIBI to add and to develop the work in Barnaul, Russia. Because of both one-time gifts and regular monthly gifts, this past decade presents great and thriving ministries to God’s glory.

Plans

The firm foundation stands, having this seal, “The Lord knows those who belong to Him.” (II Timothy:19)  The House of God is a spiritual house. (I Peter 2:1-10)  Each member is a stone in the building.  Those who belong to God have citizenship in the household of God. (Ephesians 2:19-22)  They are God’s holy temple.  Jesus is over His House, and his house are the Christians.   (Hebrews 3:1-6)

When the Word of God, the Gospel of salvation, reigns supreme, God powerfully makes anew those who believe in Jesus.  The new creation of God manifests a new way of living by putting to death sin and unrighteousness.  The new creation purges himself and becomes a vessel of honor, sanctifies himself unto the Lord, and becomes suitable for every good work.  (II Timothy 2:20-21)

Although a physical structure like the one God had Moses to make (Tabernacle) and like the one the (temple) God made during the reign of Solomon, David’s son, had importance, God’s real house was the model. (Hebrews 8:1-5)  God’s people needed identity for themselves, for others, and for spiritual lessons of the real.  Today, everyone knows that a building is not the real, but a building can bring identity of a people and to a people in a certain place.  Sunset International Bible Institute set forth an effort in 1998 to bring greater identity to the people obeying the truth.

Initially, securing land for a place was impossible because Russian law did not allow foreigners to own land, but securing a building was legal.  In fact, financially, it seemed prudent to launch a campaign to secure funds to purchase a building and to lease the land on which the building was erected.

God supplied the funds for the original purchase.  Repairs and remodeling required additional funds.  Since the facility was going to be used for a school, different Russians codes required new electrical, heating, and sewer systems.  Compliance to the different standards prolonged the process with additional need of more funding.  Gifts and loans allowed the process to continue.

The ever-changing Russian laws prolonged getting into the facility.  The city passed a law that required fire escapes and a place for parking.   Meeting the safety requirements was easy for putting in the fire escape, but the obtaining of the houses surrounding the building became problematic.  Three families lived in the houses, and two families escalated the costs for purchase.  Purchasing the houses kept prolonging the process.  Only this year were funds secured to satisfy the demands of the owners.  During the process, Russian laws changed and allowed SIBI to purchase the land on which the houses were sitting.  Foresight of purchasing the land seemed prudent; therefore, additional funds had to be secured to purchase the land, both for the houses and for the 13,000 square foot building. 

Extension of time pushed forward occupancy of the building.  The frustration of the process continues, but the decade of work seems justified and attainable, finally.  The conclusion of the process will bring jubilation and praise to the God who blesses and makes possible the training of many Russians to preach the whole Gospel to the whole world that God might be wholly pleased.