1/ Representatives of the School of Bible and Evangelism, Bill Johnson, an alumnus of SIBI, and Bob Brewer, chairman of the Board, contacted SIBI in the Fall of 1996 about administering the school in Donetsk, Ukraine which had begun in late 1994.
2/ A meeting was conducted in December 1996 in Memphis, TN with the executive board for a SIBI presentation by Truitt Adair and Truman Scott.
3/ An all board meeting met with Truman Scott in early February 1997 at Freed-Hardeman University and agreed to a five year contract delegating to SIBI the full administrative responsibilities of the school.
4/ Doug and Marge Reeves had been recruited in late January, and upon the decision of the Board, Doug was named immediately the Dean of the school. He visited with Sycamore View in Memphis in March and received their sponsorship and support and continued, despite back surgery, to make the preparations to go to Donetsk.
5/ The Doug Reeves, accompanied by Truman Scott and Sammy Flanary, went to Donetsk in June 1997 to begin the further development of the school.
6/ For the first year Doug Reeves, alone, developed and taught the curriculum, constructed the policies of the school, recruited students and translators and built a strong rapport with churches and public officials.
7/ The first year began with 30 students crowded into a residential apartment on the fourth floor. The school was relocated in 1998 to a residence purchased by Gene Parker but later transferred to Don Green and remodeled to fit the needs of the school. From the 30 students, the school quickly grew to over 50 in enrollment.
8/ Denny and Linda Sneed were recruited in late 1997 to join the Reeves as instructors. After nearly a year all funds were secured that permitted the Sneeds to join the work in Donetsk the Fall term, 1998.
9/ Over the first years adjunct teachers Gerald Paden, Ed Wharton, Randy Harris, Chris Swinford, Tim Burrow, Truman Scott, Sammy Flanary, Truitt Adair, John Kackleman, Bob Brewer, Don Green and others supplemented the instruction.
10/ The Donetsk School of Bible and Evangelism held its first graduation in June of 1999. Five students successfully completed their studies and received their certificate of graduation.
11/ In 1999, Chris and Brenda Swinford were recruited, got their support in early 2000 and joined the team for the Fall term. Also, Tim and Mina Burow moved to Mariupol as missionaries in the Fall 2000 and Tim joined the faculty as a adjunct instructor in the Spring 2001.
12/ In January of 2000, the school obtained national registration and was renamed the Ukrainian Bible Institute, was organized with an independent board able to hold property and grew to over sixty students.
13/ A plan to build a three story building on the site of the residence was designed with the prospects of cash contributions and loans from two churches in Memphis. The plan was soon stymied by the discovery that such was not possible due to conflicts with national law. This setback was met with a search for property elsewhere.
14/ A dormitory building, centrally located, was identified, additional funding was sought and the purchase of the individual apartments on the second and third floors was initiated. All apartments except four were purchased, allowing the school to begin remodeling the floors for school use. Two additional loans were secured, along with added cash contributions.
15/ Denny Sneed was appointed Academic Dean and Chris Swinford the Dean of Students to begin the Fall term 2000.
16/ The first graduation of UBI took place in May 2001 and the school was moved from the remodeled residence for classes in the Fall term.
17/ Jay Don and Mary Lee Rogers were recruited in the Fall 2000, visited the school to teach a short course and worked as Mission Coordinator as they raised funding, They moved to Donetsk to succeed Doug Reeves as Dean in the Fall 2001.
18/ Doug and Marge Reeves concluded their work in developing UBI in the Fall 2001 and returned to Lubbock, TX to assume the responsibilities of Assistant Dean in the International Studies Division, in charge of coordinating ministry training in all of the SIBI branches.
19/ The Reeves left the school with its own facilities, a faculty, a student body of sixty students, a school officially recognized, the first graduated class and the good will of the Ukraine brotherhood. Left to Jay Don Rogers were the administration of the school and expansion opportunities that included the Character Counts program in the public schools of Donetsk and opening up an Extension school in Kiev.
20/ Each year, beginning in 1998, SIBI representatives, have met with the Stateside Board for an annual review of the development of the school. These meetings have taken place at Freeh-Hardeman University and the Sycamore View Church of Christ in Memphis.
21/ In January 2002, at Memphis, the five year working agreement was renewed without revision. Each year a plaque of recognition has been given: Bob Brewer, Don Green, the Memphis churches of Sycamore View and East Frazer, and Doug Reeves
22/ The working agreement in Donetsk has been characterized by open and congenial cooperation, continual progress and fruitfulness. The Board members have supplied most of the student recruitment and scholarship support and some of the funding for the facilities. Trust and cooperation have been accorded to SIBI in its leadership role. Quality Deans, an administrative assistant, Natasha Shechenko, and faculty and a student body engaged in the work of local churches, along with a generous flow of financial assistance have contributed to making the Branch a model for the global effort.
23/ With the departures of the Chris Swinford in November 2002 and of the Denny Sneeds in June 2003 a recruiting effort was launched to rebuild the faculty. Brad Smith was added as an adjunct faculty member and visiting teachers supplied the interim need.
24/ Studies continued in 2003 to add an Extension program in the capitol city of Kiev, Ukraine.
25/ The first mission teams formed from graduates of the school have begun to plant new churches in the nation.