“Theological education isn’t just about learning—it transforms you, strengthening your spirit…”

Interview with Serhiy Dymchenko, a UETS student of applied theology and pastor of the Salvation Church in Cherhihiv.

Could you tell us more about yourself? Where do you currently live? What church do you attend? What are the main areas of your ministry?

My name is Serhiy Dymchenko, I serve as a youth pastor at the Salvation Church in the city of Chernihiv. My ministry focuses on youth work, worship organization, and team coordination in the worship ministry. I am also one of the pastor’s assistants, working alongside a team of six people.

Why did you choose this ministry? Is there a story behind how you started serving?

I come from a pastor’s family. From 6 to 24, I lived in Romny, Sumy region. Although, since childhood, I have been involved in various church ministries, I have always had a passion for working with young people. At 15, I got my first job and also got involved in ministry early on, leading my first youth group at 15.

After finishing university and getting married, my wife and I moved back to Romny. Then, with the full scale invasion of Ukraine, I relocated to Chernihiv — a move I had long considered but thought would happen later. 

In Chernihiv, there was a great need for ministers, as many had left with their families. I began leading a youth group and a home Bible study group. Today, while youth ministry is my primary focus, I also help with worship since we don’t yet have anyone to fully delegate that responsibility to.

What challenges did you encounter in organizing your ministry?

We experienced God’s grace in all our challenges. Before moving to Chernihiv, we had put a lot of effort into organizing a youth ministry in Romny. However, here in Chernihiv, we had very little time to plan because we were also involved in relief ministry at our church. Everyone helped as much as they could, but there were limited resources, so we simply started small home groups.

In many churches, youth groups are primarily teenagers, but here, our members range from 18 to 30 years old. We didn’t launch big projects — just home groups — so that we wouldn’t burn out. But gradually, more and more people join.

One major challenge was team leadership. Since our team consisted of adults, I had to learn how to delegate responsibilities wisely — balancing between encouraging responsibility and not overwhelming people. It was crucial to create an atmosphere where people would willingly take responsibility rather than avoid it.

Currently, the overall church has grown to about 100 adult members. The youth ministry has between 15-20 regular participants. Additionally, a leadership team member has tooken responsibility for a new teenage ministry, which now has a stable group of seven teens.

Has your ministry changed during the war? What have you reevaluated this time?

I constantly reevaluate things because I believe the church is called to serve where people are hurting. I see ministry as something directed toward the world, and I continually think about how we can serve people better.

For example, some members of our church own a barbershop, and they regularly visit hospitals to offer free haircuts to wounded soldiers. We also serve the military stationed in our city. My understanding of people’s pain, compassion, and empathy has deepened.

Before Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Chernihiv was predominantly a Russian-speaking city. However, after the great war began, most church leaders supported the transition to Ukrainian, though it was challenging for some.

Our humanitarian ministry continues, focusing on helping struggling families in rural areas. Beyond providing material aid, we also emphasize taking responsibility for society and encouraging people to be more conscious of their role in the world — not just focused on heaven but also on making a difference here and now.

What changes do you hope to achieve through your ministry? What impact and results would you like to see?

I want to see more transformed young people whose lives improve holistically. Of course, salvation and turning to Christ are central, but I also want people to experience growth in every aspect of their lives. I hope salvation impacts not just their souls but also their practical daily lives — that young people become financially literate and grow in wisdom.

Why did you decide to study at UETS? How did you choose your program?

When I was 22-23 years old, I wasn’t even considering theological education because my past experiences with the Ukrainian educational system had been negative — I found very little personal benefit there. I had studied at a college, but it didn’t provide much value; instead, I was more grateful for my parents’ impact on my spiritual life than educational institutions.

Later, while serving in Romny and Chernihiv, I observed how other churches organized their ministries. I met people whose lives had been significantly impacted by Christian education. Many of my acquaintances who studied at the seminary shared how valuable it had been for them. My wife also studied at UETS and encouraged me to do the same.

I realized that I lacked certain practical and theological knowledge, including a deeper understanding of why I believe what I believe. That’s why I decided to join the Applied Theology program at UETS.

Initially, I was skeptical about distance learning and didn’t plan to attend in person. However, after my first study session, I quickly realized that I wanted to be physically present at the seminary. The atmosphere made a huge difference. Studying disciplined me intellectually, and my group — composed of people from different churches and denominations—greatly enriched my experience.

How has UETS influenced you personally and in your ministry? Could you please share some practical examples?

One key influence was hermeneutics. Previously, I struggled to find the right sermon topics, but when I took the hermeneutics course at UETS and we practiced delivering short sermons, it significantly improved my sermon structure and clarity.

I also gained a deeper understanding of God, His beauty, and how to organize my inner world. Homiletics helped me interpret Scripture more accurately. Now, I double-check teachings and consult commentaries to ensure proper biblical interpretation. Church history was another eye-opening subject, helping me understand different theological perspectives and why certain teachings exist today.

Overall, every subject has shaped me practically and spiritually. When approached correctly, theological education isn’t just about learning—it transforms you, strengthening your spirit and preparing you for a life of faithful service.

What was most valuable to you at UETS beyond academic knowledge?

The people I met. The UETS community is truly special — it inspires me and challenges me. Conversations with knowledgeable people push me to grow. I appreciate that I can talk with classmates for hours about meaningful topics. Since we all serve in different ministries, we share diverse experiences and learn from one another. Additionally, we have the opportunity to invite seminary professors to conduct seminars and help our teams grow.

Could you share a short story of someone whose life was impacted by your ministry?

I believe that many of the young people I work with — whether in youth ministry or worship — have stayed committed to serving because of the relationships we’ve built. I’ve witnessed their growth and willingness to take responsibility, and I believe my family and I have had a meaningful impact on their lives.