On July 25th, the UETS marked its 35th commencement this year, celebrating 302 graduates who completed their studies and are now stepping into a new season of ministry and service.
The graduating class includes pastors, chaplains, ministers, children’s and youth ministry leaders, and counselors from Ukraine, Central Asia, the European Union, Kenya, Ghana, and Angola. Graduates will carry their training into churches, communities, charitable organizations, educational institutions, and centers of care — places where their skills are urgently needed.
At the ceremony, UETS Rector Dr. Ivan Rusyn thanked the graduates for their perseverance, noting that choosing to study and complete their degrees during a full-scale war stands as a genuine testimony of faithfulness and determination. He expressed hope that each graduate would carry the “fragrance of Christ” into a society marked by pain, loss, and the consequences of war — bringing love, care, and hope wherever they serve. “You are more than graduates to us — you are our co-ministers,” he told them.
"The Best Seminary Is One Whose Graduates Reflect Christ"
Bishop Valeriy Antoniuk, Chairman of the Council of Evangelical Protestant Churches of Ukraine and Head of the All-Ukrainian Union of Evangelical Christian-Baptist Churches, also addressed the graduates. “The Best Seminary Is One Whose Graduates Reflect Christ,” he said. He also described the day as a victory over personal limitations and circumstance, encouraging graduates not to rest on what they had achieved. Even in wartime, he said, Christians are called to keep learning, serving, and bringing change to the world.
Greetings from International Partners
Graduates also received heartfelt video greetings from longtime international partners of UETS.
William Johnson, dear friend of UETS and Head of the Friends of UETS Organization in the USA, congratulated this year’s graduates in a video message recorded from the hospital. He sent his sincere greetings and prayers, sharing his belief that this year’s graduates will become the next generation of ministers who contribute to spiritual revival not only in Ukraine, but across Eastern and Central Europe, and even in the USA. William praised the graduates for their resilience and academic achievements, and shared his belief that what God has started in them will bear abundant fruit for His Kingdom.
Dr. Charles Hobbs of College Park Church — a partner of UETS for nearly 25 years — also sent a video greeting to congratulate UETS staff and this year’s graduates. He opened with the words of Jesus, “You will be My witnesses,” and encouraged graduates to sow boldly wherever God has placed them. He and his church prayed for the graduates to have courage to live and testify faithfully about Jesus Christ, to trust in God’s care at all times, and for the Lord’s blessing to expand the reach and impact of their ministry.
Graduates Share Their Stories
A highlight of the ceremony was the graduates’ own testimonies, as they shared their journeys, expressed gratitude to professors, mentors, family, and friends, and reflected on how God had guided them throughout their studies.
The ceremony also included a message of thanks from the commander of Ukraine’s 502nd Separate Regiment of Electronic Warfare, where UETS graduate Captain Oleksandra Andriyashyna serves — the first woman to hold the rank of chaplain officer in the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The commander expressed sincere appreciation to Rector Dr. Ivan Rusyn and Master’s Program Director Dr. Fedir Raichynets for their professionalism in training and preparing chaplain officers for the Armed Forces.
Another memorable moment came with the premiere of an original song, “Unite Us”, written by a team of graduates from the Worship and Leadership program as part of their coursework in worship songwriting. The song has become a symbol of the unity, gratitude, and shared calling graduates carry forward as they go out to share God’s love with the world.
We give thanks to God and to all of our partners, whose prayers and faithful support made it possible for our graduates to complete their education and step into their calling — serving the church and carrying the fragrance of Christ into a world that needs His hope.
Congratulations to the UETS Class of 2026! May your words, your character, and your ministry help others encounter God’s presence, love, and grace — wherever He leads you.
