Dear Friends,
This week, please intercede with us for Dr. Valentin Siniy in Ukraine.
Sitting north of the Black Sea, Ukraine is home to nearly 44 million people (73% Eastern Orthodox, 10% Catholic, 2% Protestant). In 2014, Russia’s annexation of Crimea led to war in the Donbas region of Eastern Ukraine. That conflict alone killed over 14,000 people even before the full-scale Russian invasion in February 2022. Since then, over 100,000 troops on each side and over 7,000 Ukrainian civilians have perished. The ongoing war has also displaced over 8 million Ukrainians. Pray for peace in Ukraine, and for God’s righteousness to rise, “with healing in its wings” (Mal. 4:2). Pray for our Ukrainian brothers and sisters, that our Lord would preserve them, guide them, and meet them in their time of need.
Valentin is President of Tavriski Christian Institute (TCI), one of the first theological schools with state licensed programs in Ukraine. In early 2022, after Russian troops occupied TCI’s campus in Kherson, Valentin and TCI faculty and staff moved to a remote location. From that base, they took up relief efforts, evacuating over 1,000 refugees from “hot zones,” feeding over 64,000 people, and distributing thousands of Bibles, with support from ScholarLeaders’ Ukrainian Relief Fund. Despite ongoing war and relief work, TCI has resumed online courses, with nearly 50 students enrolled.
Valentin earned a PhD in Theology from Dragomanov National Pedagogical University in 2021. His dissertation focused on leadership and governance in theological education. In addition to supporting Valentin’s doctoral research through LeaderStudies, ScholarLeaders works with Valentin and his TCI team through the Vital SustainAbility Initiative and Catalytic Venture – Church & Society. Learn more about Valentin’s dynamic leadership in our 2022 annual report. Valentin and his wife Luba have a son, Kirill, and a daughter, Sonya.
Valentin shares the following message:
Pray for Tavriski Christian Institute
As you may know, Tavriski Christian Institute’s campus in Kherson was destroyed due to the war that Russia started against Ukraine. Our faculty and students had to evacuate to the city of Ivano-Frankivsk. We are renting a facility here, but it’s not big enough for the next academic year. The staff and students have to live in rented facilities, and this creates stress sometimes.
Pray for My Family
My mother and father are still in Kherson. My father is sick and not feeling well. Both of them are very tired.
Pray for Ukraine
Also, please pray for my country and for this war to end. A lot of people have been displaced. Some have lost homes. Some have lost loved ones. Lots of churches have been destroyed, with pastors having to flee. We need lots of prayers.
Blessings,
Valentin Siniy