Bringing Comfort to a Nation
"A war comes, and the reality changes immediately. You think nothing will make you rethink your life, but suddenly you find yourself facing a question, 'What do I do?' The time is short."
Valentyn Syniy, rector of Tavriski Christian Institute (TCI), faced immense challenge when his ministry’s campus in Kherson was destroyed early in the Russian invasion of Ukraine. For nearly 30 years, TCI has provided theological education and training to hundreds of believers in Ukraine and beyond in Central Asia and the Caucasus. As the first and only government accredited bible school, TCI has raised up pastors, missionaries, and Christian educators that are making an impact throughout the region. In the immediate aftermath of the war, they shifted into caring for refugees, distributing food and medical supplies, as well as facilitating evacuations. At the same time, they continued teaching in any way that they could. As Valentyn mused in his book, Serving God Under Siege:
“Someone had to heal the scars left by the war. Perhaps we, theologians, were not able to stop the war physically. But we could bring some comfort to our nation.”
EMI first connected with Valentyn in 2023 as he prayed and longed for a new campus to house TCI. While rebuilding a full campus was not possible during the war, God opened a door for them to rent a facility in Kyiv, the capital city. EMI was privileged to partner with TCI to do a feasibility study of the proposed building as well as to design a library space for them such that they could again be a resource hub for the Ukrainian Church in a place even more strategically located.
With the feasibility study, EMI assessed the existing building and investigated local building materials and regulations. The EMI team developed floor plans to identify how spaces could be used effectively for the various program components of TCI. Additionally, exterior improvements were proposed to address necessary repairs and create a more welcoming entrance, while also incorporating designated interior and exterior memorial spaces.
After receiving EMI’s design and recommendations, TCI took occupancy of the building in Kyiv and improved the building with EMI’s recommendations. This past August, TCI was pleased to open their Kyiv campus with 200 Ukrainian students and another 200 online students from around the region.
We thank God for the privilege of being part of this incredible work!