The completion of this capital project will enable us to admit more students, who will serve their churches and communities in the war-torn and post-war Ukraine. Today, considering the lack of academic space, we are up to our admission capacity.
The new building, in particular the gym, cafeteria and green zone, is intended to be open for the local community. Local residents will be invited to use the facilities and, in such a way, get exposed to Christian fellowship, care and counseling.
The new academic building will include a bomb-shelter that the seminary faculty, staff, students and neighborhood residents could use during regular missile and drone attacks directed against the Ukrainian capital.
Considering that Ukraine is already the leading country in the world by the number of war amputees, the future facility is designed to be accessible for people with disabilities. We desire to serve alongside our brothers and sisters with disabilities by enhancing their mission through high-quality theological education.
The expanded capacity will reinforce the role of the seminary as a humanitarian hub from which relief ministry is coordinated and humanitarian aid is delivered to war-affected areas in Ukraine.
With the number of war victims constantly on the rise, the new building will house a counseling center for war-traumatized Ukrainians, PTSD patients in particular. By showing compassion and hospitality through our words and deeds to our fellow citizens, we wish to make the love of Christ known to them.
The new facility, with its specialized space, is also designed to serve as a center for physical, mental, and spiritual rehabilitation of war veterans and former prisoners-of-war.
Upon the completion of the project, UETS will be capable of generating additional income by hosting conferences, retreats and other events held by Christian churches and organizations, and, therefore, become less dependent on external donations.
The expanded capacity will help us meet one of the requirements of the Ukrainian government for licensed educational institutions. The government licensing, in turn, will provide new ministry opportunities for certified UETS graduates such as enabling them to teach Christian Ethics in public schools, provide licensed professional counseling, and serving as official army chaplains.
The new facility is also designed to host numerous conferences, seminars, training sessions and retreats, which are seen as a further means of training church ministers from all over Ukraine, while also providing encouragement, refreshment, and spiritual renewal.
