New Freedoms and Challenges

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ESD EURO-ASIA DIVISION New Freedoms and Challenges

BY HERIBERTO C. MULLER

eographically, the Euro- of the smallest divisions in the world uncertain environment is to grow Asia Division (ESD) is the church. However, it has grown signifi- healthy and strong and to design an edu- largest Adventist division cantly since 1990, when its membership cational system that provides “an educa- territory in the world, was about 36,000. tion that is as high as heaven and as stretching across 11 time The fall of Communism brought broad as the universe; an education that zones and 12 countries new personal and religious freedoms to cannot be completed in this life, but that Gfrom Eastern Europe to the Pacific ESD, but it also brought political chaos, will be continued in the life to come; an Ocean. militant nationalism, growing material- education that secures to the successful ESD’s territory includes all of the ism, economic hardship, and the convic- student his passport from the prepara- former Soviet countries except the three tion that the state is responsible for pro- tory school of earth to the higher grade, Baltic nations. Current church member- viding education. the school above” (Ellen G. White, Edu- ship is more than 150,000, making it one The challenge for the church in this cation, p. 19).

Graduation, Ukrainian College of Arts and Sciences. Bucha, Kiev Region, Ukraine.

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5. Approval for a Master of Public Health program sponsored by Loma Linda University (Loma Linda, Califor- nia, U.S.A.), which will commence in August 2005 at Zaoksky Adventist Uni- versity with 90 pastors and health pro- fessionals enrolled. 6. Preparation of an education policy book for use throughout the division. 7. Offering a training seminar (Au- gust 2003) for primary and secondary teachers on “The Philosophy of the Christian Education and Faith and Learning Integration” with Raul Lorenzo and Ines Posse as presenters. 8. The opening of two more English The Heritage School in Tokmak City, Kyrgyzstan, is unique among Adventist elementary schools. In Language Centers in Georgia, making operation for only eight years, it has 121 students, 60 percent of whom are from Muslim families. More than 50 people have been baptized as the result of school missionary work. seven in all.

Accomplishments 3. Building two projects funded by Zaoksky Adventist University Here are ESD’s main accomplish- the Thirteenth Sabbath Offering: In January 1987, the church received ments in the area of education during a. A multi-purpose building at Zaok- a plot of land of approximately two acres the present quinquennium: sky Adventist University (2001); in the village of Zaoksky, Tula Region, 1. Transferring the administrative re- b. A women’s dormitory at Ukrainian near Moscow. The parcel included an sponsibility of Russian Sahmyook Uni- Institute of Arts and Sciences (2004). old school building partly destroyed by versity on Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk Island 4. Offering a Master of Sciences in fire. The local villagers were using the from the Northern Asia-Pacific Division Administration (International Develop- gutted building as a garbage dump. to the Euro-Asia Division (East Russian ment Program) in partnership with An- A Bachelor of Arts degree in religion Union). drews University (Berrien Springs, was the first course of study offered, to 2. Upgrading Zaoksky Theological Michigan, U.S.A.) for ESD church ad- prepare young people for ministry in the Seminary to Zaoksky Adventist Univer- ministrators, ADRA workers, and teach- vast territory of the Euro-Asia Division. sity. ers (July 2003-April 2005). A program of agriculture directed by Ja-

In 2004, the tertiary institution on the island of Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, Russia, came under the jurisdiction of the Euro-Asia Division. Russian Sahmyook University offers programs in linguistics and music.

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cob Mittleider was also established, Three hundred students live on cam- tional housing. Plans are in place to leading to a certificate program. In pus; 736 attend classes in extension build a new men’s dormitory and addi- 1990, the Committee of Religious Af- schools; 43 are studying for the M.A. in tional married student housing. The fairs of the Soviet Union gave Zaoksky religion through Andrews University; master plan also calls for adding the fol- official registration as a full-time institu- and 90 are preparing for a M.P.H. lowing degree programs: Doctor of tion of higher education. through Loma Linda University. A new Ministry, M.A.’s in economics, social In the past quinquennium, the fol- classroom building completed in 2004 work, and business administration; B.A.’s lowing degree programs have been enables Zaoksky to accommodate 1,000 in social work, philology (English), jour- added: M.A. in music (2000); B.A. in on-campus students, but the school can- nalism, and law; A.S. degrees in nursing, economics (2003); B.A.’s in social work, not increase its enrollment without addi- youth education, home management, in- secondary English education, and accounting (2004); and A.S. degrees in of- fice management and jurisprudence (2004). Among the most significant changes for Zaoksky was recognition from the Ministry of Education of the Russian Federation. In 2003, the ministry granted the License of the Right of Edu- cational Activities, the first of a two-part accreditation process. To satisfy the government requirements, three separate institutions were created. To day, the campus houses five edu- cational institutions: Zaoksky Theologi- cal Seminary, Zaoksky Christian Insti- tute of Arts and Sciences, Zaoksky Christian Professional College, Zaoksky Seventh-day Adventist School (K-11), and the Mittleider-Agro Study Center. The university also provides pastoral education through extension schools in seven locations throughout the ESD. Music students, Russian Sahmyook University.

Computer lab, Ukrainian Institute of Arts and Sciences.

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In June 2003, the in- languages, study theory and practice stitute graduated its first translation, and learn to use their knowl- class of 49 students, who edge in different fields, such as politics, were awarded Bachelor’s culture, economics, and law. degrees. The music department trains stu- In June 2004, the dents to play the piano and stringed or- Ukraine Ministry of Ed- chestra instruments. It has a contract ucation and Science with the Academy of Music in St. Pe- gave approval for a tersburg, which was named in honor of Bachelor’s degree in Rimsky-Korsakov. marketing. In June 2004, UIAS Conclusion graduated 96 students The ESD Education Department is (52 Bachelor’s and 44 working on a strategy to provide stabil- Master’s), each of whom ity to a church that faced almost 80 years received a State Stan- of oppression and suffering as a result of Entrance to Ukrainian College of Arts and Sciences. dard Certificate. UIAS a lack of freedom. is the first Adventist ed- The activities for the next five years formation processing and management, ucational institution in the Ukraine to economics and accounting, elementary receive state accreditation. Officials and education, and choir conducting. students consider this to be a clear indi- Recent years have seen a significant cation of God’s blessing in this former change in the attitude of government of- Soviet territory. ficials and local villagers toward Zaoksky Now, the institute is in the process of Adventist University. Non-members pay receiving state accreditation for its Mas- tuition to send their children to the Ad- ter’s degrees in the rest of the specialties. ventist elementary school. The mayor of An Adventist international accrediting the Zaoksky Region regularly visits cam- committee has also approved its status as pus and supports the development of the a graduate-level institution. university. The director of the local hos- Between 2000 and 2005, the institute pital welcomes the addition of a nursing grew from 90 to 625 students and signif- Zaoksky Adventist University,Tula Region, program that will benefit the village. icantly increased the number of volumes Russian Federation. The orphanages in the Tula Region have in its library. opened their doors to student ministry The Institute Student Church also will focus on the following: groups. continues to grow, with new people be- 1. Making members aware of the im- ing baptized and joining our Christian portance of Christian education. Ukrainian Institute of Arts and Sci- family. Last November, the institute 2. Starting one new school in each ences held a revival week that finished with a mission and conference in the division. Ukrainian Institute of Arts and Sci- baptism. In early 2005, another six stu- 3. Helping each union establish a ences (UIAS) is the church’s first tertiary dents were baptized. higher education institution in its terri- institution in the Ukraine. This profes- tory. sionally oriented institute, which opened Russian Sahmyook University I would like to thank Mario Veloso, in Bucha, Kiev Region, in October 1999, In 1992, a new university opened on who served us the education director for offers five-year undergraduate degrees, the island of Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, Russia. our division the first two years of this with emphases in English, business man- It was founded by the South Korean period (2000-2002), as well as the union agement, finances, and marketing. Its Union and the Western Siberian Mis- and division administrators, for their campus is also used as a training center sion. In 2004, the university came under support. May the Lord provide guid- for distance education. UIAS operates the jurisdiction of the Euro-Asia Divi- ance and blessings as we seek to provide special summer/winter programs in the sion. Its student body is international, for the education for study of Slavic (Ukrainian, Russian) lan- with students from Korea, China, and His church in the guages and culture. Vietnam. Subjects are taught in several huge territory of the At present, the school has 625 stu- languages. ESD. ✐ dents in four departments. The student Russian Sahmyook University now ______body is comprised of students from has two departments: music and linguis- Heriberto C. Muller Ukraine, Turkmenistan (a Muslim coun- tics. Its linguistics specialists are in great is Director of Education try), Moldavia, Belarus, Russia, Armenia, demand in the new social and economic for the Euro-Asia Divi- Georgia, and Rumania. situation. These students master two sion in Moscow, Russia.

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