My recent trip to Ukraine was wonderful as usual! Even though the temperatures were extremely cold the hearts of the students there are always warm. But it was so cold there in Ukraine that even the Ukrainians were complaining about temperatures. You know it’s cold when they’re complaining!
The class I taught this time was “Research and Critical Thinking.” It was taught once before but the professor became so frustrated that he quit the class before the end of the first week! I was asked to redesign the class in a way that would be practical as well as academic.
The class deeply appreciated (all 18 of them) what they learned in the class. I also met daily with the registrar and the wife of the Dean of the School. They were sitting in on the class so that we could evaluate what was going on in the class for future use. The class was so well received that the Dean asked me to teach the class again in the spring. So instead of teaching “History of Philosophy” in May, I will be teaching “Research and Critical Thinking” again at the end of April.
This is a critical course for students in Ukraine. They need to learn how to do proper research and how to think critically about everything they read. In America, students are taught how to research and evaluate in high school. But such thinking was never encouraged in Soviet times and much of that mentality still exists, even among Christians.
You might wonder why this class is so important for seminary students and pastors… one of the most consistent objections I had to the class in the first few days was: “Why should we do any research? I just open the Bible and the Holy Spirit tells me what it says.” You would be amazed at what “the Spirit says” that comes from many unresearched sermons! So this class is essential for these students… and for the future evangelical community of Ukraine. I’ve taught a lot of classes in Ukraine over the last 14 years but I certainly believe that this is definitely the most important one. If they become honest researchers, their teaching and preaching will be more biblical and accurate. So pray for me as I get ready to teach this class in April.
Also, I will be teaching “Reformation and Modern Theology” in March to Master’s level students in Kiev. Many of these are already teaching at Bible colleges and seminaries in Ukraine and so this class is very important for them too!
