Ukrainian Evangelical Theological Seminary Library: Our Story

Abstract

The library of the Ukrainian Evangelical Theological Seminary (UETS) began to take shape in 1993. Its development was closely linked to the establishment of the seminary, which began in 1992.
At the time of the seminary’s move from Transcarpathia to Kyiv in 1994, its book collection numbered approximately 200 copies. These were mostly reference books and Bible commentaries.
From 1994 to 1997, the Assemblies of God in Australia made a significant contribution to the library toward the purchase of literature. Books were sought in various places: second-hand shops, book markets, and Christian stores.
In 1998, when the seminary moved to the village of Boyarka, its collections already consisted of several thousand books and Christian magazines. After the seminary moved to Pushcha-Vodytsia in 2000, the library was housed in a large space complete with a reading room containing computers, as well as book storage. This marked a new milestone in the development of the UETS library.
Two events played an important role in the life of the library. The first was the visit of Bill Armerding in 1998, who had been president of the Canadian organisation Overseas Council since 1993. This organisation cooperates with Bible colleges and seminaries in Asia, Africa, Eastern Europe, Eurasia, Latin America, and the Middle East. Armerding’s visit opened up new opportunities for financial support that significantly improved both the quantitative and qualitative characteristics of the library’s collection. A second important event was the cooperation of the UETS with the University of California, which began in 2009 within the framework of research projects devoted to the history and theology of the Pentecostal-Charismatic movement. This partnership provided a powerful impetus to the development of the library and the formation of a scientific research base. Of particular value are periodicals, primary documents, archival materials on church-state relations, as well as interviews with participants during periods of historical significance in the Soviet and post-Soviet eras.