The heart of the Church Ministries Institute (CMI) in Ukraine is to provide theology for every church and for every believer. The CMI has been preparing Christians for local church ministry since 1994 by providing quality theological education and ministry seminars.

Training takes place in Bible schools (at local churches), regional education centers, the international center, and online. After graduates receive a quality education and practical ministry skills, they go on to effectively serve in local churches across Eurasia.

The CMI director, Volodya Nikolaev knows that “No theological training center can replace the local church.” And so the CMI distinctives include an emphasis on the local church, focus on church planting, development of practical skills, cooperation with multiple networks of churches and associations, and a value on lifelong learning.

Volodya Nikolaev was born and raised in Moldova. He placed his faith in Jesus as Savior and Lord in 1991 and was baptized. That same year, he began to preach because he saw a great need for the teaching of God’s Word. God blessed his faithful preaching and soon his home church in Moldova asked him to lead a ministry to teenagers. Shortly after he began this ministry, he enrolled in the Church Ministries Institute in Ukraine himself because he desired to receive Biblically-based theological training.

Over time, Volodya was asked to teach some theological courses, and eventually rose through the leadership ranks at the CMI until he became the CMI director in 2015, which is the position he still holds today. Volodya and is his wife Anya now live in Ukraine and they have three grown sons.