In May of 1998, Bill Arvan (ThM, 1976) traveled to Ukraine with a one-hundred-dollar bill tucked away in his pocket. Little did Bill know that the Lord would turn his souvenir money into venture capital to finance famine relief, specifically theological famine relief.
How did this Midwest pastor turn up in Ukraine, you ask? During the 1990s, after the collapse of the former Soviet Union, Baptist churches across Minnesota started building church-to-church relationships with Baptist churches in Ukraine. This grassroots movement, Love Lift for Ukraine, hosted pastoral training, vacation Bible schools, and summer camps. Recruiting for one of those pastoral training seminars, a group of fellow Minnesotan pastors approached Bill. Bill’s church in Saint Cloud already hoped to build a relationship with a Ukrainian church, so it was the perfect opportunity.
Bill boarded a plane and spent one glorious week, equipping believers in Ukraine for pastoral ministry. At the end of that week, Alexander, a Ukrainian pastor, asked to speak with Bill. With the aid of a translator, Alexander unearthed a deeply felt need—the need for theological resources to strengthen local churches. Alexander asked Bill to advocate for the Ukrainian church’s need for reliable written materials when he returned home. Bill recognized the need for theological tools, but how could he, one pastor from Minnesota, commit to advocacy on their behalf? Bill did commit to long-term prayer, and Bill and Alexander prayed together on the spot. During that prayer, the Holy Spirit nudged Bill’s heart, bringing to mind the one-hundred-dollar bill stowed away in his wallet. Don’t worry about the souvenirs. Give it to Alexander. Alexander turned out the be the Macedonian Man for READ Ministries.
Bill left Ukraine, but Ukraine refused to vacate Bill’s heart. That fall God continued pulling Bill’s insides toward theological famine relief for Ukraine. In 2000, the church in Saint Cloud released Bill to the work God was calling him to do. Bill began developing projects with Alexander. They dreamed of pairing good theological resources with solid training, equipping local leaders to sustainably feed themselves and others. In 2002, God brought the whole church together, ministers and businessmen alike, to officially birth READ Ministries (Resourcing Evangelism and Discipleship). Bill served as the founder alongside businessman George Johnson—a missionary and an entrepreneur. For years, Bill traveled to Ukraine multiple times a year for long stretches, serving as the boots-on-the-ground project coordinator. Now semi-retired, Bill serves as Assistant to the Executive Director, Steve Eckert. Bill now focuses on building up church-to-church relationships between American and Ukrainian as well as Central Asian churches, leveraging his connections for the Lord.
When asked about his time at Dallas Theological Seminary, Bill says what he values most is the respect he gained for the Scriptures and the tools he gathered to feed himself and others. His professors cultivated a love for the Word and a love for equipping others to study the Word. The mission of READ Ministries testifies to their impact. The professors who cultivated that respect include Dr. Waltke, Dr. Robinson, and Prof. Hendricks. Perhaps more so than any other professor, Dr. Ryrie terrorized Bill, keeping the young seminarian on his toes with his unpredictable teaching methods and Socratic style. Dr. Ryrie also proved to be one of Bill’s favorite professors. His discipline, enthusiasm, and skill inspired Bill’s excitement to study and communicate God’s Word. God in his kindness brought about an opportunity for Bill to share Dr. Ryrie’s thoughts with the people who had captured his heart. When believers in Central Asia asked for a single volume theology in their indigenous language, they asked for Dr. Ryrie’s Basic Theology. After Bill and READ Ministries acquired the publishing rights, they needed translators. The Lord sent four women to translate Dr. Ryrie’s work. Those women—some trained and some married to pastors, but all excellent Bible students—became known as the four Deborahs. It was a delight for Bill and his team to work with the four Deborahs, sitting in their homes, eating local food, and exploring theology. READ Ministries also provides churches with lending libraries, training their respective librarians to serve as theological pharmacists who know their books and their people. Those librarians assess needs and fill prescriptions for spiritual formation. In addition to their translation work and equipping pastors and churches with libraries, READ also supports seminary students in Eastern Europe and Central Asia. This past year, they donated textbooks to students starting their fall semester, a miracle since their seminary burned down due to the war in Ukraine. Bill’s seminary professors inspired and equipped him to study and share the Word, and Bill and his ministry now equip believers throughout the global church to study and share the Word.
When asked about teaching truth and loving well, Bill responded that establishing relationships characterized by trust paves the way for the truth. Jesus himself serves as our model. Christ came to us full of grace and truth, ready to serve, not to be served. READ Ministries began by serving one Ukrainian church. The ministry now serves churches in almost every region in Ukraine, training pastors and supplying them with libraries to strengthen the church, as well as churches throughout Central Asia. God has brought and continues to bring an unfathomable return on investment from that original one-hundred-dollar bill offered by an American who listened to one of God’s children and the Holy Spirit. READ continues to be an others-driven ministry—listening and responding. That is humility’s posture. God blesses the humble, and the humble often experience and exude joy. That holds true for Bill and his team members. If you meet Bill on the street, you will meet a person who is ready to know you and ready to serve you. You will feel a joy that causes the corners of your mouth to creep up.
