On January 18, 2026, during the evening worship service at Second Slavic Baptist Church of Sacramento, the Blagovest Institute of Ministry held its annual commencement ceremony under the spiritual and educational oversight of the Pacific Coast Slavic Baptist Association.
A total of 44 graduates received diplomas across three academic levels: Associate of Arts, Bachelor of Ministry, and Master of Divinity. The ceremony was fully integrated into the church service and brought together graduates, faculty, pastors, family members, and guests. Worship songs, prayers, greetings, and graduate testimonies highlighted the close connection between theological education and practical church ministry.
A charge to the graduates was delivered by the Institute’s Director, Sergiy Pronin, who emphasized that theological education shapes not only knowledge but also mature Christian thinking, responsibility, and faithful service before God.
The main speaker of the evening was PCSBA President Aleksandr Pronin. Centering his message on 2 Timothy 2:15, he encouraged graduates to remain faithful to Scripture, devoted to God, and diligent in rightly handling the word of truth.
The ceremony concluded with a prayer of blessing, testifying to God’s faithfulness and the ongoing mission of the Blagovest Institute in preparing servants for evangelical churches.
Sergiy Pronin
