Faculty

I went to college to prepare for a career in the law. However, in my senior year, God called me into ministry. Through my connection with Intervarsity Christian Fellowship I knew missionary kids who inspired me with their stories. Thanks to their witness, I sensed my call may not only include serving in the United States.

.I became a Christian in the autumn of 1992, while serving in the Estonian Defence Forces. Through an acquaintance who was a believer in the army, I came to the church and after some inner struggles, I gave my life to God. Soon after, I had been in church for seven months by then, a longing arose in my heart to preach at a revival meeting organized by a friend in Haapsalu.

I have served as a parish pastor, a student organization leader, and a prison chaplain.
My main interest has been learning how to better help people in a pastoral context.

I became a Christian on May 23, 1991 through Pastor Helmut Rütmik of Out-Estonia churh, who was on a preaching tour in Estonia. The change that took place in me when I responded to his intercession and entrusted my life to God at the end of the service was so profound and deep that from that day on, seeking God's will and living aording to it became the centre of my life. I have never once regretted the decision I made.

I was born in Saaremaa into a family where my mother was a Christian, my father was not. My mother and I sometimes went to the Reeküla Methodist Church near our home. When Sunday school started there, I joined, and later I was involved in the youth work of the congregation. In one of the children's camps I made a decision to dedicate my life to God.

I was raised in a Christian family in Canada. God called me to be a Bible teacher when I was a second year seminary student in Sweden. I moved to Estonia in 1996 and have been teaching at the Seminary ever since. 

I believe that knowing God’s Word is essential to living a life that is in harmony with God. I want to see that in my students but I also want to see them using what they have learned to make a difference for the Kingdom of God.

I was in my early 20s when I met Jesus. The first work - the Faculty of Philosophy and Psychology - inspired me to search for the order of being, I began to read more. Thanks to the prayers and wisdom of my mother and sister, who came to God a year earlier, I also read the Gospel while I was still unconverted.

It has been a great grace and privilege to grow up in a Christian home, in a Baptist pastor's family with my two younger sisters. The example of my mother and father was a beautiful testimony of life with Jesus. I personally repented and made my decision at the age of 11 and have now been a believer for 51 years.

“In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.” These words from the Proverbs describe my journey most aptly. I did my High School studies with the perspective of studying applied arts in the Art Academy, but I was turned down as my Christian worldview was not in accordance with the higher education entry requirements set by the Soviet regime.  

Teaching and Missions are my two major passions in which I am called and continually equipped to operate. These passions I share with my wife who is an educator in Tallinn and my best companion on the mission field. I believe that the words taught should come in flesh through the actions of a Christian and the actions should be backed up by further study of the Word of God, History and Culture.

Becoming a follower of Jesus in my youth gave an openness to following God’s will no matter where that took me. My 12-year experience as a high school teacher and participation in a wide range of Christian ministries, gave me a passion to help people learn new things about themselves, the world around them and ultimately about God.

I grew up in a family that believed in and worshipped God. My father was a pastor and my mother was a teacher. Their example of loving service and the fellowship that I experienced growing up in a church community continue to shape my life choices, especially my commitment to follow Jesus Christ.