Story

It is evident that the story of the Department of Theology and Catechetics, where teaching began for the first time in September 1993, must have begun earlier. One of the key moments was the meeting of representatives of the
smaller evangelical churches (AC, BJB, CB, ECM and KZ) and missionary organization (AD 2000) in December 1992.

At this meeting, a supernatural unity was manifested in the common desire to have a
our own educational institution for the preparation of spiritual workers of our churches. Subsequently,
In January 1993, the Association of Evangelical Churches (ZEC) was registered and the Ministry of Education
brothers directed to address their request for the establishment of a theological school to Matej Bel University
in Banská Bystrica. Within a few months, everything necessary was prepared and on 21.5.1993
the Dean of the Faculty of Education issued a decree on the establishment of the Theological-Missionary Seminary at
Faculty of Education of UMB. Teachers have been hired, an additional admission procedure for students has been announced
And on September 1, 1993, our first students began the first academic year at our department.
After 10 years, the founders and teachers expressed their gratitude for this period in several articles.
Among other things, we can read there:
“What will our Bible School and our students look like in the next 10 years? What can we give them?
We are able to develop at the same time the depth of their theological knowledge, together with the ability to wonder and wonder.
to be enthusiastic about what God is doing, or it will be just interesting theological opinions and knowledge,
exciting for other theologians and philosophers, perhaps, but uninteresting for the mission and growth of God.
Kingdom? We will teach them the mystery of silence in the presence of God, so that they may go out in public and
powerfully proclaim God’s will? That depends primarily on us teachers! (Dr. Dalibor Krupa)
“We don’t want to boast about the theological level. We started and it takes a long time to build the department school. On
At the beginning, we were two doctors of theology with ThDr. Liguš. Since then, teachers have made doctorates,
habilitation and inauguration. Everything takes time. However, it is very important to us that it is not just another
theory, but to teach the “creative word” here. The Pharisees of Jesus’ time overwhelmed the people with teachings in which everyone
step, and every hour was governed by the Law of God. But when Jesus appeared, the people saw that his word
He not only instructs, but also transforms man, and He does what He says. My wish for teachers and KETM is,
to stay with this demanding ideal, because this is the essence of the Christian man and life.”
(doc.Ľ.Fazekaš) “I am filled with deep gratitude to God not only by the visible “successful steps” of KETM. Even more Ho
I admire that he was able to guide us through the pitfalls, through defeats, missteps, through periods
ignorance or doubt, and showed us that His work depended upon His grace, and that He had this chair
pleased. As a teacher and head of the department, I constantly, not only on this occasion, wish most of all,
that our “paths” are direct and that we always follow them together with our students and, if possible, with
our graduates. I couldn’t help but express my contribution to this collection in the form of such a
a personal declaration of gratitude to the Lord. It is not a human merit, but God’s merit that we can
to enjoy this jubilee. Therefore, “let the Lord rejoice in his work!” (Psalm 104:31)”
(prof. D.Hanesová)

According to some records, in 2000 the department had up to 188 students (106 full-time and 82 remote),
In total, there are more than 630 graduates of our study programs in 30 years. Many of them are now
pillars of church congregations, denominations or missionary organizations, not only in Slovakia, but also
in the Czech Republic, Ukraine, the Balkans. Our graduates have worked and continue to work as missionary workers and
in countries such as India, Ethiopia, Tanzania, or among Indian tribes in the USA.

In 5 years, 5 people took turns in the position of the head of the department: Ľ.Fazekaš (4 years), P.Procházka (9.5
years), D.Hanesová (3.5 years), V.Šoltésová (6 years) and A.Masarik (7 years). Around the year 2000, we had
10-12 core teachers, today only 5 teaching positions are paid by the university. Thank God
We have an additional 2 externally paid assistants and another 2 as volunteers.
We work intensively not only on the professional growth of teachers, but also on improving the quality of our study
programmes, domestic and foreign partnerships, promotion of the department or the preparation of scientific
research projects. In addition to the priority evangelical emphasis on biblical studies, we want to develop especially
the field of missiology. So that our graduates can understand the Bible as best as possible, but also the missionary
the context in which we are called to be light and salt.

In 30 years, the department has undergone several name changes and several of the founding fathers are now
Lord. But by the grace of God, we can commemorate 30 years of God’s work among us with a hopeful
looking to the future. As with the establishment of the department, we are convinced that we are witnesses here
God’s action. For all of us who participate in the life of the department today, it is a privilege
and blessings. To continue this work of God, to await His new action and to be part of it
of this story.