Round table on "Questions of Christian Education: a dialogue with the rehabilitation centers"
At St. Petersburg Christian University on April 19th, 2010 roundtable discussion was held on Christian education in dialogue with the rehabilitation centers.
The round table participants were the pastors of the evangelical community, managers and staff of rehabilitation centers, as well as teachers and students SPbCU. Without listing all the names, one can only note some of the roundtable participants. Representatives of the Missionary Baptist Division; Church "Gospel" (Heritage Foundation), the Church of the Morning Star, which was presented by numerous ministers: Pastor, leaders of ministries and rehabilitation, outpatient ministry, preaching in hospitals, AIDS centers, and church "Hope "attended by staff supervising the missions including the North Caucasus region, the church" Exodus ", the Church" Grace "with representatives of the training center and many others.
Many of such meetings have shown how relevant the preaching of the Gospel is among dependent people, and what a great role rehabilitation service plays in the evangelical community. Society begins to respond adequately to the religious component of rehabilitation and take the Church into the ranks of official helpers in the struggle with the problem of addiction, offering a choice of the most dependent on which way to go: only medical care or spiritual, too.
Opening the round table, the rector of St. Petersburg Christian University, Alexander Negrov said: "It is difficult to overestimate the work being done by rehabilitation centers, and the problem many of them are different, but have one goal. Secular rehabilitation centers have the task of putting people "in order", the church, on the other hand, wants to "bring people to God." The social portrait of evangelical churches is now rapidly changing. The theological schools should pay attention to it. In order to competently educate former addicts must be formed primarily by educational institutions."
The main question that was posed to all the participants of communication was the following: are the leaders and graduates of rehabilitation centers in need of theological education? If yes, how can SPbCU help? This issue is fundamental in this situation which has come up in our society. 
In connection with the increasing trend of growth and development of rehabilitation centers, and increases in the amount exempt from one or another type of dependency. Those who have gone through rehabilitation face a daunting task for further socialization in society. Up to what point should they limit their range of communication within their local churches and when are they allowed again to participate fully in society: to get education and find work? The answer to this question was unequivocal. Before conquering the hard rock of Christian academics, the rehabilitant must be in church. After a course of rehabilitation, he must prove himself in a positive way, as a mature Christian, showing the basis of his faith in practical affairs, as well as a dedicated person, the ability to plan his time, and set goals and pursue them. Only after 
meticulously incorporation into the church can there be discussion about the possibility of obtaining theological education.
At the same time, schools should not have special treatment to rehabilitated, according to roundtable participants. If they were in the church and they have a desire to receive education, pastors must send them to universities and observe how ready a person is. Pastoral "guardianship" is needed primarily because of frequent adverse events, when a person is not rehabilitated, learns something, but then "falls". The other extreme are the student in theological institutions is attaining knowledge but the reluctance to move to its practical application. Paul Duchenko, pastor of Morning Star: "Education does not increase the level of service in rehab center - this ministry is not knowledge but heart. This is not the study of theology, but the bearing of the word of God, a 
personal example and care."
If one is recommended to study, the individual approach is important, looking at the spiritual formation of each individual. For ex-dependents, a specialized academy which could shape their character and give them spiritual discipline is needed. A Bible school, a missionary school, is a problem of socialization, after rehabilitation and adaptation. This interim period is required before an independent life even for medical reasons (three years).
Another important point is the need for theological education for the leaders of the centers and their assistants.
All the directors of the rehabilitation centers unanimously agreed that they wish to see in their teams highly skilled attendants to spread the gospel. Without education it is impossible to achieve that. But education must be tested for this category of people. Before we get higher theological education, rehabilitants must have pre-college, basic education. Only with such an approach, according to the roundtable participants, it is possible to achieve orderly growth and develop a rehabilitant as spiritual mentors and sensible laborers in the field of God.
