Rachel Toone: Matvii, what’s your major and what’s coming next for you?
Matvii: My major is Business Administration. My plan is to go back home to Georgia where my family is staying right now. I’ll probably work there, and then next fall, I’m planning on starting seminary in Texas.
Rachel Toone: So cool! Matvii, you had one of the longest commutes to get to Montreat in the first place. How did you end up here?
Matvii: I’m originally from Ukraine, and I finished my high school there during the COVID times. I started my first year of university studying International Economic Relations. In the beginning of 2022, because of the war, my family had to flee abroad. We stayed in Italy for about six months trying to figure out what to do next. Eventually, my family moved to the United States—they are in Atlanta, Georgia, right now with two of my siblings—and I moved to the UK to study Computer Science at London University.
Rachel Toone: All right. So, how did you get from London University all the way down to North Carolina?
Matvii: The program there was only for one year. After I finished my first year, I was trying to find other scholarship opportunities. I was looking into American colleges and was connected with a lady from Black Mountain; we used to do ministry with her back in Ukraine. When she told me about Montreat College and some scholarship opportunities with Samaritan’s Purse, I arrived here. I didn’t actually get the scholarship from Samaritan’s Purse, but Montreat covered half of my expenses, which was amazing. For the other half, a lot of churches around the states graciously helped me to get through my studies here.
Rachel Toone: That’s so cool. What is something that God has taught you since you’ve been at Montreat?
Matvii: He’s been working in the most beautiful ways in my heart and mind. The first thing is some deconstruction I had with old beliefs. He’s been teaching me a lot about doctrine through the professors here and just asking deep questions about life. The professors at Montreat really helped me with those.
I’ve learned a lot about my character and my perspective on things, but I feel like the most important thing is having a “journey mindset” about life. It’s like a marathon that we are always preparing for but never arrive to. I like when Paul talks in Philippians 3 about perfection and pressing toward the goal that he hasn’t achieved but is constantly trying to. I’m trying to implement that mindset in my life. Sometimes I still beat myself up, but it’s a journey of learning to accept that, receiving the grace of God daily, and seeing Him as a Creator who cares for me. I need to be dependent on Him every single day of my life, giving Him space to do His holy work in me, recognizing my sinfulness, and giving it to Him at His throne.
Rachel Toone: Matvii, I’m going to go off-script here, which is always dangerous. You’ve been in the middle of this sort of doctrinal faith rebuild regarding your sense of who God is and how He works. What is something you’ve learned about God’s character since you’ve been at Montreat?
Matvii: I feel like He’s very patient. He really gives you space in terms of taking your time. He’s very, very gracious, and there’s nothing you can do to violate the amount of grace He has. It will never run out. His love is never-ending. It’s been a process of coming back from the performance mindset—thinking I need to do something to accept the gift of salvation or attain His grace. That is always a mistake. Grace is always freely given to you; it’s never of your own work.
Rachel Toone: Come on, that’ll preach! So good. For all the students who are coming back next year, what’s your word of wisdom for them?
Matvii: I spent so much time—wasted it, even—trying to fix myself before trying to do something. Find this kind of anchor place that reminds you of who you are and why you do what you do. And please, be with people, because they care about you. We’re all going through so much, and there’s so much comfort and healing in these people.
Rachel Toone: So good. Matvii, we’re very excited for you, very proud of you, and very glad we got to have you in our lives for this season.