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Belarus
The village of NovyDvor, Belarus, was created by the Soviets as they worked to make the part of the USSR that is now the country of Belarus a model Soviet society. The church had no place in such a community. The village has not fared well since the collapse of the Soviet Union, and its inhabitants struggle with poverty. Ten years ago, Father Anatoli and a small group of parishioners from Sts. Peter and Paul parish in nearby Minsk established a church to bring the Christ to NovyDvor. Despite their limited resources, they have developed creative solutions. They bought a washing machine for pensioners in the neighborhood to use. They have established a soup kitchen. Recently, they began a summer camp program for neighborhood children. Now they are working to build a library for the spiritual growth of the congregation and the community.
Ukraine
Most of the Roma people who live in Central and Eastern Europe face segregation, severe poverty, and significant social challenges. In Szürte, a village in Transcarpathia, Ukraine, the divisions between Roma and Gadje (non-Roma people) are clear as the Roma live in a “camp,” a settlement on the outskirts of the village. Almost ten years ago, a Hungarian missionary, KarolyKozma, was sent to serve among the Roma and saw that the greatest need was to educate the Roma children, who were far behind their non-Roma peers. The children began to gather in makeshift classrooms. Now, several years later, there is a separate school in the camp just for Roma children. In the past those teaching were young volunteers from PC(USA) and other churches who spent a year learning themselves how to walk humbly with God.
Partners/Ministries
Patriarch’s Exarch of All Belarus, Metropolitan Philaret, Metropolitan of Minsk and Slutsk Union of Evangelical Christians-Baptists of Belarus: Rev. Alexander Firisiuk
Interchurch Mission Christian Social Service: Mikola Matrunchyk, director
Reformed Church in Carpath-Ukraine
Bishop Sandor Zan Fabian, bishop
Roma Mission Center Csonkapapi
Attila Tomes, director
Union of Evangelical Christians-Baptists of Ukraine
Rev. Gregory Kommendant
PC(USA) General Assembly Staff
Rev. W. Mark Koenig, GAMC
Melanie Komp, FDN
Elder Alan Krome, GAMC
Compassionate God, we pray for the people of NovyDvor and those who minister with them. We ask your blessing on the Roma children that they may experience your love in the community around them so that they may grow into a community with less division. Amen.
Ps. 130, 148 Ps. 32, 139
1 Sam. 9:1–14
Acts 7:17–29; Luke 22:31–38
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