08085
February 4, 2008
Taking it to the streets
Small group ministers to Moscow’s homeless
MOSCOW — Winter in this Russian capital city can be brutal. Yet, the entrances to nearly every Metro (subway) and train station seem to be crowded with the huddled homeless.
“The government hasn’t known what to do about them,” says Victoria (“Vika”) Lvovskaya, a soft-spoken young woman who attends St. Andrews Anglican Church here. “Moscow is the richest city in Russia and it is filled with the homeless.”
Julia Melnikova (left) and Victoria (Vika) Lvovskaya (with Vika’s son Jakob), leaders of a church-based homeless ministry in Moscow. Photo by Jerry Van Marter A sermon preached several years ago by Pastor Simon Stephens, a Briton who has been at St. Andrews for eight years, spurred Vika and her friend Julia Melnikova to action.
“Father Simon told us when he first came that we cannot as Christians just walk by the poor, so it got me thinking,” says Julia, a theology student who serves on St. Andrews’ parish council.
In 2004 Julia joined a local chapter of the Society of Sant’Egidio — a network of Roman Catholic Church-affiliated humanitarian groups — and began spending her Tuesday evenings delivering sandwiches and hot drinks to Moscow’s homeless who gather in the entries of the subway and train stations. Vika joined the chapter in 2005.
“We take food to the homeless, yes,” says Julia, “but we also make relationships with them. We want to do more.”
The Sant’Egidio group’s efforts are expanding. They now provide a visitation ministry to a 200-resident retirement home, conduct ecumenical activities for young people and this year threw a Christmas party for street people in a restaurant near Moscow’s central train station that included Santa delivering gifts, a hot meal, games and conversation.
Julia and Vika’s group is now partnering with other organizations. Doctors Without Borders started a health clinic 10 years ago that has now been turned over to the city government. The Salvation Army has opened a day center for street kids. And the city’s Social Services Department has gathered and published resource information for the city’s homeless population.
“There is no real strategy, but some efforts are being made,” says Vika. “But it’s not enough.”
And so the hardy band of Sant’Egidio will continue to take to Moscow’s streets with food and Christ’s love. “As long as the Gospel tells us not to turn our backs on the poor,” says Julia, “we’ll be out there.”
Information about and correspondence from Don Marsden and other PC(USA) mission workers around the world is available at the Mission Connections Web site.
Presbyterian News Service Coordinator Jerry Van Marter is sharing personal reflections of his 12-day assignment in Russia on a blog called “From Russia With Love.” |
