Christmas is a time when people’s hearts are open to the Gospel! In our ministry to children, we try to use this time effectively, stocking up on gifts and literature about the birth of the Savior, and people are happy to talk and listen during Christmas Eve.
We plan to give five hundred gifts to children. For many, this is very important because they are deprived of love and care. Last year, we shared the Gospel and gave gifts to children in orphanages. The children are waiting for us, they dress up and prepare a performance for us, and together we celebrate the birth of Jesus.
We also perform a Christmas play with decorations, especially for children in oncology and hospices, where it is very hard for them. They may participate in the Christmas scene for the first and last time. Both children and medical workers receive gifts and Bibles. I remember that last year, when we talked about the meaning of Christmas, there were many children with whom I prayed for Jesus to be born in their hearts. I especially remember the story when a child’s mother, who was in the oncology department, came up to me and said that she had heard the true meaning of Christmas for the first time and wanted to pray too.
We are preparing, and we really need your help, both in prayer and financially. Thank you for always being with us!
We have been praying and reflecting for a long time about the construction of a house of prayer in the village. The Lord has already met us halfway, and we have land! We are praying for the formation of a team of workers. We need sacrificial, dedicated ministers! We are also praying for the expansion of the church. Three brothers were baptized in the summer of 2024, and two are preparing for baptism in January 2025. This is a great blessing for us! There are already two small groups in the village, and we are praying for the expansion of this ministry!
Christmas services are ahead. We plan to participate in several short-term missions across Siberia (ranging from three to seven days), with the goal of preaching the Gospel, conducting children’s programs, and distributing sweet gifts and calendars to small ethnic groups. The first trip will take place in mid-December, and we will bring 700 gifts. After the Christmas holidays, we will pray and start the third group in the village.
Over the past year, we had one wedding, and the newly formed family has stayed to live and serve in the village. At the end of the summer, they had a son. We continue to run a children’s and youth club.
We thank you, dear ones, for your help and prayers in supporting the mercy house ministry. Over the past year and a half, we were able to make cosmetic repairs to the shelter building: we replaced the electrical system, installed fire alarms, painted the walls, put up a suspended ceiling, solved the water supply issue, reorganized the kitchen, and made a separate dining room.
Thank you, dear ones, for your help and prayers for us.
Every day I hear words of gratitude from the parents of the children you help, and I see the eyes of children when they are in great pain, but we are there with them.
Currently, we have a special prayer for Karina and Dinara, two girls who are preparing for bone marrow transplants. The issue is that their tests are unstable, and their condition changes suddenly. In order for them to undergo chemotherapy and survive the flight to St. Petersburg, they need stable and good test results. For that, they need treatment, care, and the inner strength that God can provide through us and you.
We are also taking care of children from the hospice, where a new boy, Kirill, has been admitted. He is a full orphan and will not be able to live independently; he needs care and attention. I don’t know how effective we are for such children, but I know for sure that we cannot pass by. If God sends us such children, we must show them His love and care as a Father.
There is also good news: the girl, Nastya, from the hospice was transferred to a special boarding school. Her life is now safe, and we played a part in that, as we worked with her for a long time. Thank you, friends, for your prayers and financial support. We really need you.
Today I want to introduce you to Andrey Afanasyev, who is 57 years old. Our first meeting with him took place just over a year ago. One day, a woman called and told us about her neighbors. The husband had suffered a stroke and was unable to care for himself, while his wife was constantly looking for alcohol, not working anywhere, and would disappear for several days at a time. Andrey, the neighbor, was almost always alone. His house was in disrepair. There was no firewood, and there was nothing to heat the place with. The house was full of filth. He was constantly hungry, cold, and alone.
We offered to take Andrey to the shelter, and he cried, asking not to be left to die alone. We joyfully took him to the House of Mercy, where he was accepted and surrounded with care and love. And so, for a year now, Andrey has been constantly hearing about the love of Jesus Christ, demonstrating the image of a loving God. Now, Andrey remembers his past life, the time when he was on the brink of starving to death, as a terrible nightmare. Today, he is well-fed, clothed, and regularly receives medical care, emotional, and spiritual support. He is cared for in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
We believe that the Lord guides us, and we understand that there is still much work to be done. We must stand in the gap for the souls of the people entrusted to us by Jesus.
We ask for your prayerful support for this ministry:
1. We pray for the people living in the shelter, that each may reconcile with Christ.
2. Pray for the team of servants at Bethesda.
3. We pray for the completion of the repair and construction work and the improvement of the premises.
This month, we visited three orphanages and organized three gatherings for orphanage graduates at neutral locations in the city. We are mentoring over thirty children who have graduated and remain connected with us. We assist them in studying, earning money, and managing their finances while providing guidance and mentorship.
A few years ago, we saw children dropping out of school, turning to theft, using drugs, having children at 15, or ending up in prison. Today, these same children pray and have a chance for a happy and meaningful life.
Our ministry in oncology wards and hospices remains challenging and energy-intensive. This week, I brought a young woman to the hospice for the first time, and she became unwell while there. On the way home, she had countless questions, such as, “Why do these children get sick?” I told her that I don’t have the answers to such questions, but I know that they all need God and our help, and we will continue to provide it.
A new girl, Nastya, who is six years old, has joined us. She responds to touch, tries to speak, and sings songs with us. Her mother left her in the hospice as she is unable to support her, and we are committed to helping her.
Thank you so much for your support and assistance. We need your prayers and involvement. May the Lord bless us all.
Hope… Isn’t it what revives us? Especially during cold and long winter evenings, it gives us strength to keep going. When parents come to visit their children, we invite them to play together in the snow—a time when they share many warm and happy moments.
The celebration begins with the first sounds of bells as decorations are hung, handmade paper garlands appear, and songs and skits for the holiday are rehearsed. The entire “Children’s Ark” prepares for this important event. Staff create programs, prepare decorations, costumes, and crafts. We also invite parents to help, as it strengthens their bond with their children and teaches them how to create joy together.
As Christmas approaches, we seek opportunities and reach out to various organizations and individuals to collect gifts for the children. It is heartwarming to see how many respond and are willing to contribute and participate! This is vital support for us and an essential part of the holiday for the children.
On Christmas Eve, the shelter’s doors open wide, and parents enter the hall. It’s celebration time, and hugs and laughter fill the air. Together, we sing Christmas carols, share memories, and talk about the most important thing—Jesus was born and came into this world to be with us and to bring salvation.
On this evening, every child feels the warmth of family comfort and the solace that comes to the heart through hope. Parents experience a unique closeness and warmth with their children. During the celebration, they realize that their presence and involvement in their children’s lives are what matter most.
