Background:
Mercy Ministries is located in Vladimir, Russia and provides practical help and communicates hope to orphans, children at risk, and needy families. We come alongside and assist Russian people in need. Please browse through our website, learn about our ministry, and see how you too can be involved in sharing God's mercy with others: www.mercyrussia.com
Areas of Ministry:
Baby Rescue: The Precious Life Baby Rescue ministry began in May 2004 with Ira N. and Olya T. This Mercy Ministries outreach to pregnant mothers and their unborn babies followed more than a year of prayer, preparation, and abortion research. Initially, a basic informational brochure was printed. Then, baby books and videos were purchased. A special gift of plastic baby models was received from an American sister in North Carolina. Our challenge is to inform women considering abortions about the option of choosing life. We then provide care to those who choose to birth their babies. Our desire is to encourage. We share out of love, not judgment.
Family Orphanage: After many years serving in orphanages and seeing different strategies and ways to help the children, Paul Lossau and Mercy Ministries developed a vision for a community of families for orphans to further our influence in children’s lives. Several of our staff members have adopted orphans in the last several years and helped us in our understanding of the Russian foster family process.
A group of American construction workers came to Vladimir in August 2005, and in two weeks built the exterior of our home. Since then we have had much interior work done, and still are facing obstacles with electrical work, sewage options, and purchase of the land. We hope to be able to purchase the surrounding land and build similar, smaller homes in the future, filled with former orphans.
We have chosen the house parents for the family orphanage, and will soon begin the process of finding the right children to give a new family. Our desire is for the family to be started in spring 2008. We not only want to give orphans new life in a family setting, but Christian love and teaching to give them a foundation to build their futures on.
The location of our family orphanage is in Lunova, a small village outside of Vladimir. The home lies at the edge of the village, in a field with lots of surrounding land. We hope this setting will give the family the opportunity to live in a more natural setting, where they can have a garden and other commodities of nature.
Needy Families: Mercy Ministries staff spends a lot of their time visiting people in their homes. This is a vital part of Mercy’s outreach, as we build relationships, provide help when needed, and talk and listen with those whom we visit.
Orphans: What is an orphan? An orphan is a child without any parental figures. Some orphans don’t have parents, while others’ parents have been deprived of their rights by the government, due to alcoholism or other factors. Mercy serves these orphans at two orphanages every week as well as at several others throughout the year.
Children at Risk: There are many children and teenagers in Russia who could be classified as “social orphans”, or “children at risk.” These children may live with their parents or relatives, but receive little positive instruction and guidance from them. Therefore, many children in Russia fall into destructive habits at an early age, such as smoking, drinking, sniffing glue, and eventually committing crimes. How can these children best be reached? Mercy Ministries is privileged to spend time each week at two different places: a children’s social rehab center, and a children’s delinquent center.
