Services
| power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord. ~ Luke 1:17prepared for the Lord. ~ Luke 1:17 |
Semichkov Bridge Fund Project Emergency Fund
The Semichkov family has gradually taken in 12 orphaned, neglected or
abandoned children in difficult situations and successfully fought local
authorities for guardianship. In the photo they are all packed on one divan
we received from NIICCA for them. We are impressed with the way the
children recite Psalms in unison. The family lives in the forest across a
creek from a mountain road. In the winter the creek sometimes becomes a
raging river that simply cannot be forded, and the family is isolated for days.
Praise God even though we felt obliged to use the Bridge fund for repairs of
their old car and privatization of their land the creek stayed within
reasonable bounds in the winter of 2007-8. God is good
The Semichkov family has gradually taken in 12 orphaned, neglected or
abandoned children in difficult situations and successfully fought local
authorities for guardianship. In the photo they are all packed on one divan
we received from NIICCA for them. We are impressed with the way the
children recite Psalms in unison. The family lives in the forest across a
creek from a mountain road. In the winter the creek sometimes becomes a
raging river that simply cannot be forded, and the family is isolated for days.
Praise God even though we felt obliged to use the Bridge fund for repairs of
their old car and privatization of their land the creek stayed within
reasonable bounds in the winter of 2007-8. God is good
Semichkov Barn Fund Project
The Semichkov Christian foster family tries to feed the kids with
animal husbandry. Cows, pigs, goats, chickens, and bees share the
farm with this hard working country family and children. But there is no
real barn. The topless ruin below occupies a possible site for it. Lets
help the Semichkov family make a warm place for the animals. If you
agree please donate and specify the Semichkov Barn Fund.
The Semichkov Christian foster family tries to feed the kids with
animal husbandry. Cows, pigs, goats, chickens, and bees share the
farm with this hard working country family and children. But there is no
real barn. The topless ruin below occupies a possible site for it. Lets
help the Semichkov family make a warm place for the animals. If you
agree please donate and specify the Semichkov Barn Fund.
| Current Projects |
| Thieves from the nearby village keep reducing the number of free ranging chickens. |
River of Joy Construction Project
Creating and preparing more fine Christian families like the Semichkov family to take on
children from difficult circumstances, to give these families a chance to get to know the
children in an ideal setting and to give them a future and a hope, is what the River of Joy
project mission is about. It is also becoming a wonderful campground, a good place for
family and village restoration conferences and convocations. The project started with two
small farms and a field we purchased 3 years ago. The first all new house is under
construction now but the money for it needs to come in before it can be finished.
Creating and preparing more fine Christian families like the Semichkov family to take on
children from difficult circumstances, to give these families a chance to get to know the
children in an ideal setting and to give them a future and a hope, is what the River of Joy
project mission is about. It is also becoming a wonderful campground, a good place for
family and village restoration conferences and convocations. The project started with two
small farms and a field we purchased 3 years ago. The first all new house is under
construction now but the money for it needs to come in before it can be finished.
River of Joy Campsite Maintenance Peter Konovalov was an alcoholic when
he came into Pasechnoe rehabilitation center two years ago. Now he is sober, born again
and starting in October, we put him in charge of guarding and maintaining the River of Joy
Project site. Some site building chores are also his. His responsibilities are shared by his
wife Tatiana and his mother Galina. At this writing he has set in new fence posts and has
trained a German Shepherd to help him guard the site. He is an energetic young man who
has got right down to work and for whom we have high hopes and expectations. As he
accomplishes more we pay him more. WiIl you help us make this work?
he came into Pasechnoe rehabilitation center two years ago. Now he is sober, born again
and starting in October, we put him in charge of guarding and maintaining the River of Joy
Project site. Some site building chores are also his. His responsibilities are shared by his
wife Tatiana and his mother Galina. At this writing he has set in new fence posts and has
trained a German Shepherd to help him guard the site. He is an energetic young man who
has got right down to work and for whom we have high hopes and expectations. As he
accomplishes more we pay him more. WiIl you help us make this work?
Crimean Orphan Foster Care Sponsorship
Looking at financial realities it is understandable that Crimean families are reluctant to take
on the additional responsibility of feeding and clothing another child. Not every family has the
land and the agricultural know-how of the Semichkov's. Though the average wage in Crimea
has risen to $300 a month that is still surely hard to live on. The price of fuel is high as
everywhere and groceries are not much lower than anywhere in the west. Christian families
would help orphans if they could, but they cannot get much if any help from the Ukrainian
government. If you or your group can sponsor a child for $100 a month, a Crimea Christian
family will take in, train, love and nurture a child until he/she is 17 years old. River of Joy will,
with God's help, put compatible children and families together. A River of Joy social monitor
will watch over that family. The family will attend River of Joy family conferences to learn child
rearing methods. You can make a BIG difference in a child's life.
Looking at financial realities it is understandable that Crimean families are reluctant to take
on the additional responsibility of feeding and clothing another child. Not every family has the
land and the agricultural know-how of the Semichkov's. Though the average wage in Crimea
has risen to $300 a month that is still surely hard to live on. The price of fuel is high as
everywhere and groceries are not much lower than anywhere in the west. Christian families
would help orphans if they could, but they cannot get much if any help from the Ukrainian
government. If you or your group can sponsor a child for $100 a month, a Crimea Christian
family will take in, train, love and nurture a child until he/she is 17 years old. River of Joy will,
with God's help, put compatible children and families together. A River of Joy social monitor
will watch over that family. The family will attend River of Joy family conferences to learn child
rearing methods. You can make a BIG difference in a child's life.
Family Care ~ Granny's Angel
Grandparents are the second best place for a child
after loving, sober and responsible parents. But most
Crimean grandparents live on a $150-$200 a month
pension. If they can get a little help to take in their
grandchildren, their abandoned or parent-less
grandchildren will not go into a state, "Schola Internat,"
(orphan boarding school), which more often than not is
a dead-end for the child. Recently we learned that, for
an institutionalized child, guardianship rights are taken
from their grandparents when they reach 60 years of
age. Your donation of $75 a month will help River of Joy
sponsored grandparents keep their grandchildren with
them and out of a failed system.
Grandparents are the second best place for a child
after loving, sober and responsible parents. But most
Crimean grandparents live on a $150-$200 a month
pension. If they can get a little help to take in their
grandchildren, their abandoned or parent-less
grandchildren will not go into a state, "Schola Internat,"
(orphan boarding school), which more often than not is
a dead-end for the child. Recently we learned that, for
an institutionalized child, guardianship rights are taken
from their grandparents when they reach 60 years of
age. Your donation of $75 a month will help River of Joy
sponsored grandparents keep their grandchildren with
them and out of a failed system.
After Care ~ Future Making
After a child has finished high school he/she goes on to higher education, right? Not if the child
is a Crimean orphan. 3-4% do get into college. Another 10% get sent to a trade school, typically
chosen for them by a social worker. It is often chosen on the basis of space available however,
rather than the youth's own talents & interests. Food, housing, and classes are paid by the
state, but clothing and all other expenses are not. Perhaps thats why 40% of such youth hit the
street before they finish trade school where the other 87% of their schola internat chums
already are. Within 5 years most of them disappear from the social radar altogether. One in five
commits or at least attempts suicide, and the majority get off into alcohol, narcotics and
prostitution. Take on a $100 a month sponsorship for a minimum of 2 years if the teen orphan
remains in school, keeps his/her grades to a B average and attends church regularly. 90% will
go to the scholar and 10 % to a Christian social worker watching over that teen in the program.
After a child has finished high school he/she goes on to higher education, right? Not if the child
is a Crimean orphan. 3-4% do get into college. Another 10% get sent to a trade school, typically
chosen for them by a social worker. It is often chosen on the basis of space available however,
rather than the youth's own talents & interests. Food, housing, and classes are paid by the
state, but clothing and all other expenses are not. Perhaps thats why 40% of such youth hit the
street before they finish trade school where the other 87% of their schola internat chums
already are. Within 5 years most of them disappear from the social radar altogether. One in five
commits or at least attempts suicide, and the majority get off into alcohol, narcotics and
prostitution. Take on a $100 a month sponsorship for a minimum of 2 years if the teen orphan
remains in school, keeps his/her grades to a B average and attends church regularly. 90% will
go to the scholar and 10 % to a Christian social worker watching over that teen in the program.
Village Evangelism [Funding for summer 2009]
Cultural transformation begins when the Lord invades a culture.
People who grew up during the Soviet Union period are hungry
for the truth, the good news of Jesus Christ and His redemptive
work on the cross. Villages grew up around state collective
farms. When the S.U. self-destructed so did the collective farms.
Village working men often left for the cities to find work. Others
hit the bottle or developed other dependencies. Whole families
were abandoned. Village life looks bleak in Crimea until God
changes things. Summer is a time of evangelism in Crimean
villages. A Norwegian mission helps us with a tent.
Missionaries from abroad and Ukraine give of their time. Every
village tent evangelism campaign has had wonderful results.
Children come during the day and get their parents to come
evenings. Many are born again and delivered. A church is
started. Village alcoholism takes a big dip and people who
come from neighboring villages invite us to come and transform
their village life also. A one time $150 donation feeds our
evangelistic team and buys outreach necessities for a day.
Cultural transformation begins when the Lord invades a culture.
People who grew up during the Soviet Union period are hungry
for the truth, the good news of Jesus Christ and His redemptive
work on the cross. Villages grew up around state collective
farms. When the S.U. self-destructed so did the collective farms.
Village working men often left for the cities to find work. Others
hit the bottle or developed other dependencies. Whole families
were abandoned. Village life looks bleak in Crimea until God
changes things. Summer is a time of evangelism in Crimean
villages. A Norwegian mission helps us with a tent.
Missionaries from abroad and Ukraine give of their time. Every
village tent evangelism campaign has had wonderful results.
Children come during the day and get their parents to come
evenings. Many are born again and delivered. A church is
started. Village alcoholism takes a big dip and people who
come from neighboring villages invite us to come and transform
their village life also. A one time $150 donation feeds our
evangelistic team and buys outreach necessities for a day.
Without God we can't. Without us he won't. ~ Paul Sharrow |
| ELIJAH PROJECT ~ "Turning the hearts of the fathers..." Now that a first rehabilitated group of alcoholic or drug addicted men have gotten jobs, married, moved on. (or slipped back into old habits), we are ready to take in another group. Many desperate men are asking. We have an experienced director who will do it full time. He is called to do it but he must be paid at least a minimum wage. To help with funding for that project; money for director's salary and supplies, just designate for Rehab Ctr. on the donate page link after clicking 'General Donation to River of Joy... $144 a month Men's Rehab Director's salary. $200 a month food and cleaning. $200 once, Medical fund. Please hold up this important project in prayer. Responsible sober fathers are key to healing whole families. |
Not sure which project is best? A "Blessing Donation" helps all! |
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