For more in-depth notes from the conference talks, please click on the individual title links.
Networking for Children at Risk Dr. Ron Braund, CoMission for Children at Risk
In his presentation, Dr. Braund addressed the history of the CoMission for Children at Risk, as well as the Biblical impetus for serving children at risk. He also emphasized the importance of networking, and the positive results that can take place when Christians partner together. He used the metaphor of a net, saying that each organization is like a single thread. With one thread, you can catch one fish. But when you link many threads together you get a net, which can catch multiple fish.
Dr. Susan Hillis enlightened conference attendees on the recent HIV/AIDS epidemic that has exploded in Russia. Many people are not aware that HIV/AIDS is growing faster in Russia than anywhere else in the world, and constitutes a medical emergency requiring immediate and widespread attention. The Russian government has determined that teenage orphans are one of the most at-risk groups for HIV/AIDS due to injetion drug use and rampant sexual activity. Dr. Hillis provided practical ways that Christians could enter into the lives of at-risk youth and through doing so, help stop the AIDS crisis in Russia.
Ministry to Street Children Tatiana Valerevna Lobacheva, River of Life
Global Networking for Children at Risk Katharine Miles, Viva Network
Katharine Miles spoke of Viva Networks current project, where they will attempt to map Christian work with children at risk across the globe. She spoke of the mighty impact these statistics could have in proving to governments and the general population that Christians and churches are doing more for children at risk globally than any other group or organization.
Mentoring Children at Risk Irina Fedorovna Yakubova, OPORA
Strengthening Foster Families Tatiana Nikolaevna Zagumenova, UNESKO Club “Dostoinstvo Rebenka”
The Plight of Orphan Graduates Cristi Hillis, CoMission for Children at Risk
In her presentation, Cristi Hillis addressed the current state of affairs in Russia’s technical schools (PTUs). Upon their graduation from the orphanages, orphan children usually attend PTUs. The schools are ranked in three categories, the first category for the least intelligent students, the second for the average, and the final category for the most promising. In most of the schools, the student’s most basic needs for safety and shelter are met. Ms. Hillis urged the Christian community to step in and fulfill the student’s social, mental, and spiritual needs.
Goals for Orphan Work Mikhail Gorshkyov-Vladimir Department of Education
Mr. Gorshkyov discussed three goals for working with orphans: 1. Each child must live. 2. Each child should live with a family. 3. Each child should leave the family and join society as an adult.
Mentoring Children at Risk Scott Werntz, Spoken For International
In his presentation, Mr. Werntz discussed the importance of discipleship and mentoring. Children need attention and listening. They need to be known and loved. They need healthy relationships with role models who will guide them into adulthood. Such healthy relationships require lifetime commitments to these children.
In his presentation, Mr. Dmitriev discussed the purpose of drop-in centers. He argued that while orphans are taken care of in orphanages and technical schools, they are abandoned by the government upon their graduation from the PTUs. It is after orphans graduate from technical schools that they can come to drop-in centers and acquire additional social and technical skills. The drop-in centers and mentorship programs are designed to help orphans transition into mainstream society.
Growing in Christ: Charities and Orphans together Georgia Williams, Russian Orphan Opportunity Fund
Mrs. Williams discussed the importance of relationship, community, and faith in addressing the Russian orphan crisis. When children lack parents to teach them about a loving, miraculous God, it becomes the task of the church to reach out to those children and funnel the love of God to them. The relationship-based work that is involved in ministering to orphans cannot be evaluated on the basis of efficiency. It must be understood as a lifelong, holistic ministry in which God changes both the orphan and the worker over the course of years. As the orphans and the worker grow closer together, they are both brought into the historic body of Christ.
By working with Children’s HopeChest, Ekaterina Vadimovna has come to understand that none of the orphans she works with are lost. What she now knows is that family is the only answer to the orphan problem. In a family, a child broken by abandonment can form meaningful relationships with loving adults. Healing comes from these meaningful relationships. For this reason, Children’s HopeChest is committed to establishing more family centers where Christian house parents can care for orphans.
The Oswalts spoke of their work in Voronesh’s worst PTU. In this PTU gang activity is the norm, drug-use is rampant, and sexual predation is a constant threat. Perhaps the greatest danger is the massive boredom that constantly hovers over the orphans, reminding them of their painful years of abandonment, abuse, and neglect. The Oswalts’ message for those hoping to help is to remember that the orphans are not what they do. Often times, their actions are fueled by their pain. The only response to this pain is the full salvation of mind, body, and soul offered by Christ.
Independent Living and Technical Schools Yulia Stanislavovna Frolova, Children’s Hope Chest Vladimir
