SW News:

A long-ignored vulnerable group in war-torn Ukraine that desperately needs help is being looked after by an American Christian organization. The Slavic Gospel Association and its partners are lending a helping hand to children living in precarious conditions. 

The association is focusing on the so-called social orphans whose single mothers are forced to work leaving the children at home unattended. In other families, kids have to fend for themselves because of neglect from parents who are addicted to drugs or alcohol. 

According to Eric Mock, senior vice president of SGA’s ministry of operations, his organization first came across these children while rendering service during the COVID pandemic. Later, they continued providing assistance when war broke out in Ukraine. Church volunteers alerted SGA about these children while going from house to house to distribute aid. 

He said they have witnessed the deplorable conditions of these children who number anywhere between 30,000 and 50,000. “As [ministry workers] enter these homes, they find these kids in terrible shape, and they start ministering to them,” he said. Mock said the focus is on reaching out to their parents and transforming their lives rather than sending the kids to orphanages. 

They work with church groups who reach out to such families and consider them a single complete unit. In certain cases, the group helps churches repair the homes or deliver essential items, including hygiene kits with diapers. 

The association was formed in 1934 with the sole intention of distributing Bibles and Christian literature in the Soviet Union during communist rule. But with the fall of communism in the 90s, the group morphed into an international ministry reaching out to several nations apart from Russia. Apart from spreading the Gospel, SGA provides material assistance to vulnerable communities.