The Ark : Representing Jesus in Russia

We first came to learn of the plight of children, orphans and street kids in Russia through visiting speakers Richard and Sara Michalski from Seattle, USA. For sixty years the Russian people have lived under a harsh Communist regime that has denied the existence of a loving God who deeply cares for them. The Michalskis have been visiting Russia for many years and shared with us their first hand knowledge of the situation in Siberia.

Accompanying the Michalskis to the city of Perm, Siberia in January 2001, Bruce and Sharon Oliver led a team from the Ark Community Church who were able to see for themselves the poverty and addictions of the Russian people. With temperatures down to minus 40 degrees C in winter, conditions are extremely harsh and survival is a challenge for children left damaged by alcohol, drugs, abuse, divorce and the premature death of family members. Against this dark backdrop, the Ark has begun to support various projects with the New Testament Church of God in Perm under the leadership of Senior Pastor, Eduardo Grabavenko.

This former Communist youth centre, purchased in 2001, is situated outside the city of Perm, in a delightful position on the bank of the River Silver.

From July to September youngsters from orphanages, street kids and children from needy families come to camp Silver for 10 day holidays. They enjoy a time of fun, sports, individual and group activities. Around 400 youngsters have visited the camp every year for the last 3 years.

The centre comprises a number of wooden chalets built in private woodland up from the river and a large two storey communal centre for eating and group activities.

There is plenty of space in the camp for relaxing, playing volley ball, football and other sports and there is a daily programme of activities including singing, drama, music, craft and games run by local and international visitors and staff.

Many of the youngsters who attend Camp Silver would not normally have a holiday at all or may never have travelled away from their orphanage. They make lasting friendships at these camps and return home with many happy memories.

The camp is sponsored by individuals, families and churches who have a heart to help children in this part of Russia. Additional funds are desperately needed to help children have a holiday away from their home in an orphanage. Much practical work is needed at Camp Silver to bring the facilities up to the required Health and Safety standards. In particular, the unhygienic kitchen needs new stainless steel sinks and plumbing, as well as shelving and storage.

Fresh water is available, but it needs to be pumped in from a new well near to the centre. The existing water facilities are ancient and do not meet health and hygiene standards. It is important this work is completed before the start of the next camp in July.

The Siberian city of Perm has been off limits for many years to visitors from the West. It is home to over 1 million Russians and during the Communist regime was well known for the rocket and missile factories situated throughout the city. Since perestroika, many of these have now been closed down and developed into supermarkets, shopping centres and commercial businesses. The city is growing fast with all of these developments and has changed dramatically since our first visit five years ago.

Beneath this glossy veneer there is another world of poverty and hardship. In the area surrounding the city, there are 50 orphanages and 70 prisons, all of which struggle to survive in very difficult circumstances. For all of these institutions there is limited funding and the winter climate is extremely harsh.

In the year 2000 New Manna Ministries opened a centre in Perm to provide a place of hope and shelter for the hundreds of children who live on the streets. This provides food, warmth and protection for these young people and is used as a resource and distribution centre to provide humanitarian aid to orphanages and prisons.

The centre runs a live-in programme for 14 older teenagers, many of whom have been subjected to physical and sexual abuse. They have been sponsored on the live-in programme by individuals and churches. The programme aims to provide a family atmosphere in a caring environment. These youngsters often need healing from the trauma of their past before they leave the centre and go back into the community.

Many hundreds of youngsters also visit the centre during the day for food and warmth. These are children who have been abandoned and live rough in railway and bus stations, alleys, markets, sewers and underground basements. They have been forced out on to the streets, perhaps through the death of their parents or because they have fled from violent abusive homes. They roam around the city, without a home, and fend for themselves in aggressive weather conditions.

Living in terrible squalor, they team up with others in small groups doing anything to keep alive. Their life expectancy is no more than 4 or 5 years, unless they are rescued.

The New Manna Centre is managed by Sasha, a former street boy himself, who goes out nightly to visit these children in their squats, offering loving care, food and clothing. The children are invited back to the centre during the day to clean up in the banya (Steam room) and to get a hot meal.

The centre costs around £1000 per month to stay open and this finance is provided by the New Manna Christian charity of Canada, which regularly sends teams of workers to assist in the nightly visits. During the day these teams develop skills and training on site to make the centre more self sufficient. These activities include car maintenance, car washing, pasta making etc.

This project survives on a shoe string in the midst of an uncooperative state system and touches many young people’s lives.

This centre is based on a working farm about 50 kilometres outside of Perm city centre.

The rehab centre has been set up for former drug addicts and alcoholics to get totally free from their addictions. A positive, secure and structured environment is provided for 24 young men and women who live in separate dormitory accommodation. They learn to live with one another in a close knit community, working in teams on various projects around the farm.

The farm itself aims to be self sufficient financially and currently breeds cows, pigs and rabbits, as well as growing potatoes and hay. Capital items not covered by normal centre income have to be donated by individuals and charities. They have an immediate need for clean water, a new ring main and plumbing system, all of which are in poor condition.

Routine tasks and specific projects are distributed around the group of 24 by the team leaders who are themselves recovered addicts. Training is given in milking, animal breeding, crop cultivation, marketing, handiwork and woodwork, plus the maintenance and operation of farming vehicles and equipment.

Young men and women voluntarily sign up for a 10 months in-house programme at the Centre where every day they have a time of Bible teaching and discussion, aimed at training them in life skills. The programme has been running for 3 years and has always been fully subscribed. Many individuals are paid for by family, friends and local churches but for many addicts these funds are just not available. New sponsors are desperately needed for those who desire to go on the programme but do not have the resources.

The disciplined environment of the centre and the overall emphasis of valuing each individual has seen over 85% of the former addicts successfully restored into society without returning to drugs or alcohol.