Twenty-Eight Years Opening Windows of Hope
Welcome to our website!
Ever wonder what has kept East-West on task all these years?
At the outset of 2021, East-West leadership tasked Ann and me to lead a team to produce an event at The Hope Center focused on the Heart & History of our organization. The event took place just before Thanksgiving, and I feel it answered the question in a truly God-glorifying way! Click the button below to see our favorite moments.
So, why are you hearing more from us now about refugees?
From a biblical perspective, a heart for the orphan and a heart for the refugee is essentially the same. The Bible rarely mentions the orphan without also mentioning the widow and refugee. That is why when the gift of cancer brought us back to the states (more about that in the article on this site called, Medical Malaise & Mission.), it made perfect sense for us to begin to engage in refugee outreach, both at home and abroad.
This video demonstrates what happens when God's people show up in response to his heart for the refugee. It is the story of two women from our church befriending a Sudanese woman, and what happened when they believed God for a miracle.
With all the new things God is doing, Russian orphan ministries continue to flourish!
Studies by social scientists point to connection being one of the greatest needs of children who grow up without parents. The abuse and abandonment most of them experience growing up in an institution leaves them with a great sense of detachment. This is a ministry committed to connections.
The primary focus of our Russian team is helping orphanage graduates navigate the troubled waters of life outside the orphanage. All our ministry initiatives are helping foster community, affirm the value of these young people within the community, and further connect them to the resources and advocacy they’ll need to establish themselves as contributing adults to Russian society.
You Are Not Alone Club
The activities of the 'You Are Not Alone' club, styled along the lines of a "Young Life" ministry, serve as a continual reminder to the kids that they are NOT alone in their journey. It is open to post-graduate orphans or those in their last year at the orphanage.
Help for Adoptive Families
The increase in adoptions by Russian families has raised awareness to a great need these families have wrestling with the unique struggles common to such adoptions of children "from hard places", as Karyn Purvis liked to call them.
The team has stepped into this void with programs that these families are finding a tremendous help.
Advocacy & Mentoring
Another ongoing facet of this ministry is taking aim at a more aggressive approach to the orphan graduates' transition and integration into society, taking the form of a more specialized and focused life-skills, and marketplace skills training program.
"In his name the nations will put their hope." Matthew 12:21
Thanks for 28 years of Fuqua's on your fridge and in your hearts and prayers!
It's now been over 28 years since I took my first trip to Russia with East-West, and what an incredible journey this has been! And, we are convinced the best is yet to come!
(I created this fridge graphic for our Christmas mailing in 2017, commemorating the 22nd year of our work with East-West.)
Many have asked what has been happening since we moved our base of operations back to Texas from Russia, and now with the complications caused by Russia’s war against Ukraine. Well, we praise God that under the leadership of the Russian national team, the work in Russia continues! Sadly, we’ve not been able to travel there since the war began, and the sanctions have made it very hard to maintain the same level of support. But, God remains faithful and continues what He began, raising up more support locally. The larger balance of our extra-budgetary funds go to support the growing responsibilities of my leadership role in our Eastern Europe region.
