Twenty-Five Years of Opening Windows of Hope
What’s New?
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"In his name the nations will put their hope." Matthew 12:21
Thanks for 22 years of Fuqua's on your fridge and in your hearts and prayers!
It's now been over 26 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. If you're tired of opening this page and seeing it, I can only apologize. You may have to wait until our 25th year before I have it in me to create something to replace it. In the meantime, check it out again and marvel with me at what God has done!)
Many have asked us what is happening now that we've relocated back to Texas. Well, under the leadership of the Russian national team, the work in Russia is flourishing! And, though we're still involved raising support, administering the work there, and mentoring the team leadership, I’m as excited as ever about my increasing role with East-West pusing back darkness in our world as we operate from our home base in Texas.
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 articcle 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. Stateside we are engaging with refugees whenever possible through The North Hill outreach of our church, The Village Church Fort Worth, and through World Relief, who are resettling refugees in an apartment complex a half-mile from our home.
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.
I'm leaving this video on my page for a while to promote worship. Not of the video, but of the God whose heart it reflects. I’ve never had one of my videos go viral before, but one of the outcomes of a video being seen by literally millions is the thousands of responses by viewers as they comment, tweet, or repost. I haven’t had time to read the thousands of comments, but of the hundreds I’ve read, the typical responses were focused on viewers’ experience glimpsing the heart of God for the refugee, resulting in worship. As you watch this, perhaps some of you for the first time, I hope and pray you’ll be drawn into worship of our good, Good Father.
And, the orphan ministries in Voronezh, Russia, also continue.
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.
Though the team is involved in a broad range of orphan ministry, our primary focus in Russia is on helping orphanage graduates navigate the troubled waters of life outside the orphanage. Through programs like the “You Are Not Alone Club” and the Advocacy & Mentoring programs, we are helping connect these young people to people in the community who affirm their value to society, and will 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 large group 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.
The Club, having begun in 2004, and now after 15 years of ministry, continues to provide a safe place for kids to come and hang out for fellowship, tutoring or just to have a healthier, Christian environment than their alternative living situations provide. There are also organized, planned meetings involving music, games, discussions, meals, and cultural or recreational outings throughout the week.
To see the most current photos from ongoing "You Are Not Alone Club" activities, go to this special Russian Social Media page, http://vk.com/yournotalone - and click through the photo albums & videos posted there to see the club in action. Enjoy!
School for Adoptive Russian Parents
Gennadiy and the ministry team have been hosting this program for Russian parents who are fostering or adopting from the Russian orphanage system, now in its fifth year. The increase in adoptions by Russian families is one of the reasons the need for our residential transition ministry of Hope House has diminished. And, with the phasing out of the residential ministry, we are now able to redirect support toward this strategic effort. One of the ways we are contributing to this vital ministry is through a summer camp for these families every year. The family camp is a time for parents to encourage one another, realizing they are not unique or alone in the struggles common to such adoptions of children "from hard places", as Karyn Purvis liked to call them.
Mentoring, Jobs Development, and Advocacy programs
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. One of the most valuable forms this program takes is through seeking Russian mentors to walk alongside the orphanage graduates, teaching various skills, but perhaps more importantly modeling a responsible approach to living independently, while at the same time acknowleging how desperately we all still need the support of one another in the context of community.
In addition to the video business, we also use a wood-working shop and a ceramics studio which have proved valuable in this effort.
This ministry is currently seeking support, national partners, and advocates intent on assisting these young adults in their battles with a system that often further victimizes them by denying them rights to employment and property.
You can help open...
Windows of Hope for Russian Orphans & the Nations
...by praying.
Prayer is so very vital to this ministry. We are in a battle everyday and we so desperately need prayer warriors at our side continually. Please answer the call to fight alongside us. Committed to faithful stewardship, and a member of Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability
...by giving.
There are always opportunities to invest in the financial resource needs of this ministry. Since stepping out by faith in 1996, God has shown his faithfulness. And, since the inception of this initiative in 2004, He has faithfully provided through people who have simply learned of the need, mostly through this website, and responded sacrificially to the cry of the heart of God for His children.
Almost all of the funding of this work comes from the Ministry Account of Robert & Ann Fuqua. A number of individuals, as well as a few businesses and churches, who have faithfully and sacrificially given to this account is what enables the Fuquas to continue to faithfully show up in these kids' lives, serving as a reminder that they have a faithful Heavenly Father whose love for them will never fail them. These funds also continue to fuel the work of the ministry team, taking "Days of Joy" to the orphanages, hosting camps for orphans throughout the year, the You Are Not Alone Club, and the Advocacy efforts. Thank you for your prayers and your gifts that keep this ministry going.
More information about designating gifts for this ministry can be found on the page entitled, "Ministry Financial Update".
As you can see by our Financial Update, we are in need of adding ministry partners. You may know people in your circle of friends who would love to learn of the opportunity to partner in what God is doing through this ministry. If so, follow the "Contact Us" link to begin a conversation about getting together or hosting an informational event in your home, social circle, or Sunday School class.
