In October, 2003, HZUMC sent a team to Russia to study the possibility of sponsoring an orphanage, for the purpose of assisting with material, financial and emotional support for the children, and to help spread the gospel of Jesus Christ to that part of the world. The survey was conducted in partnership with Children's Hope Chest, who is active in the Vladimir, Ivanovo and Kostroma regions of Russia.

The team returned home from Russia totally united, with no doubts, that of the five orphanages they visited, Komsomolsk is the orphanage God has for HZUMC. As team member Ken Wilson put it, "The children of Komsomolsk captured our hearts, their needs broke our hearts, and the staff members touched our hearts like nowhere else."

HZUMC's Russia Assessment Team: Dale Conrad Bill Fleck Lynne Jennings Nancy Staible Dave Thomas Ken Wilson Komsolmosk location: Ivanovo region (northeast of Moscow)

NAME: Ivanovo Region CAPITAL: Ivanovo POPULATION: 1,205,000 (2001) AREA: 9,230 sq. miles

In December, 2003, the Russia Assessment Team was excited to report that the Administrative Board has unanimously approved the recommendation that HZUMC enter into a long-term sponsorship relationship with Komsomolsk Orphanage.

We will be partnering with Children's HopeChest to minister to the needs of the children and staff at Komsomolsk. In addition, through a wonderful orchestration of events by God (which was totally beyond our ability to make happen), the local Russian government desires to forge a partnering relationship with HZUMC in meeting the needs of Komsomolsk. Ministry has already begun to these Russian government officials (who are members of the Communist party) and with the Director, staff and children at Komsomolsk.

Komsomolsk Orphanage: Located in the region of Ivanovo, Russia Home to 121 children, from ages 7 to 18 Mentally challenged children since 1988 79 staff members, including 21 teachers and 29 caregivers Poorest orphanage in a very poor region Staff and children have not yet heard the gospel Founded in 1959 and located on 21/2 acres Only one shower to facilitate weekly showers A very poor and unsafe electrical system A leaky roof A heating system that fails during cold winters

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What Is Orphanage Sponsorship?

Orphanage sponsorship provides an opportunity to expand our local church's outreach for God's kingdom and His children. The following diagram illustrates the three-fold relationship of Orphanage sponsorship:

Each entity in the relationship is vitally important to the other two: The orphanages provide a focus of ministry for both Children's HopeChest and the local church The local church provides a more focused and intimate program of care than HopeChest could otherwise provide. This is obviously a great benefit to the orphans served. Children's HopeChest offers needed expertise and resources to benefit the orphans and access to the orphanage for the local church through a favored relationship with the Ministries of Education and Social Services in Russia.

How You Can Get Involved:

• Sponsor a Komsomolsk child (for $30 per month). HZUMC has received individual packets with information about each child and a photo. We are still seeking sponsors for about 30 children. Sponsors will be able to correspond with their sponsored child regularly. (For those who currently sponsor a child through Compassion International, please do not abandon your commitment to your Compassion child.)
• Go to Russia on a short-term mission trip. We will send teams to Russia approximately once a year. Some teams will have a work-team focus, others will have a relational focus of evangelism and discipleship, and others may have a mixture of both focuses.
• Pray for the caring staff and needy children. Pray for their physical needs, pray for their salvation, pray for God to raise them up and use them in their land and in their generation.
• Give to help pay for the physical needs at Komsomolsk. For example, you could help fund a reliable heating system, a new roof, a safe electrical system or new showers.
• Network with other people, churches or companies to find unique ways to minister to Komsomolsk or to have other churches sponsor orphanages.
• Talk with the Russia Assessment Team (led by Dave Thomas) or the Missions team (led by Heidi Jeffries and Connie Hughes) about these or other creative ideas for how you can minister to the children of Komsomolsk.

As we were leaving Komsomolsk on that amazing Tuesday afternoon in Russia, our interpreter provided for us a clever way to remember the name of the orphanage we had just visited and that had so captured our hearts. Komsomolsk sounds like "come some more."