For 10 days George and I stepped into an amazing river of ministry to abused, abandoned and orphaned children.  The river began as a spring some 15 years ago when Bruce, Anne, Sarah, Roma, Natasha and a few others responded to God’s call on their lives.  Those initial responses were at first to one child at a time.  The spring became a steady stream, widening out to a handful of children.  And then a small group.  And then a gradual birth of a partnership with the government as the government turned from denial to response.

Children’s Rescue Center was born.  Now a staff of five is managing 60 case files, doing home visits and interventions, ministering to girls and mothers of young children in prison, and forming soccer leagues and boys and girls clubs.

This river already has many deltas.  The Father’s House orphanage was launched and has become a model for 28 other orphanages.  A vision for Ukraine Without Orphans has spread into a World Without Orphans.

Former mafia members, convicts and drug abusers are launching Toichna Nachnyom, a place to start over at the True Beginning for drug addicts, homeless, disabled, and those with nowhere else to go.  Those who have come broken are being baptized, and are finding not just shelter, but community, working with their own hands, and offering something to share with others.

These have launched a camp for children with tremendous needs and no options or resources, by a literal river of breathtaking beauty and serenity.

A new ministry is branching out to prison inmates who are mothers to young children, and to their children.

There remains much parched land for this river to quench.  We celebrate the five dedicated workers of the Children’s Rescue Center, handling 60 case files.  But this is in one city of 3 million or more people.  The number of those who still need rescue is vast.

When George and I said yes to Bruce’s invitation (which was really God’s instruction) we did not know what to expect.  While the call was clear, the purpose, before we left, was not.  The revelation of that purpose is still gradually unfolding.  Part of the purpose is how we might be involved to assist the furtherance of these wonderful ministries, including beyond children to their parents.

The work so far has been one of rescue, of caring for children in crisis, sometimes removing them from that crisis.  This is the necessary and right response.  This is the urgent need of the moment.

But what if future crises could be averted in the first place?  What if there were fewer homes afflicted with abuse and brokenness?

Where else might this river flow?  Marriage ministry and women’s ministry are two possibilities.

God’s plan is for children to be raised by their mothers and fathers, in safe, healthy, intact homes.  How can we encourage marriages not just to survive but to thrive, and be the place of nurture, safety and security that children need?

Of course the ideal home structure does not always exist for a wide variety of reasons.  Could single parents, who are usually mothers, find support in extended family and church community?  How can we as community affirm God’s assurance to these precious ones of their value and purpose, over the lies too often believed that they are valueless?  How can we support and encourage single parents to make healthy choices over unhealthy ones?

We are in awe of how much God has done and is doing.  The size of the task that remains would be daunting were it not for trust in the same God who has done so much already that He will continue to multiply, expand and empower.  Seeing how faithful God has been so far builds our faith for what He will do in the future.  We hear the Savior say the fields are white with ripeness, ready for harvest, ready for workers.  And we pray for the Lord of the harvest to send out harvesters.

This river began as a spring when just a few said “yes” to God’s call, not really knowing what to expect or where it would lead.  It will continue to flood and break its banks as many more of us, one by one, say “yes, Lord, send me.”