Mercy Projects

MERCY PROJECTS IS A CHRISTIAN 501C3 ORGANIZATION WITH A "CHRIST-CENTERED, FAMILY-FOCUSED" VISION OF ASSISTING VULNERABLE CHILDREN, THE POOR AND THE WIDOW. WE ASSIST VULNERABLE CHILDREN AND DESIRE TO BUILD STRONG FAMILIES PRIMARILY IN UKRAINE WITH OTHER MINISTRY PROGRAMS IN KOSOVO, ARMENIA, AND RUSSIA.

2021 MINISTRY ACCOMPLISHMENTS: LOCATIONS: KOSOVO, 16 NEEDY FAMILIES SUPPORTED WITH MONTHLY GROCERIES AND/OR MEDICAL HELP. WE ALSO SUPPORT CHURCH PLANTING EFFORTS IN MALISHEVE, KOSOVO. ARMENIA, FARMING PROJECT IN STEPANAVAN, ARMENIA PROVIDING JOBS AND TEACHING FARMING. UKRAINE, 725 VULNERABLE CHILDREN FROM 271 FAMILIES / 21 STUDENTS RECEIVE SCHOLARSHIPS. RUSSIA, SUPPORT FOR 4 NATIONAL PASTORS / CHAPLAINSWE LOOK FOR CUSTOMIZED SOLUTIONS FOR THE SINGLE MOTHERS AND LARGE FAMILIES IN OUR SPONSORSHIP PROGRAM IN BOTH UKRAINE AND KOSOVO. SOME NEED GROCERIES, OTHERS NEED EDUCATION ASSISTANCE, OTHERS MEDICAL HELP, ETC. IN UKRAINE OUR OFFICE STAFF MANAGE THE MINISTRY EFFORTS FROM KYIV, THE CAPITAL OF UKRAINE. IN ADDITION, THERE ARE 16 CHRISTIAN COORDINATORS OR CASE WORKERS WHO LIVE AROUND THE COUNTRY AND MINISTER TO THEIR CASELOAD OF FAMILIES. WE ALSO FINANCIALLY SUPPORT CHRISTIAN FOSTER FAMILIES IN UKRAINE. THIS HELPS KEEP CHILDREN OUT OF AN ORPHANAGE AND IN A FAMILY. OUR SUMMER AND WINTER CAMP MINISTRY FOCUSES ON DISCIPLESHIP, STRENGTHENING YOUNG PEOPLE IN THEIR CHRISTIAN LIVES. OVERVIEW: 261 FAMILIES RECEIVING SPONSORSHIP SERVICES - UKRAINE, 10 FOSTER FAMILIES RECEIVING SPONSORSHIP SUPPORT - UKRAINE, 21 CHRISTIAN STUDENTS RECEIVE SCHOLARSHIPS - UKRAINE, 7 MINISTRY WORKERS (MISSIONARIES, PASTORS & CHAPLAINS) IN UKRAINE, RUSSIA, KOSOVO, 5 OFFICE STAFF IN KYIV, 16 CASE WORKERS (CHILDCARE COORDINATORS), 1 EDUCATION CENTER IN IVANKIV, 1 EDUCATION CENTER IN KONOTOP FOR 55 SPECIAL NEEDS CHILDREN. WE COUNT FAMILY SPONSORSHIPS AS OUR PRIMARY MEASUREMENT OF MINISTRY IMPACT. THE VARIOUS TYPES OF FAMILIES RECEIVING HELP INCLUDE: SINGLE PARENT FAMILIES, GRANDPARENTS RAISING CHILDREN, EXTENDED FAMILY MEMBERS RAISING CHILDREN, PARENTS WHO ADOPT CHILDREN, FOSTER PARENTS WHO RECEIVE OFFICIAL GOVERNMENT SUPPORT, FOSTER PARENTS WHO DO NOT RECEIVE GOVERNMENT SUPPORT, AND FAMILIES IN FINANCIAL NEED. 750 MINOR CHILDREN / FAMILY MEMBERS BENEFIT FROM FAMILY SPONSORSHIPS. CHRISTIAN CAMPS: DUE TO COVID-19, NO CHRISTIAN CAMPS TOOK PLACE. INSTEAD, WE FOCUSED ON COMPUTER BASED OUTREACH THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA, ZOOM CALLS, GAMES, EMAIL, AND PHONE CALLS. HEARTS OF LOVE CENTER: THE YEAR OF 2021 WAS DIFFICULT DUE TO COVID-19, HOWEVER THE CENTER REMAINED OPEN TO SERVE HANDICAPPED CHILDREN. THIS WAS ACTUALLY A GREAT VICTORY FOR THE CHILDREN IN KONOTOP, SUMY OBLAST, UKRAINE. SPONSORSHIP BENEFITS INCLUDE: MEDICAL ASSISTANCE, CHRISTMAS PRESENTS; LETTER EXCHANGE WITH SPONSORS; ENGLISH CLASSES, COMPUTER TRAINING, SUMMER AND WINTER CAMPS, AND SUPPORT SERVICES FROM OUR LOCAL CHILDCARE CASEWORKERS. 21 STUDENT SCHOLARSHIPS. IN UKRAINE, AN EXTENSION OF DEVELOPING STRONG CHRISTIAN DISCIPLES IS OUR STUDENT SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM. YOUNG PEOPLE SHOWING CHRISTIAN CHARACTER, GOOD GRADES, AND WHO AGREE TO MONITORING AND COUNSEL FROM OUR STUDENT PROGRAM DIRECTOR, ARE ELIGIBLE FOR A STUDENT SCHOLARSHIP OF $250-$500 PER SEMESTER DEPENDING ON THEIR LEVEL OF HIGHER EDUCATION. KOSOVO - 16 FAMILIES IN THE KOSOVO FAMILY SPONSORSHIP PROGRAM. FAMILIES IN KOSOVO ARE PRIMARILY WIDOWS OR THOSE WITH SPECIAL NEEDS SUCH AS MENTAL ILLNESS, BLINDNESS, OR EMOTIONAL TRAUMA. THE KOSOVO PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE BASIC FOOD NECESSITIES FOR THESE VERY POOR CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES. FAMILIES ARE ABLE TO REDEEM GROCERY VOUCHERS EACH MONTH FOR 50 EUROS ($65) AT A LOCAL GROCERY STORE PARTNER. (NO ALCOHOL OR TOBACCO). MINISTRY IN KOSOVO IS DONE THROUGH OUR LOCAL PARTNER PASTOR URIM, WHO IS ALSO PLANTING A LOCAL CHURCH IN THIS MUSLIM COMMUNITY. CHILDREN AND FAMILIES ARE ENCOURAGED TO TAKE PART IN CHURCH RELATED ACTIVITIES INCLUDING ENGLISH AND BIBLE CLASSES. ARMENIA: TWO POOR FAMILIES RECEIVED ANNUAL ASSISTANCE. ONE RECIPIENT IS A SINGLE MOTHER WITH FIVE CHILDREN FOR WHOM WE PAY HER RENT. ANOTHER IS SUPPORT FOR A YOUNG MAN WHO ATTENDS OUR SUMMER CAMPS. THE PRIMARY ARMENIA PROJECT IS A FARM IN STEPANAVAN, ARMENIA, IN THE NORTHERN REGION HIT HARDEST BY THE EARTHQUAKE IN 1986. THIS FARM WILL HAVE 42 DAIRY COWS AND LIVESTOCK, AND PROVIDE JOBS IN THE LOCAL COMMUNITY. RUSSIA - 4 PASTORS (CHAPLAINS. THE NATIONAL PASTORS (CHAPLAINS) RESIDE IN DIFFERENT AREAS OF RUSSIA. THESE MEN ALSO WORK PART TIME TO SUPPORT THEIR FAMILIES AND MINISTRIES. THEY ARE PART OF LOCAL RUSSIAN CHURCHES AND USE THEIR FINANCIAL SPONSORSHIP TO PAY FOR EXPENSES TO TRAVEL AND SHARE CHRIST'S LOVE IN ADULT PRISONS, IN YOUTH PRISONS, AND WITH AT-RISK YOUTH IN ORPHANAGES. THEY MOBILIZE LOCAL CHURCHES IN THOSE REGIONS TO ASSIST ORPHANS AND EX-PRISONERS. THEY WORK WITH CHURCHES THROUGHOUT SIBERIA, THE URALS, AND THE CAUCUSES TO START REHABILITATION HOMES AND DISCIPLESHIP MINISTRIES FOR RELEASED PRISONERS.