Partners
MIR and Spring of Revival play important roles in the ministry of Stoneworks. MIR serves as an on-site resource in Russia for letters of invitation, registrations, and contacts for transportation and interpreting services. It provides occasional fellowship and counsel for Stoneworks workers. During the summer MIR serves as our representative for team administration.
Spring of Revival (SOR) provides on-site administrative support on location in Belarus. The unique circumstance with SOR is that Stoneworks is not able to have American workers in Belarus, so it is the staff of SOR who ably carry out the ministry.
MIR is a chartered Russian non-profit charity which sponsors annually several hundred people on short term trips. It helps in the transfer of funds for humanitarian aid and oversees on-going programs. Stoneworks provides general funds to MIR through a grant. Stoneworks also receives donations for several MIR programs.
SPRING OF REVIVAL (SOR) is a chartered Belarusian non-profit charity which actively ministers in four orphanages in the Minsk region. They have a paid staff of three as well as many volunteers who serve orphanages and summer camps.
The organizations below are part of a group ministering in the St.Petersburg area. While we do not have formal partnerships, we occasionally share information or work directly with each other on projects.
New Horizons for Children provides opportunities for older orphans from Eastern Europe to live in Christian host families for a month over Christmas or during the summer. Each child is previously interviewed, and each host family completes an application process. Each family decides, with the help of New Horizons staff, which child to host. Host families donate through fundraising or personal funds the costs to bring each child to the states. Families receive hosted children as their own during the stay. Communication is facilitated through interpreters and Russian chaperones who accompany the group. Families receive training and are screened for eligibility as hosts. New Horizons works with MIR in St Petersburg Russia and with a family attorney in Latvia for local in-country coordinating. While this program is a cultural exchange one, and not an adoption one, a number of adoption eligible children do get adopted by their host family. New Horizons itself is not an adoption agency, so it refers host families interested in adoptions to licensed and accredited agencies which handle adoptions in the home country of the child.
Big Family Mission
Big Family Mission is an outreach ministry to Russian orphans. It provides financial and prayer support to churches in Russia who reach out to love and to help orphans. Donations to Big Family Mission go directly to help provide the love of Christ through food, clothing, and the many “little things” that are in such short supply in Russian orphanages. Big Family celebrates the lives of Russian orphans through monthly birthday parties. Other activities for orphans that are sponsored by Big Family include summer camp, field trips, Christmas parties, Christmas gifts, and “fruit days”.
Come and Sew Ministries International reaches out, nurtures, and presents the good news of Jesus Christ to orphans, children, and adults through sewing programs. This is accomplished through creative and practical sewing projects and programs that provide opportunities to love and nurture children and adults. Simple devotionals introducing God’s character and explaining God’s pattern for their life accompany each project. Many will develop a lifelong relationship with Jesus Christ and gain a lifetime skill.
LifeLine Missions International, Inc. is a Christian missions organization dedicated to the facilitation of short-term mission ventures among people and children of the world with the specific intent “to visit the fatherless and widows in their distress”. LifeLine Missions mobilizes, trains, deploys and provides pastoral administration to short-term mission teams in the Youth Camps, Special Needs Children’s Homes, Orphanages and hospitals.
Strategic Angel Care brings short-term mission teams to minister to orphans and hurting children living in orphanages, shelters, children’s hospitals, and transition homes. Their ministry brings humanitarian aid and works to build lasting relationships while furthering the Kingdom of God among orphans. SAC partners with local churches and volunteers encouraging them to participate along side us to leave a legacy of relationships for follow-up. Upcoming mission trip opportunities are listed on their website.
Association of Christian Schools International sends teams for short term missions trips. We coordinate with them for team camp assignments and sharing of interpreters. Several Stoneworks workers gained their early experience on ACSI teams.
