The Ark - Ukraine
Two years ago an American missionary to Ukraine visited LUMC and shared about her ministry to street children in Kiev. Our hearts were touched by the great need there and God's transforming work through that ministry’s child protection center, The Ark. Because of Ukraine's depressed economy and a high rate of alcoholism among adults, thousands of children leave unstable homes to take their chances on the streets of Kiev. Some, as young as four and five years old, are abandoned by their parents at hospitals and train stations. More than 50,000 are homeless, often taking shelter in tunnels under the streets of the city, barely existing through begging and handouts, and finding escape from harsh reality through sniffing glue.
Begun as a soup kitchen in 1999, The Ark has grown into a home for dozens of children, offering stability and security, shelter, food, education and spiritual training, and lots and lots of love. Children living at The Ark receive treatment for drug and glue addictions, the chance to attend school, and the opportunity to learn a trade. The Ark has a family-like structure, encouraging the children to reach their full potential as Godly, loving, responsible and skilled members of Ukrainian society.
If you'd like to know more about The Ark, please visit www.kievstreetkids.org. (Donations to The Ark can be made through the church offering with “The Ark” on the memo line of your check.) 
