Georgia Baptist Children's Homes trustees approve funds for international adoption, aid services to Russia

Georgia

Baptist Children's Homes trustees approve funds for international adoption,

aid services to Russia

The Board of

Trustees of Georgia Baptist Children's Homes and Family Ministries, Inc,

recently approved funding to begin international adoption services and

humanitarian aid efforts with Russia. This effort comes in the form of

a partnership with Buckner Adoption and Maternity Services in Dallas,

Texas, a division of Buckner Benevolence, a Baptist child care and family

services organization.

"Our concern

for children reaches beyond the borders of the United States," said

James Harper, vice president of the Children's Homes ministry. "Our

staff has been dreaming and planning for many years to involve our agency

in international adoption and humanitarian aid serving children all around

the world. Buckner has been involved for several years in this type of

ministry. They can serve as a leader as we begin this new ministry."

According to

Harper, the Children's Homes organization's efforts will begin in the

form of aid to the orphanage of Svir Stroy in St. Petesburg, Russia.

"When

an organization develops a relationship with a specific orphanage, the

adoption process proceeds smoother," he said.

Carol McCarty,

administrator of Community Based Ministries, recently took a trip to Russia

to evaluate the ministry.

"I knew

there was a great need to assist in international adoptions and aid to

foreign orphanages," said McCarty, "but after visiting the orphanage,

I feel it is our Christian duty to assist these children in any way possible

and move them into better situations and perhaps better lives. The aid

we can provide today will make the lives better for the children we will

be able to adopt to families in America."

According to

McCarty, the condition of the orphanages in Russia is very poor. New babies

sleep in one room in metal cribs.

"These

babies have no one to hold them except at the regular scheduled fitting

and changing times. In some cases the babies have developed flat heads

because they are stationary in one position," said McCarty. "We

must do something to help."

A series of

informational meetings will be held across the state with the first meeting

scheduled for Oct. 27 on the Palmetto Campus. Other meetings will be scheduled

for the Savannah, Columbus and Macon areas. To register for an information

meeting or to receive more information, call the Community Based Ministries

office, 770-463-8645.

Georgia Baptist

Children's Homes and Family Ministries, Inc. is a Christian ministry offering

residential care, emergency care, counseling services, maternity care,

adolescent substance abuse treatment, foster care and adoption services

and international ministries to children and families all across Georgia.

Three campuses in Baxley, Meansville and Palmetto as well as community

based group homes provide assistance to troubled and abused teens and

children.

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