“I was Hungry and You Fed Me”

Gusev, Kaliningrad Oblast (Russia)

What will we say when we stand before God at the judgment and we are asked what we did in order to relieve the suffering of our neighbors? Did we give comfort in grief? Did we feed the hungry? Did we give warmth to those who were cold? Did we support those who were in prison? Who were sick? If yes, then did we do so from a pure heart? As Christ did for us? These questions are worth thinking about.

It has become a good tradition in the Kaliningrad deanery to hold an annual “Diaconal Day,” just before the second Sunday in Advent. Staff of diaconal ministry, volunteers and congregational members gather together to talk about social service ministry in the Church. This year Diaconal Day was held on December 5th in Gusev. It was dedicated to the development of diaconal projects in the region and sources of financing. Participants were not only those who were active in the social work of the Church, but also the pastors of the deanery, representatives of congregations, leaders of women's ministries, youth and children's ministries. Our friends and mentors from Berlin came to take part – Thomas Passauer, Uwe Makward, Alexander Wom; they have supported this initiative for many years. We hear wonderful words of guidance from Winfred Gaiko who, though he was unable to attend because of illness, passed on his words through his colleague in diaconal work Uwe. 

  Frequently very respectable people ask me why the Church take up what should be the responsibility of the government – helping the needy? In our age of high technology, poverty, hunger, joblessness, a decrease in the authority of the family, a rise in suicides, abortions, drug abuse and alcoholism still exist. Hardness of heart is becoming ever more common, as are permissiveness and lack of respect for the law. Experience throughout the world shows that the most effective social defense is achieved when social structures and included together with the state in solving problems. The Church is part of society and it has much experience based in the Word of the Lord. It is capable of nurturing such virtuous traits as mercy, tolerance, sympathy, respecting the other's interests. In the Kaliningrad deanery diaconal projects help decrease social tension. Many years ago in Gusev a diaconal center was opened, and one of his tasks was to care for homebound or disabled people. Later a nursing home for the elderly and for the disabled was opened – the “Karl Blume House.” This later has been developed further in Kaliningrad and Slavsk, where care is given on an outpatient basis. Now Chernyakhovsk is getting involved. The deanery also organizes the feeding of children from underprivileged families, summer camps for handicapped children and for mothers with children in difficult circumstances. In Kaliningrad there is a group of support for parents of children with limited abilities (the “Kapelka” or “raindrop” group). In addition there are many charity events. 

  In the Diaconal Days there were many presenters. We value all our  projects. Our task is to support them and, when possible, to development them, uniting our efforts for effective work in the name of the Lord and for the good of the Church. 

Pastor Elena Kurmyshova