Belarus (MNN) — You’ve probably heard the story of Cinderella, whose stepmother treated as a second-class family member.
It was a similar story for a girl in Belarus named Sonya. Her parents, both alcoholics, gave her to an orphanage at birth. She spent her childhood cycled through foster homes.
Eric Mock with the Slavic Gospel Association says, “Sonia would say that many times, the foster parents would treat their children by birth much different than her. She was seen more as the hired help to get chores and things done around the house.”
“She became very angry, very despondent, and began shaking her fist at God, saying, ‘Why did my life turn out this way?’”
A pastor named Sergei has known her and ministered to her since her birth. When she became a teenager, she started going to his church. Mock says, “All that has been terrible in her life was not because God has forgotten her. It was leading her to a place to where she would know Christ. She knows that He will never leave her or forsake her. Sonya is now baptized and looking for a fresh start in life.”
Praise God for His work in the life of Sonya and many people like her across the former Soviet Union.
Pastor Sergei
Sonya isn’t the first neglected child helped by Pastor Sergei.
Sergei originally comes from Kazakhstan but moved to Belarus, where he adopted ten children. Mock says, “He had bunk beds four bunks high so that he could put the kids into his house and take care of them.”
He regularly ministers at a shelter for kids who have been removed from their homes. Mock says, “He sees some kids that are just brokenhearted. They are being taken away from those who treat them horribly. But many would rather have a horrible parent than face the world with no parents at all.”
SGA has supported Pastor Sergei for years. You can help by donating here.
Header photo courtesy of the Slavic Gospel Association on Facebook.
