Ministries > Witness > Belarussian Ministry
Belarussian
Ministry
at
Nashville UMC
*The world’s worst nuclear accident in 1986 at nearby Chernobyl, Ukraine, continues to plague the people — 23 percent of Belarus and thousands of people were contaminated by radiation from the accident.
Belarus, a small country which was part of the former Soviet Union received approximately 70% of the radiation damage from the April 26, 1986 Chernobyl nuclear power plant incident. The southern third received the most radiation in Belarus. The explosion released 90 times as much radiation as the Hiroshima Bomb. This has effected the health of the people, especially the children due to its effect on the immune system. This has resulted in thyroid disease and thyroid cancer, an increase of leukemia and birth defects, and vitamin deficiencies.
In 1991, members of the Connecticut River Valley Fellowship, a Baptist Church in South Windsor, Connecticut, welcomed 13 children and two adults from the mobile region of Belarus. They housed the children for a period of six weeks, giving their bodies a rest from the physical and emotional stress of living in a contaminated environment. When the children are removed from the area for that approximate period of time, the level of radiation in their bodies is lowered. There was a desire from others involved with this project to offer a similar opportunity to other children from Belarus. From this vision - the American Belarussian Relief Organization (ABRO) was formed.
Several families at Nashville UMC are very involved in ABRO and serve as host families to children from Belarus. They create bonds with these children, and often host the same child for several years.
If you would like to become involved in this wonderful ministry, please contact our church office at the number or e-mail listed below.
* Taken in part from the ABRO website.