FAQ’s about Baptist House of Mercy
Click on the Question Below to Find the Answer or
Scroll Down through the questions and answers below.
-
Is this a part of the former Missouri Baptist Convention partnership with Belarus from years ago?
-
It seems to me that once we go in, we are going to be there years and years just sending money. Does that really help anyone?
-
Are there any Belarusian Baptists who are now “eligible” to move in when the building is ready?
-
Who is working on the building and are they paid or volunteers?
-
Who will be paying the salaries of the staff at the Baptist House of Mercy?
-
You say that some of the money will be used to train and develop the staff. Tell me more about that.
-
Where can I see actual photos of the Baptist House of Mercy?
-
If we do this, just how will it work so that TBH here is protected and money is not wasted?
BEGINNINGS OF THE BAPTIST HOUSE OF MERCY
1. Is this a part of the former Missouri Baptist Convention partnership with Belarus from years ago?
The official MBC/Belarus partnership ran from 1993-2000. There were some mission projects that continued after 2000, but MBC chose to focus on projects elsewhere. Some Missouri Baptist churches continue relationships with Belarusian Baptist churches and other mission efforts.
2. How did this request come about?
In 2004 Roger Hatfield received a call from a pastor who had been a missionary in Belarus. He spoke about a Belarusian layperson, Stepan Trubchik, who had had a vision for ten years to begin a home for older Baptists. Many older Belarusian Baptists have no one to care for them. Since TBH has a ministry for older adults, he asked if there was any way to encourage this brother in the fulfillment of the vision the Lord had given him.
OWNERSHIP OF THE BAPTIST HOUSE OF MERCY
3. Who is going to own this Baptist House of Mercy?
The Baptist House of Mercy is even now owned and operated by the Belarusian Baptists in the context of their local Baptist polity. The Baptist Home of Missouri has no ownership in the facility and has no desire to have ownership. Our desire is to help them achieve their vision of such a ministry in Belarus, one of the very few Christian long-term facilities in Eastern Europe.
PURPOSE OF THE BAPTIST HOUSE OF MERCY
4. What is the purpose of the Baptist House of Mercy?
According to Stepan Trubchik, founder of the Baptist House of Mercy, “the purpose of this ministry is to make God real to persons and to extend mercy and help to those who are weak and left alone in this world.”
CAMPAIGN TO BUILD THE HOUSE OF MERCY
5. It seems to me that once we go in, we are going to be there years and years just sending money. Does that really help anyone?
TBH is very aware of the dangers of long-term giving even with strict accountability. Based on the actions of the Board of Trustees in September 2006, this partnership is limited to a five-year commitment. While there may be some additional investment in staff development and other needs, the capital assets to develop the facilities is limited to five years. In fact, our hope and work is that we will complete the financial commitment by December 31, 2007, if at all possible, so that the final four years can concentrate on training and development, developing aging ministries, helping the Belarusian Baptists to model a unique philosophy of ministry for other Christian groups in Eastern Europe in particular.
6. I guess what concerns me most is that TBH is involved in a lawsuit with the MBC. Will the conflict within the MBC affect this global mission project?
The leadership of TBH has made a decision to “plow around the stump.” Although the lawsuit may extend years into the future, the ministry needs of people cannot wait. As God first called TBH founders Milford and Mary Riggs, our vision to face forward empowers us to do what God has called us to do. We believe whatever good we may do, for however long God allows us, will be more honoring to God than if we do nothing out of fear for the future.
7. We need all the money we can raise here to take care of our present residents. Besides, we have capital improvement needs on our campuses. I just don’t know where the money will come from. Our first obligation is to ourselves here. Shouldn’t we focus our efforts and resources on our seniors here in Missouri?
The Story of The Baptist Home by Ira Ann Hawkins tells of the same concerns Milford and Mary Riggs faced. There is a never a time in ministry where there is excess funds and rarely all the funds needed to do what we do well. The Riggs saw the vision and communicated it as best they could in spite of criticism and lack of support from those who had no vision of a ministry to the aging. They easily could have stayed in the Emerson Mansion in Ironton the rest of their lives but they saw their “first obligation” to those who had needs greater than their own. Supporting the Baptist House of Mercy is another bold step of faith for God to care “for the least of these brothers and sisters of mine.” (Matthew 25:40)
8. Is this going to affect benevolent care on our TBH campuses? How can we let these people be underserved by sending our money abroad?
No person on any of TBH campuses who has ever received benevolent care has had to go without. TBH would never sacrifice the needs of the current residents for ANY ministry opportunity either here or abroad. The gifts given to TBH for benevolent care will go for benevolent care.
9. Can the Baptist World Alliance be of help in this project?
We intend to involve the BWA and others in our project in two ways: 1) Inform them about the vision we have for an aging care ministry in Belarus. 2) Invite them to become involved. This will include asking others to participate in some way as well as offer any financial contributions they may choose. 3) Work with the aging units of any Christian organization to teach others a good process for developing this kind of ministry around the world.
RESIDENTS OF THE BAPTIST HOUSE OF MERCY
10. How many residents will be in the Baptist House of Mercy?
The Belarusians have said they will start with a few residents and then increase their occupancy under the standards they have set for themselves. The Baptist House of Mercy may see as many as 40 residents in this building.
11. How will the residents be selected?
The administration of The Baptist Home has been invited to help the Belarusian Baptists in the ongoing work of establishing the ministry. This includes how to select residents, what kind of programming to offer, how to handle medical needs of residents and the like. This is a question yet to be answered by them. The sponsoring church, Kobrin Baptist Church, has selected a group of individuals who are giving leadership to the new direction and is becoming the first board of directors. Furthermore, the Belarusian leaders have invited selected administrators from The Baptist Home to come and help the staff and directors establish policies and procedures. That will be done sometime in 2007.
12. Are there any Belarusian Baptists who are now “eligible” to move in when the building is ready?
There are indeed already elderly Baptists
who are in desperate need of the Baptist House of Mercy. In Belarus it
will not be a matter of finding eligible residents but how to handle the
overwhelming needs of the aging Baptists. Belarusian lawmakers on
Wednesday, May 23, 2007, backed legislation stripping hundreds of
thousands of disabled and retired people and students of social benefits
and other payments.
The 110-seat lower house of parliament passed the bill 101-1, sending it
on to the upper chamber, where it is also likely to pass and be sent it
to President Alexander Lukashenko for his signature. Analysts said the
budget-cutting measure was prompted by Russia's sharp rise in oil and
natural gas prices this year. The needs of the elderly in Belarus,
already difficult, have been made worse.
FACILITY DEVELOPMENT OF THE BAPTIST HOUSE OF MERCY
13. When is the project supposed to be completed?
In the May 2007 trip, TBH representative Nick Davis learned that the projected completion of the facilities and a move-in date may be close to June 1, 2008. There are many, many factors to consider, and it is probable that this date can change. It is urgent that individuals, churches and other organizations give in a timely manner so that we can gather all funds by December 31, 2007 if at all possible.
14. Who is working on the building and are they paid or volunteers?
A small group of men have been employed to work on the Baptist House of Mercy. In the past volunteers have been used on Baptist churches and projects but the economy has changed. Families are in acute need of income. One family TBH knows spends 67 percent of their monthly income on food for two adults and two preschoolers. Some of the employees are believer men who have come out of rehabilitation processes and are trying to become producing citizens again. The men working on the Baptist House of Mercy project are making wages below what they could earn elsewhere in more major projects. They are doing so because this work will be steady and ongoing for about another year whereas the other projects are more short-lived.
15. What will the facility be like?
The building will be two floors. Each room will have a private bath with sink, toilet and shower. The first floor will have doorways wide enough for wheelchair accessibility. At this time there will not be an elevator so older adults who are more ambulatory will have rooms there. There will be a sprinkler system and fire escapes which are required by Belarusian law. The Belarusian government has to approve this building so everything has to be up to code. An example is that the Belarusian government would not allow food to be prepared at the Children’s Camp a short distance away and hauled to the House of Mercy so a kitchen had to be added. This addition is being placed at one end of the remodeled building which will have congregate facilities for meals, chapel and large group activities. A new heating system is being added as well.
16. Where did the Belarusians get their materials?
The Belarusians are buying as many building supplies in Belarus as possible. They want to show the Belarusian authorities that they want to be good citizens and help their own economy. If they simply cannot get what they need there, then they buy those products where they can get them. Some products are being bought in Russia, Poland and even Germany where the builders can find good deals. The leaders want to buy as many products as possible in Belarus so that the government can see that this project supports the Belarusian economy.
17. Do they need any construction help from us?
There is a request for some help on finishing the sheet rock on the walls and ceiling. Normally, Belarusians build “their own way,” but this is one request that we hope to help them fulfill. We are waiting on an answer from them on the best time of year for a construction team to go.
18. What exactly do they have a need of at this time to complete and how much do those things cost there?
A total of approximately $62,000 will help complete the needs in the next cycle of development:
 | Fencing for the roof (safety requirements by law) - $1,500 |
| Exterior doors – 8 @ $360 each - $2,880 |
| Interior stairs and 2 exterior emergency stairs - $15,000 |
| Concrete for interior first floor - $7,500 |
| Insulation for first floor flooring - $2,500 |
| Metal studs for first floor walls - $2,500 |
| Exterior drain system (plumbing/sewer) - $13,000 |
| Metal roofing for new addition - $5,000 |
| Rest of the brick for new addition - $9,000 |
19. What can small group (e.g. Sunday School class, WMU group or youth group) do to help the BHOM project?
Each small group is asked to make prayer a top priority for the project and its future success. They can also set a goal to raise money to give toward the campaign.
20. What can money given purchase toward the BHOM renovation?
The cost to furnish a resident’s room with furniture $1,310 and would include the following:
|
Shower cabin - $500 |
|
Heating system - $140 |
|
Sink - $150 |
|
Bed - $150 |
|
Windows- $170 |
|
Toilet - $70 |
|
Table - $80 |
|
Chairs - $50 |
The cost to furnish the kitchen is $4350 as follows:
|
Chairs - $50 |
|
Kitchen Oven - $300 |
|
Electric Oven - $500 |
|
4 Non-tarnishing kitchen sinks - $600 ($150 each) |
|
Fan - $700 |
|
4 round dinner tables $1000 ($250 each) |
|
4 Non-tarnishing kitchen counters $1200 ($300 each) |
Other items:
|
25 Interior Doors - $1500 ($60 each) |
|
25 Interior Bathroom Doors - $1750 ($70 each) |
|
Wall Insulation for one floor - $23008 |
|
Exterior Doors - $2880 ($360 each) |
|
Attic Insulation - $3400 |
|
Brick for Walkways - $5600 |
|
41 Exterior Windows - $7175 ($175 each) |
|
Metal Roof - $12,600 |
STAFF DEVELOPMENT AT THE BAPTIST HOUSE OF MERCY
21. Who will be the employees at the Baptist House of Mercy?
The Belarusians tell us that they have more people who want to work at the Baptist House of Mercy than they can employ or even use as volunteers. Many of these people, we understand, have been caring for most of the people who will be the new residents.
22. Who will be paying the salaries of the staff at the Baptist House of Mercy?
The Kobrin Baptist Church, a major sponsor and partner church in this project, will be responsible for many of the ongoing expenses of the Baptist House of Mercy, including salaries.
23. You say that some of the money will be used to train and develop the staff. Tell me more about that.
The Belarusians are very interested in making sure their staff is well trained and are providing the best care possible in this new kind of environment, a Christian long-term care facility. The Baptist Home is open to all kinds of strategies to help the staff develop their own levels of caring excellence. Many of those who will be employed are already in the caring ministry of their church. Many of the future residents of the Baptist House of Mercy are today living alone so others are coming to them to see that their needs are being met.
PHOTOS OF THE BAPTIST HOUSE OF THE BAPTIST HOUSE OF MERCY
24. Where can I see actual photos of the Baptist House of Mercy?
If you will go back to the page of this website that is dedicated to the Baptist House of Mercy, you will find a tab that says, “Photo Gallery.” Just click on that and you will find many, many photos.
COMPLETION OF THE BAPTIST HOUSE OF MERCY
25. Exactly how are we going to raise the capital to fund this project so that other areas of our ministry do not suffer?
We know there are hundreds of Missouri Baptists who have been to Belarus. We know there were many church link-ups, some of which continue actively to this very day. We even have American Christians across the country that have a vested interest in Belarus. All who so desire will be given an opportunity to participate at some level as they feel God leads. The year 2005 was the greatest year in American life for charitable causes. It is true the Asian tsunami and Hurricane Katrina were factors here but it also illustrates the giving nature of our people. In spite of gasoline prices and wars and rumors of war, the American economy is strong and stable.
26. If we do this, just how will it work so that TBH here is protected and money is not wasted?
TBH has been working hard to organize this project with careful planning, including the asking of good questions and getting good information. A strategic plan will guide the process of this partnership. Money donated will be sent upon approval for the designated areas. Continuing assessments of the project will be done by TBH staff and Trustees and others approved by TBH, who are on-site at Kobrin. Money donated as a part of an endowment fund will be housed here to diminish the issues with respect to the Belarusian government or a change in leadership or direction of the project not in keeping with its intended mission to serve older adults in Belarus.
27. Since Belarus has the kind of government it has, what would keep it from seizing this building for its own purposes?
To be honest, nothing. The Lukashenko government has not taken any property related to the Union of Evangelical Christians-Baptists in all these years. The president has in fact stated that Baptists make good citizens. One of his best friends is a Belarusian Baptist pastor who is well-respected and a boyhood friend. The UECB has not been critical of their government but have learned to “plow around the stump.” Starting with 150 churches in 1993, they now have about 350 churches, missions, and preaching points and over 14,000 members.
Copyright © 2007 All Rights Reserved, The Baptist Home, Since 1913