Charities Update
by John Verderber

January 1, 2000 began on a very sad note. St. Luke received news that Fr. Peter Suskuk lost his wife and 3 young children in a rectory fire in St. Paul Island, Alaska. Due to the generosity of the St. Luke congregation, $500.00 was collected as a donation to offset expenses related to funeral costs. Our prayers for strength will continue for Fr. Suskuk. At a special church meeting to vote on an additional cell phone tower, we learned that charities might receive part of the income generated from another tower. This would enable us to expand charities and provide more funds for organizations and individuals in need. On March 19th, at our last meeting, Michaelyn Sloan, a new charities member working for Bethany Christian Services, brought two guests to our meting; Oksana Bryzkovata, Director of the Kiev, Ukraine branch and Kristen Roeters, European Programs Assistant from the Grand Rapids office of International Services. Michaelyn Sloan is planning a trip to the Ukraine this summer to spearhead a graduate program for young adults about to leave Ukrainian orphanages. The goal is to train these young people in independent everyday skills once they are out in society. Funds are needed to achieve the goals of job training and communication skills. The Charities committee is very excited about the prospect of funding this organization and sponsoring individual orphans. With God's grace, this goal can become a reality. St. Luke Church may be small in number, but we are very large in spirituality and generosity. Matthew 25:36-40 "For I was hungry and you gave me food; I was thirsty and you gave me drink; assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these, you did it to me."