At their meeting on 2nd November

2nd November 2010 - Tear Fund Project in Russia

Rev. Una Stewart

At their meeting on 2nd November, the President, Sandy Laird, welcomed members and introduced the speaker, the Rev. Una Stewart, Minister of Law Parish Church, who spoke on her visit to an area near Ekaterinburg in Russia. This was to see at first hand a project run by local churches, partly financed by the Tear Fund, to rehabilitate drug addicts and alcoholics. Illustrated by many slides taken on her trip, she explained the scale of the problem and the very different way they have of dealing with it there. Health and safety, food hygiene legislation and vehicle MOT tests, among other things, were notable by their absence! The centres use a very strict, but very successful, regime, one from which we could perhaps learn lessons. The authorities are only now just beginning to acknowledge the existence and extent of these addictions and the problems posed by them, however there is no Government funding for the centres and as a result they are largely dependent on outside support. It was a very thought-provoking presentation and one which left members in no doubt as to the strength of the growing Christian Church in Russia, following its resurrection from persecution under the Communist regime, and the immense amount of good work it is carrying out. The vote of thanks was given by Jim Watt, to which the members responded enthusiastically. The next meeting will be on Tuesday 16th November at 10:30, which will be our annual visit from senior pupils of Biggar HS.

Back to 2010 - 2011 programme