wfn.org | ABCUSA: Continuing Aid Needed in Wake of Beslan Tragedy

["SCHRAMM, Richard" <Rich.Schramm@abc-usa.org>]

American Baptist News Service (Valley Forge, Pa. 10/11/04)--Support and
counseling are among ongoing needs for families impacted by the school
hostage tragedy that took more than 340 lives last month in Beslan, Russia.

The Baptist World Alliance, through BWAid, is attempting to meet those and
other needs through a special appeal for funding from Baptists around the
world. 

"Our hearts continue to go out to the people of Beslan, as they struggle to
recover from this tragedy," said American Baptist Churches USA World Relief
Officer Lisa Rothenberger.  "We encourage churches to support BWAid in their
evangelical and counseling efforts to meet the ongoing spiritual needs of the
people as they walk through the days and months ahead."

American Baptists wishing to support BWAid ministries in Beslan can do so
through their church's monthly report of mission support, designating
contributions "OGHS-BWAid Beslan Appeal."  Those wishing to contribute online
can do so by accessing the "American Baptist Missions" or "Give Now" pages of
the ABCUSA Web site, www.abc-usa.org, designating where their contributions
should go.

An update on the situation in Beslan, especially related to impacted Baptist
families, was sent out late last week by the Baptist World Alliance:	   

"The bodies of three of Taimuraz Totiev's children--Albina, Larisa and Boris
Totiiev--were finally identified and buried...Oct. 3. Of his five children,
only his daughter, Madina, is alive. [Pastor] Sergey Totiev's daughter,
Dzerassa, is still missing.
 
"Initially, the Russian Baptist Union and its partners provided support and
counseling through pastors and other church leaders. Peter Mitskevich, the
vice-president of Russian Baptists, attended many funerals, and Yuri Sipco,
the president of the Baptist Union, was in Beslan during the early days of
the crisis. 

"Baptist World Aid Director Paul Montacute recently met with Peter Mitskevich
and Yevgeniy Zhigulin of Mission Vera. Both have been actively involved in
caring for families since the beginning of the crisis.

"It is now recognized that support and counseling will be needed for many
months and years ahead. Both the Russian Union and Mission Vera have plans
for helping with this need. The Baptist Church in Beslan plans to develop its
work with children, especially those traumatized by this tragedy.
 
"...Funds are needed to meet the costs of the caregivers. BWAid has also
pledged to support the cost of a coordinator to plan the response. There are
many physical needs to be met, and plans have been made to ensure those
children who survived will have an easier winter and a happy Christmas.
Psychological help is also being made available.

"A new translation of the New Testament is available in the Osettian
language, at a cost of US$5 each, and will help to meet spiritual needs.
Mitskevich indicated that these would be an important resource, and has
appealed to BWAid to provide some funds to purchase these New Testaments. An
initial $10,000 has been pledged to buy 2,000 New Testaments.

"'While the tragedy has moved off the radar screens of many,'" said
Montacute, "'the real horror is only just beginning for many of the
survivors. Our BWAid Appeal to assist Russian Baptists as they care for these
folk will continue, and I hope that Baptists will respond.'"
 
K/2004ABNS/04ABN117