In the Tver region, a socially oriented project “Good Hands” is working for residents of the cities of Tver and Ostashkov, the goal of which is to provide basic support in food and clothing to people in need, as well as acquaint people with God.
Every day is filled with many events that are very energetically replaced by one another. Despite the fact that today, the number on the calendar is 2022, many people remember the year 2018. It was remarkable for many reasons, but the date of March 18, 2018, has become special for all residents of Russia. On that Sunday, the day of the presidential elections in Russia, in the small town of Tver, Ostashkov, the social project “Good Hands” began its work.
Initially, this project started working in the city of Yoshkar-Ola, when a group of Adventist brothers and sisters decided to provide all possible assistance to people in a difficult situation. We organized a collection of things, identified how we could help, and with God, we started.
Having caught fire with this idea, our sister Elena Tsvetkova took on most of the work in organizing the project in Ostashkov. Together with other brothers and sisters, near the house of prayer, we hung the Good Hands banner, which indicated that help could be received here. Before receiving a grocery set (essential products) and other necessities, everyone who came was asked to come at a certain time. The meeting always began with a short sermon by Pastor Dmitry Balabanov, who directed people to the One who has the solution to all our problems.
“We immediately began to [receive] questions on where to get clothes”, says Balabanov, pastor of the ASD Church in Ostashkov and Tver-3. “At first, they began to search among their own people who had something to share, but then, to our joy, the city began to actively participate because people saw a banner on which it was written, ‘If you have things that you would like to share with those in need, bring [them]’, and they brought [them]. A year after the start of the project in Ostashkov, Good Hands began to be held in the third community of the city of Tver.
“At first, in Ostashkov, we began to hold topics about health”, Balabanov continues. “This topic turned out to be relevant and aroused great interest. Then, with Brother Presbyter Andrei Zabelin, we decided to hold such meetings in turn in order to make them more attractive to our dear guests. People came gradually: first two, three, then five, seven, until one day, about thirty people came. At the moment, eight or nine people constantly come to us. Before each meeting, we call in advance and inform [them] that the meeting will take place.”
The Good Hands project helped not only to support those who needed it, but also to bring together and unite the church itself. When people begin to cross the threshold of the church, they sometimes have questions, and sometimes requests. “Several times, we prayed for the people who came to us, and when they returned the next time, they gave thanks for being prayed for”, Balabanov shared.
In Matthew 25:35–36, Jesus says, “For I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me" (NKJV). How can we serve our God, who does not need anything and is ready to help everyone else? “Inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me” (verse 40).
“I am convinced that everyone can do good where he is. Let our hands do good, show love in action, and make this world a better place!” Dmitry summed up the conversation.
This article was originally published on the Euro-Asia Division’s news site