Stories of Hope for Lent

This Lent, we are reminded of renewal and the power of loving others. For some young people in our youth group, hope of a better future once felt distant.

Melina

Melina’s story is one of courage born out of hardship. She grew up in a home where she faced physical abuse from her mother’s partner. This pushed her out of the home and into a dangerous world of drugs and running away. By 14, she was completely out of control.

Then, 18 months ago, everything began to change. Melina met a group of loving Russian believers who offered care, patience, and a safe place to belong at the Open Heart Youth Group (OHYG).

Today, at 18, she is still healing, but she is stronger, resilient, and growing in faith. Melina has turned her own struggles into a mission to help others. She now serves as one of the youth leaders, she loves caring for the little ones and she is inspiring her peers and guiding the younger children with compassion and understanding. Her journey, that she is happy to share with others in similar situations, shows how love, guidance, and faith can transform a life once shadowed by pain.

Venisa

Thirteen-year-old Venisa arrived in the Volkhov area as a refugee after the war in Ukraine destroyed her family home. Her father had disappeared, and her mother turned to alcohol, leaving the children to survive on their own. At school, Venisa faced bullying because of her nationality, a constant reminder of how alone she felt in the world.

When Venisa began attending the OHYG, she found a place where she was fully accepted and could simply be a child again. As Dasha, one of the group leaders, shares: "She always comes to our meetings with joy; for her, it’s a breath of fresh air to be completely accepted."

A Community That Changes Lives

Melina and Venisa are just two of the many young people whose difficult lives have benefited from attending the OHYG. Under the guidance of leaders Dasha and Artyom, the group offers stability, care, and opportunities for growth, both emotional and spiritual.

Your support this Lent can help the OHYG continue this vital work:

• £20 = food for a vulnerable child

• £50 = warm clothing

• £100 = transport for residential trips

• £1,000 = a substantial contribution towards accommodation for a week-long retreat for 40 young people.

This Lent, your gift can help heal young hearts, offer hope, joy, and the chance for a brighter future.

Together, we can show children like Melina and Venisa that they are seen, loved, and never alone.

👉 Take a Look at the Lent Appeal