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Melinda Cathey (CEO and Co-Founder) and Alex Krutov (Co-Founder) represent The Harbor on its 11-member advisory board. Having met in St. Petersburg in 1997, both Melinda and Alex were moved by compassion, burdened with the Lord’s mandate to love the orphan, and convicted to address the issue of orphans leaving the state system unprepared for successful adult life. To follow their hearts and meet this need, the two began The Harbor in St. Petersburg in 2001.

The following individuals make up our advisory board, volunteering to serve as consultants in areas of finance, development and fundraising, child care and development, and public relations.

Melinda Cathey
Melinda has lived in St. Petersburg since 1997 with her husband, Mark, and their three children. Prior to their time in Russia, Melinda lived in the U.S. and practiced individual, family, and marriage counseling in a variety of settings. Her caseload has included victims of incest, adult children of alcoholics, addiction, depression, and numerous family and marital issues. She received her MA in Counseling Psychology from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in 1985.

Alex Krutov
Abandoned by his mother when he was just a month old, Alex was placed in the Russian state orphanage system. His tumultuous childhood included adoption, abuse, running away, living on the streets, and a return to the orphanage system. Since that time, Alex has earned an AS degree in Business Administration Management. He graduated Magna Cum Laude from Franklin University (Columbus, OH) in 2005.

Barbara Campbell
Barb brings to the board several years of professional experience as a social worker in family services and child welfare. A graduate of Indiana University with a Master’s degree in Social Work, she provides valuable insight on the critical factors needed to successfully nurture and guide healthy adolescent development. Her experience in ministry includes recently co-leading women’s Bible studies at Christ Church Lake Forest (IL) and for Bible Study Fellowship. She and her husband, Steve, live in Lincolnshire, IL.

Stephen Campbell
Steve has broad expertise in human resources, with a 25-year career as both an internal practitioner and external consultant in the field. Currently serving as Global Talent Leader for the consulting segment of Hewitt Leadership Group at Hewitt Associates, he leads workforce planning, leadership development, succession planning, talent development, and talent acquisition. A graduate of Taylor University, he has also led several short-term medical mission trips to Guatemala. He and his wife, Barbara, live in Lincolnshire, IL, with their two teenage children.

John Dalley
A national sales manager for Office Coffee and Vending (Chicago, IL), John has significant experience in business and sales/marketing. Armed with a degree in Business Administration from Illinois State University, his career began at Proctor & Gamble (Cincinnati, OH), where he spent more than two decades in sales and management. John and his wife, Kim, reside in Palatine, IL, and are involved in ministry at Willow Creek Community Church in Barrington.

Heather Godfrey
Heather brings to the board much experience in writing and child/adolescent development. With degrees in both Journalism and Psychology from Indiana University, she currently works part-time at a company called “Signs By Tomorrow,” while also raising three young boys at home and participating in various ministries at Elmbrook Church in Milwaukee, WI. She and her husband, Steve, previously served for 10 years as missionaries in Siberia with Church Resource Ministries (CRM). They now reside in Milwaukee.

Steve Godfrey
A software analyst for Northwestern Mutual Financial Network, Steve has considerable financial expertise and fundraising knowledge. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business, with distinction and honors in Marketing, from Indiana University. He and his wife, Heather, share a passion for ministry to Slavic peoples, having served for a decade as missionaries with CRM in Irkutsk, Siberia. Steve currently sits on the Board of Directors for the Biblical Leadership Training Center (BLTC), based in Krasnodar, Russia, and leads the Russian Focus Group at Elmbrook Church (Milwaukee, WI). He and Heather live in Milwaukee with their three sons.

Karen Kutz
Karen joins the board as a writer and public relations expert. She worked for 17 years as a newspaper reporter/editor and holds a Bachelor’s degree in English from Wittenberg University, a Master’s degree in Journalism from the University of Maryland, and secondary teaching certification (English and Journalism) from North Central College. Her newspaper credits include the Chicago Daily Herald, the Boston Herald, The Washington Post (freelance), and the Fairborn Daily Herald. She has also written for numerous national magazines. In addition to her career in writing and editing, Karen spent several years in public relations at Boston’s Beth Israel Hospital. She’s currently a full-time mom and serves in various ministry capacities at Bear Creek Church in Woodinville, WA. She and her husband, Kevin, live in Redmond, WA, with their three children.

Kevin Kutz
A director of public relations for Microsoft, Kevin manages news for the Windows client business group and recently helped plan and manage media relations for the global launch of Windows Vista. He brings to the board extensive experience in public relations, including stints in the private sector at Burson-Marsteller and Accenture in Chicago, and in the public sector for Massachusetts Governor William F. Weld, at the Massachusetts Port Authority, and on Capitol Hill as a legislative assistant for U.S. Representative Steve Gunderson (R-WI). Kevin earned a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Wittenburg University and a Master’s degree in Public Policy from Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government. He began his post-college life in missions, serving with World Relief in the Philippines. He and his wife, Karen, live in Redmond, WA, with their three children and attend Bear Creek Church in Woodinville.

David Williams, Chairman
Serving as chairman of the advisory board, David brings considerable experience in business, finance, and fundraising. He currently works for Lincolnshire Associates in Illinois, overseeing various investment and loans of the partnerships, and he previously worked for six years in St. Petersburg, Russia, with Jensen Group, a Chicago based Russian real estate developer. His love for and knowledge of Russia originated with his founding of the first sub-sandwich restaurant in St. Petersburg. A graduate of the University of Illinois with a degree in Business, David attends Grace Pointe Church and lives in Naperville, IL, with his wife, Sarah, and three children.

Sarah Williams, Secretary
An educator with expertise in child care and development, Sarah serves as secretary to the advisory board. Since working as a middle- and high-school teacher at the Anglo-American School of St. Petersburg, she has a practical understanding of Russia. Her teaching career also includes several years instructing Math and Language Arts as well as coaching track at various schools in Illinois. A graduate of Illinois State University with a Bachelor’s degree in Education, Sarah keeps busy raising her three young children and participating in a parenting ministry at Grace Pointe Church of Naperville (IL), where she lives with her husband, David, and their children.

Melinda Cathey
Executive Director and Co-Founder
Melinda has lived in St. Petersburg since 1992 with her husband, Mark, and their three children. Prior to their time in Russia, Melinda lived in the U.S. and practiced individual, family, and marriage counseling in a variety of settings. Her caseload has included victims of incest, adult children of alcoholics, addiction, depression, and numerous family and marital issues. She received her MA in Counseling Psychology from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in 1985.

Alex Krutov
Co-Founder
Abandoned by his mother when he was just a month old, Alex was placed in the Russian state orphanage system. His tumultuous childhood included adoption, abuse, running away, living on the streets, and a return to the orphanage system. Since that time, Alex has earned an AS degree in Business Administration Management. He graduated Magna Cum Laude from Franklin University (Columbus, OH) in 2005.

Luba Yarovaya
National Director
Born and raised in a loving Ukrainian Christian family during communist rule, Luba grew up embracing her faith while attending an underground church. With few options for education under Soviet rule, Luba attended sewing school and became a seamstress, eventually starting her own sewing business. Moving to St. Petersburg at the age of 24 for the chance at furthering her education, Luba attended St. Petersburg Christian University and earned a Bachelor’s degree in Theology. While in St. Petersburg, Luba learned about The Harbor and eventually became its Program Director. Since then she has continued her education, earning two more Bachelor’s degrees in Psychology and Business Management.

Tatiana Batalova
Assistant Program Director
Born and raised in Izhevsk, Tanya moved to St. Petersburg in a leap of faith. After two months in the city, she met Luba Yarovaya and became familiar with The Harbor. She soon realized why God brought her to St. Petersburg. Working as an Assistant Program Director, Tanya feels privileged to be a part of this innovative ministry.

Ira Gubkina
Director of Professional Training Center
Born in the small Siberian town of Tyumen, Ira came to St. Petersburg to study elementary education at the Teacher’s Training University. After graduating, Ira worked as a second- and third-grade teacher and then attended the Horizon School of Evangelism to study the Bible in depth and experience ministry firsthand. She then went on to various projects: translating sermons and Christian literature into Russian as well as working with a homeless shelter and orphanage. During this last project, God gave Ira a desire to work with orphans. She soon found her place at The Harbor and has been a Girls’ Mentor since 2001.

Maria and Sergey
Mentors
Married in 2003, Maria and Sergey have a heart for teenagers. Born in St. Petersburg, Maria came to know the Lord while at a Christian camp in 1998. Since then, she has prayed to be placed in a ministry reaching out to teenagers. Sergey grew up in the Baltic States and became a Christian while studying at a university in St. Petersburg in 1996. Together, the two attend Calvary Chapel (where Sergey holds a number of leadership positions) and serve as mentors to the girls and boys at The Harbor.

Olga Leykina
Girls’ Mentor
Thanks to the influence of her childhood pastor, Olga views the Christian life as a missional life. Her vision led her to The Harbor, where God’s command of sharing the Good News is carried out. Part of the team since 2006, Olga serves as a mentor to the girls.

Ivan Makarenko
Pastor & Boys’ Mentor
Although born and raised in Kazakhstan, Ivan has been living in St. Petersburg since 1996. After graduating with a degree in Theology from St. Petersburg Christian University, he and wife Lena planted a church in one of the city’s suburbs. After hearing about The Harbor through fellow church members, Ivan and Lena felt called to get involved. Ivan now serves as pastor to Harbor participants. He leads individual and group bible studies, and has had the privilege of baptizing several participants. He continues to serve as the pastor of The Resurrection Church and is currently working on a Master’s degree in Theology.

Igor
Boys’ Mentor
Born into a military family in Maikope, Igor grew up wanting to be tough like his military father. While learning martial arts as a child, he received a copy of the Lord’s Prayer from his teacher and began being drawn towards the Lord. After studying at Pushkin Military Radio-Electronics Institute for three years, Igor became a Christian and decided to transfer to St. Petersburg Christian University, where he met Luba Yarovaya, National Director of The Harbor. Igor started working with The Harbor as a mentor in 2007 and also serves as a pastor at Grace Church in Pushkin City.

Andre
Boys’ Mentor
Born to a military family in far-eastern Russia, Andrew became a Christian while studying at the Military Institute in St. Petersburg. Leaving the army, he enrolled at St. Petersburg Christian University and there met Luba Yarovaya, National Director of The Harbor. He began working at The Harbor as a mentor in 2007 and also serves as an associate pastor in a local church.

Nadezhda
Seamstress
Born in St. Petersburg to an Orthodox family, Nadezhda came to know the Lord while working on the reconstruction of an Orthodox cathedral alongside Christians from a Baptist church. After being baptized, Nadezhda experienced intense tragedy: Nadezhda was robbed, she was fired from her job because of her faith, her husband left her, her son-in-law was murdered, and her friends and relatives abandoned her as a traitor. After finding a new job at the Theological Academy, Nadezhda learned about The Harbor. A professional seamstress, Nadezhda now teaches sewing to the girls at The Harbor. She finds great fulfillment in this ministry and loves building relationships with the girls she teaches.

Natalia
Counselor
While earning a Master’s degree in Counseling from St. Petersburg State University, Natalia struggled to figure out how she would combine her faith with her profession. Through working in a shelter for orphans during her last year practicum, Natalia began to see the value of her education, particularly in the area of child psychology. Some friends introduced her to The Harbor and she began working with us as a professional counselor in 2005.

Eka and Vadim
Next Step Parents
Eka moved to St. Petersburg when just twelve years old due to war in her homeland of Abkhazia. After graduating from the Pedagogic Institute – where she specialized in History – Eka married Vadim and they now have two children. Vadim is a graduate of the Institute of Mechanics and Optometry and has also served as an officer in the army. After his military service, Vadim worked in a social shelter and is now employed by a water maintenance company. Along with serving as leaders at their Calvary Chapel church, both Eka and Vadim serve with The Harbor as house parents in the Next Step apartment for boys.

Tatiana
Accountant

St. Petersburg is a city rich in culture and history. Built by Peter the Great in 1703 as a “Window to Europe,” the city represented Peter’s determination to bring Russia out of the backwoods culturally and politically. Located on Russia’s border closest to Europe, St. Petersburg provided better access to European trading. Also militarily strategic, St. Petersburg provided control of Baltic ports and, therefore, significant economic and political control of Russia and Asia.

Determined to show Europe that whatever they did, Russia could do bigger and better, Peter the Great invested much into the city and succeeded. St. Petersburg outdid Venice and the palace of Peterhoff dwarfed the palace of Versailles.

Nevertheless, Peter’s successes came with an exorbitant price tag. Ordering all peasants from the surrounding countryside to build his city or face immediate death, tens of thousands of workers were pressed into forced labor. Once in the city, the peasant workers were literally worked to death. When they dropped one-by-one, dirt was thrown over them and the work continued. It is said that 40,000 peasants are buried beneath St. Isaacs Cathedral alone. Due to these horrific conditions, many in Peter’s government believed the city to be cursed and called it “The City of Bones.”

To this day, many of the initial struggles faced in the building of St. Petersburg are still present deep in the Russian psyche. Sitting at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, the Russian people experience an ongoing internal and external struggle as to their true identity. To what degree are the Eastern? Western? Neither? Peter’s attempt to appease and woo the West was extremely costly in Russian lives, and some of Russia’s resentment of the West can be traced back to this time.

Additionally, Peter modeled a horrible irreverence for the lives of his own countrymen. A strong authoritarian leader who ruled by fear, Peter became the model unfortunately repeated throughout Russia’s modern history. Weakness, whether national or individual, is despised and to be avoided at all costs. With such a mentality, it is easy to understand why Russia has such difficulty honestly addressing the epidemic increase of orphans and street kids.

Our prayer is that The Harbor will gently but powerfully model to the Russian people the tremendous dignity of all lives. As God transforms “the least of these” into productive citizens, business leaders, teachers, and healthy parents, may all Russians be led to find the lover and creator of their souls.

Millions of lives – with the potential for restoring Russian society – are ignored and thrown away, viewed as a lost cause. But graduates from The Harbor are proving that this doesn’t have to be the case.

The Harbor is breaking the ruthless cycle of poverty and abandonment among Russia’s 10 million children-at-risk by offering them real hope. Nurtured, educated, and taught essential skills, Harbor graduates have become accountants, computer programmers, teachers, seamstresses, nurses, social workers, businessman, and Christian leaders. At The Harbor, orphans are finding not only a reason to live, but also the skills to live.

Not taking the band-aid approach to the complex problem of Russian orphans and street children, The Harbor stands apart from most models of transitional childcare…

OUR TARGET
We are called to find the young adult orphans forgotten and neglected by both their own nation and the international community. Branded “hopeless,” these orphans are too old for adoption. Yet we find them in the orphanages or on the streets and know that they are far from hopeless. The Harbor is shattering the national stigma placed upon orphans, unveiling their God-given worth, dignity, and potential.

OUR PROGRAM
We base all that we do on our understanding of Jesus and his ways of relating to us…

We are highly individualized. Since Jesus is concerned about each person as an individual, so are we. Each participant receives a plan based on their current skill level and their academic potential.

We address the whole individual. Just as Jesus is committed to emotional healing as well as physical well being, so are we. We care about the entire being.

We emulate “family.” Since family is God’s design for providing both love and discipline, we believe that transformation of character happens in relationships, not institutions. We provide Christian mentors for our participants to live life with 24/7, with no more than eight participants in each residential facility so that the family unit is kept small.

We emphasize service. God created us to serve. But orphans tend to have a welfare mentality. Having grown up in orphanages, they are used to being provided with what they need without being expected to give back. Severely handicapped by this mentality as they enter adulthood, our emphasis on service has been crucial in their transformation.

OUR STRATEGY OF GROWTH
Our strategy for growth is designed according to our understanding of God’s plan for both the Church and the nations. We do not believe that God is calling The Harbor to grow endlessly, recreating another institution for these young adults. Rather, we believe that we are to grow to a capacity of 60 full-time residents, no more. Limiting our growth will enable us to maintain our focus on family along with highly individualized and comprehensive programming.

However, we do desire to reproduce The Harbor throughout St. Petersburg, Russia, and the entire CIS, multiplying the number of orphans reached and empowered. We are currently in the process of training leaders from eight different cities and three republics to start similar programs.

OUR COMMITMENT TO STAFF
We are committed to empowering national staff with a program relevant to Russia’s need. Since we believe that nationals are best able to prepare orphans for life in their home country, we desire to create an indigenous program. We want The Harbor to be reproducible by Russians. Therefore facilities and salaries must correspond with a Russian lifestyle.

We are also committed to the continuing education of our staff. We desire for them to be professionals with extensive knowledge in their respective fields. As their expertise grows, so do the skills that we are able to pass on to Harbor participants.

Establish a new model of transitional childcare; help orphans too old for an orphanage integrate successfully into mainstream life.

Not only provide material care, but also address the holistic needs of these children (emotional, social, spiritual, intellectual, and physical health).

Ensure an adequate level of education and training/job skills, and allow for realistic job placement.

Provide highly trained and effective staff who see the potential and dignity in the lives of orphans.

Provide staff who serve not only as workers, but also as mentors who nurture, guide, and advocate for these children.

Serve as an example to all of St. Petersburg; demonstrate what is possible in childcare, beyond the current norm.

Empower Russians to staff and manage such a project long-term.

Establish a new model of relevant evangelism for the Russian church.

Our Goals

Secure eight permanent apartments, each housing eight young adult orphans and full-time mentors.

Develop a Professional Training Center offering degrees in twelve professions.

Train leaders for 250 programs within Russia and another 100 in the other CIS nations.

Financially support the program through businesses and endowments.

Questions regarding the Harbor

email: info@theharborspb.org

Issues with the website:

email: admin@theharborspb.org

Changed Lives

Most donors today are familiar with the concept of exponential growth versus linear growth. Nevertheless, it is interesting to think about again. If you were to reach 1000 kids’ lives each year, in ten years you would have reached 10,000 kids. But if you reached only 12 in two years and those kids reached another 12 in two years and so on exponentially, you would reach 248,832 kids in the same ten year period!

We all want to reach the most people possible with the good news of Jesus Christ. But what does it mean to really “reach” someone? For us, this means to befriend, invest in, love, journey with, and live out the good news to someone, as well as tell them about it. We would probably all agree that this is impossible to do with more than a few people at any given time.

This strategy – investing deeply in the lives of a few – was the Lord’s strategy and model to us as he worked with his disciples. The Harbor is committed to ministering deeply and individually to each young adult orphan. Not only will such care and development empower these orphans to reach others with Christ’s love, but it will also mirror the genuine love and attention that God demonstrates to each of us as individuals. God’s love has transformed our lives and we believe that it will transform the lives of Russia’s orphans. Will you join us?

FUTURE

OUR LONG-TERM GOALS

• Secure eight permanent apartments, each housing eight young adult orphans and full-time mentors.
• Develop a Professional Training Center offering degrees in twelve professions.
• Train leaders for 250 programs within Russia and another 100 in the other CIS nations.
• Financially support the program through businesses and endowments.

PROGRESS SO FAR

Most donors today are familiar with the concept of exponential growth versus linear growth. Nevertheless, it is interesting to think about again. If you were to reach 1000 kids’ lives each year, in ten years you would have reached 10,000 kids. But if you reached only 12 in two years and those kids reached another 12 in two years and so on exponentially, you would reach 248,832 kids in the same ten year period!

We all want to reach the most people possible with the good news of Jesus Christ. But what does it mean to really “reach” someone? For us, this means to befriend, invest in, love, journey with, and live out the good news to someone, as well as tell them about it. We would probably all agree that this is impossible to do with more than a few people at any given time.

This strategy – investing deeply in the lives of a few – was the Lord’s strategy and model to us as he worked with his disciples. The Harbor is committed to ministering deeply and individually to each young adult orphan. Not only will such care and development empower these orphans to reach others with Christ’s love, but it will also mirror the genuine love and attention that God demonstrates to each of us as individuals. God’s love has transformed our lives and we believe that it will transform the lives of Russia’s orphans. Will you join us?

FUTURE

OUR LONG-TERM GOALS

• Secure eight permanent apartments, each housing eight young adult orphans and full-time mentors.
• Develop a Professional Training Center offering degrees in twelve professions.
• Train leaders for 250 programs within Russia and another 100 in the other CIS nations.
• Financially support the program through businesses and endowments.

PROGRESS SO FAR

Russian volunteers partnering with The Harbor: 5-10 per year (average)
Harbor graduates working at The Harbor as volunteers: 3 per year
Facilities as of March 2008: 3 residential apartments and 1 office/professional training center apartment

THE GOAL for 2008-2009

2008: Locate separate facility to host Professional Training Center (PTC)
2009: Rent 2 more residential apartments to house 16 new orphans every two years
2009: Rent 1 more residential apartment for Next Step phase (post-adaptation)

There are many opportunities to partner with The Harbor, either individually or as a small group:

• SPONSOR a Young Adult Orphan or National Staff
  $150 / month will support a full-time resident, providing food, education, healthcare, clothes, transportation, school supplies, household supplies, and toiletries. $900 / month will support a staff member. You will give a Russian Christian with professional expertise – in social work, psychology, education, or pastoring – a chance to use their skills in ministry. While many have the desire to work full-time in ministry, most can’t afford to feed their families on a typical ministry salary. But ministry done by foreigners – who often have plenty of resources – is not nearly as effective as that done by nationals. So we desire to equip nationals with the resources necessary to sustain a family while also thriving in full-time ministry.


• HELP DEVELOP the Professional Training Center
  Donations designated for the PTC will go towards training orphans in The Harbor and other regional orphanages in one of five professions: carpentry, ceramics/pottery, computer programming, cosmetology, or sewing/upholstery. If you specialize in one of these professions and would like to teach a seminar at The Harbor, email info@theharborspb.org


• HELP CREATE an Endowment Fund
  The development of an Endowment Fund will allow us to purchase 8 more permanent facilities, ensuring that this program can last for generations.


• HOST A GATHERING
  Share with others the needs and stories of these orphans. To organize an event, email info@theharborspb.org

Tax-deductible donations can be made online at the CRM website or checks should be made payable to CRM and sent to:

CRM Empowering Leaders
1240 N. Lakeview Ave. Suite #120
Anaheim, CA 92807-1847
(Memo: Account #9970)

The Harbor…taking young adult orphans off the streets of Russia and helping them successfully integrate into mainstream life.

OUR MISSION

Find the lost and forgotten orphans of the Russian state system who have a desire to succeed and develop them in such a way that they are anchored in life and launched into a sustainable future.

THE NEED

Numbers help illustrate the grim reality…

Russia has 10 million children-at-risk. Once they turn seventeen, orphans are moved out of institutions and forced to make a way for themselves. Most don’t succeed. The result? More orphans and street children in Russia today than in the years following World War II.

135,000 children are orphaned every year.

Between 10,000 and 15,000 orphans leave the Russian state orphanage system annually.

An estimated 40% of post-institution orphans become alcohol and drug addicts, 40% end up in the criminal world, and 10% commit suicide.

OUR CORE PROGRAM

The Harbor immerses young adult orphans into small holistic communities providing:

• Practical Formation
  Harbor staff model and coach residents in life skills such as cooking, nutrition, personal hygiene, budgeting, housekeeping, and family living.
• Spiritual Formation
  A Russian pastor provides encouragement in the journey of finding God and meaning in life.
• Emotional and Relational Formation
  Psychologists help participants wrestle with their unique issues in individual and group sessions.
• Educational Formation
  Staff members guide participants through completion of their high school education and eligibility for technical college or university studies.
• Vocational Formation
  Professionals provide basic competency in technology, carpentry, English, sewing, and cosmetology.