JOINT STATEMENT

for distribution to Elders, Mission Committees and Partners:

Since its inception a little over a year ago, Jeremiah's Hope has worked to share the gospel of Jesus with hundreds of children across the Donetsk region of Ukraine.  Steve Taliaferro moved to Ukraine in December of 2002 and began working in several orphanages in and around the city of Donetsk.  Activities include weekly Bible classes, summer camp, and much more.

In August of 2004, Andrew Kelly moved to Mariupol and began working full-time with the Transitional Living Center (TLC).  His focus has been dedicated solely to seeing this work grow.

Over the past year, the work of Jeremiah's Hope has taken two different roads.  What has developed is a ministry centered around several orphanages in and around Donetsk and another ministry focused around the TLC and orphanages in Mariupol.

In March of this year, Steve decided that he felt the Lord was calling him to pull out of Jeremiah’s Hope and develop a “sister” ministry focused more specifically on orphanage outreach and transitional programs with orphans in and around Donetsk.  We have met on several occasions throughout the spring and summer to discuss what this will mean for both of us and our respective ministries.  We both feel that this will help the ministry to the orphans in this region grow.  It will actually enable us to cooperate more effectively and efficiently in several areas, for example, when it comes to receiving containers of supplies.

After much prayer, the decision has been made that Steve will begin a new ministry for his continued work (orphanage outreach, summer camps, transitional programs, etc.) toward the end of 2005 or early 2006.  Our desire is that the organizational status of Jeremiah's Hope will remain intact and become the umbrella for the work in Mariupol.  We feel this to be the wisest decision, considering that the children at the TLC in Mariupol are cared for under contracts between their trade schools and Jeremiah's Hope. 

We ask that you please pray with us throughout this time as these transitions take place.  Our hope is that, through this, a greater working relationship will develop between these "sister” ministries, which will allow us to reach more orphans with the message of God's amazing love.

If you have questions, please contact either of us.

Blessings,

Andrew Kelly & Steve Taliaferro

Andrew's E-Mail - andrew@jeremiahshope.org

Steve's E-Mail - steve@jeremiahshope.org