Beslan tragedy a platform for the church to help grieving families

Russia (MNN) — As children in Beslan, Russia started school Monday, five days after everyone else in Russia, ministries continue to remember the needs of the area. One year ago, terrorists attacked school number one in Beslan, taking more than 1,300 people hostage.

Slavic Gospel Association is one such organization. They attended the dedication of the memorial for the 360 victims of the terrorist siege one year ago September 1st. But, SGA also was able to worship with the Beslan Baptist Church as they mourned the loss of their church members, but celebrated their home-going to heaven.

SGA’s Joel Griffith says this church has been a testimony to the community. “Just the example of this church in the midst of this tragedy, being able to overlook their own grief in an effort to show Christ’s love to others, the impact to this community has been astounding.”

Brothers, Sergey and Taymuraz Totiev, pastor and elder respectively, in the Beslan Baptist Church, lost six of their eight children in the tragedy. 36 other children who attended Sunday school were also killed.

Griffith says that’s why SGA is helping them. “Our purpose there is to serve the church and however they need us. They’re the ones on the ground doing the ministry and we basically try to equip them.”

That’s exactly what they’ve been trying to do. “We were able to get copies of Dr. John MacArthurs’s book called, “A Faith to Grow On” and it’s a children’s theology book. And, I know that previously, we were able to get some Biblical counseling books there to help pastors deal with bereaving families.”

The on-the-ground support comes in the form of finances to help with building needs, Bibles and other resources, to help equip Christians to be effective in outreach.

Continue to pray that many will turn to Christ in the midst of their grief. If you’d like to help supply resources, contact SGA by clicking here.