A DECADE OF FAITH

March 2025 marks ten years since I first stepped into my role as Executive Director of what was then known as the East European Missions Network (EEMN). Looking back, I’m filled with gratitude and wonder at the incredible journey God has taken us on—a journey of faith, growth, and transformation that led to what we now know as the Spiritual Orphans Network (SON).

When I began this role in 2015, I never imagined the profound impact this ministry would have—not just on the people we served, but also on my own heart. Over the past decade, we’ve flown over half a million miles on over 500 airplanes. We’ve driven about a 100,000 miles in rental cars. And then of course, there are the countless taxis, trains, Ubers, subways, ferries and buses. We’ve been to 30 different countries and visited over 400 villages, towns and cities. But most important are the connections that have been made — thousands and thousands of souls that have been connected to the global family of Christ.

One unforgettable milestone was in 2017 when we launched our first Teen Life and Adventure Camp in Slovakia. Initially, it was an experiment—an opportunity to engage teenagers more deeply in their faith. We had no idea it would blossom into an international event, drawing young people from Slovakia, Germany, Czech Republic, Albania, Latvia, Estonia, Ukraine, and the U.S. Seeing their faith come alive is a memory that still stirs my heart.

In 2019, our Board of Directors made a bold decision: “Go big or go home!” It was time for a new identity that better reflected our mission and spoke to who we serve, rather than where. We embarked on a full rebranding process that moved us from EEMN to Spiritual Orphans Network—SON, a name that captures our heart for those who feel spiritually isolated and long for genuine identity. This was more than a name change—it was a declaration of purpose and God’s working in, around, and through the countless souls of those who desire to know their identity is in Him!

In 2022, the world shifted again with the war in Ukraine. Suddenly, our mission took on a new urgency. We knew we had to act—quickly and decisively. Within days of the Russian invasion, we launched the Ukraine Relief Fund. The response was humbling: over $600,000 was raised in the first two months alone, and by 2025 that number exceeded $1 million.

But beyond the financial numbers were the faces—the families who found shelter, the children who received food, clothing and education, the churches who continued their mission of hope. Partnering with local ministries, we continue to do everything we can to bring both physical and spiritual relief. Witnessing this outpouring of love and generosity reaffirmed what I have always believed: God’s love is unstoppable.

We’ve also welcomed our newest full-time, indigenous missionaries, Denis and Ela, who are serving in Albania. It’s a reminder that the mission doesn’t belong to one group or one nation—it’s a shared calling across the global Church.

As I reflect on the past ten years, I’m overwhelmed by gratitude. There have been difficult days—times, recently, when we lost beloved partners like Pastor Eenok Haamer in Estonia or Doug Anderson, whose passion for the Gospel inspired so many through Churches Alive ministry. Yet, their legacy lives on in the ministries this network of global workers continue to do, every day.

I don’t know what the next decade will bring. What I do know is that we will remain on our knees in prayer, with our hearts open to wherever God leads. I’m filled with hope, knowing that our supporters, partners and friends will continue to pray and walk this journey with us.

Thank you for being part of this mission! Together, we’ll keep bringing the light of Christ to those who feel forgotten, alone, and hopeless—those who are Spiritual Orphans, around the globe.