Gateway Church of Christ

HUMANITARIAN RELIEF INTERNATIONAL was begun in the early 1990s.  At this time the Gateway Church of Christ in Pensacola, Florida, began supporting Kenny Payne as our missionary to Gorlovka, Ukraine.  Kenny related the dire need for medicines and medical supplies.  During this time, several members of Gateway visited Gorlovka to decide how best Gateway could help the people of this city.  The Elders asked Mona Mobley, with the help of Ole Olsen and other medical personnel at Gateway, to head up an organization which would send medicines, medical supplies, food and clothing to Gorlovka.  Over an approximately eight year period, with the help of individuals and churches from far and near, HRI sent two 10 ft. containers and twelve 20 ft. containers to Gorlovka.  We were able to ship these containers free of charge.  During this time the U. S. Government paid for humanitarian aid to former Soviet Union countries.  When the U.S. Government stopped paying for the shipments, HRI decided it would be best to send monetary gifts.  After much consideration, it was decided to send monthly monetary gifts (via missionaries working in Gorlovka) to: 

1.  The Infant Hospital (the Head doctor is now a Christian and works closely with Kenny Payne). 

2.  Food, clothing, etc., for an Elderly Hostel. 

Kenny and Lora Payne deliver these items to the Hostel. Recently, Dr.Valerie Rubanov and Dr. Olga Shvets were invited to come to Pensacola to visit our hospitals, clinics, pharmacies and several physicians.  They never ceased to thank us for the privilege of experiencing how we Americans "practice medicine" and giving them the opportunity to take some "new knowledge" back to Gorlovka.

  HRI has received funds from members of Gateway and Mr. and Mrs. Zane Nolen.

  Barbara Brooks, the Financial Secretary at Gateway, takes care of all HRI funds.

  Dr. Bud Myer is the Elder over Humanitarian Relief International.

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