SPIRITUAL ORPHANS NETWORK (formerly EEMN)

SON Network equips Christian believers, here and overseas, to be more mature kingdom-builders by helping bring the Gospel to those still living in the aftermath of over three-generations of imposed Soviet scientific atheism. The people of these once thriving Christian nations, have forgotten their Christian identity and thirst to know they are called, gathered, enlightened, and sanctified children of God, in Christ Jesus!The spiritual darkness and challenges of the nations we serve are uniquely different from more common, third-word missions destinations, and so can often offer a more impactful spiritual transformation in the local peoples and in missionaries, alike. Because of our vast network of overseas and North American ministry partnerships, we are uniquely qualified to be the “one-stop shop” for all things missions in former communist and Soviet bloc nations.

In order that the message of the Gospel falls onto the ears of people with whom a level of trust has been built, most Christian missions organizations seek first to build relationships through social and project ministries. SON is unique in that these relationships are built prior to sending missionaries (whether short or long term) to serve the areas to which we have been called.

In the aftermath of the collapse of the Soviet Union, the remnants of the Christian church began to try to adapt from rigid governmental control to their newfound freedom. Church leaders faced the overwhelming challenge of trying to rebuild the spiritual and moral foundation of Truth in an environment of limited resources and a culture influenced by over three generations of scientific atheism.

The stark reality for most of our ministry partners is that they are given decent seminary training, but then are dropped into rural communities and told to build the Church without any true concept of what that means or how to accomplish it. To add to that challenge is one of the sobering remnants of communist society dictating that all one needs to do to be a good comrade is to follow the rules, and the government will take care of everything else. So thorough and pervasive was the indoctrination, it is completely foreign for this people group (even Eastern European Christians), to grasp the understanding that they have a stake and a responsibility in building the Kingdom through their time, talent and treasure. It is our joy and calling in the Gospel to help educate the people of these former communist and Soviet bloc nations regarding their responsibility and their privilege in building Christ’s Church here on earth.

SON Network is Connecting Spiritual Orphans to the Global Family of Christ. We do this by building relationships through Christian missions that Engage, Reclaim and Transform lives in Christ.

● ENGAGE: Engaged Through the Word of God.

● RECLAIM: Reclaimed Identity as a Child of God.

● TRANSFORM: Adopted by God and Forever Transformed in Christ.

SON Network equips Christian believers, here and overseas, to be more mature kingdom-builders by helping bring the Gospel to those still living in the aftermath of over three-generations of imposed Soviet scientific atheism. The people of these once thriving Christian nations, have forgotten their Christian identity and thirst to know they are called, gathered, enlightened, and sanctified children of God, in Christ Jesus!

As a sending agency, Spiritual Orphans Network (formerly East European Missions Network) has placed career missionaries in Poland, Latvia, Ukraine, Russia, Hungary, Albania, and Turkey. We also strive to equip our international ministry partners to serve as missionaries within their own cultures. Each summer, short-term missions teams are sent to serve alongside these full time missionaries and ministry partners.

We offer opportunities for North American volunteers to participate as members of short-term mission (STM) teams that serve to connect with people in former communist and Soviet bloc nations in Central & East Europe, Russia, the Baltics, the Balkans, and in Ethiopia. SON mission teams host cross-cultural English Bible Camps and schools for children, Life & Adventure Retreats for teens, and Bible Studies for adults. Overseas teaching opportunities also exist for pastors and ministry leaders in a variety of settings and terms of service, through SON Regional Learning Center Conferences. Long-term and career missionaries are also called, equipped, and sent to serve in specific kingdom-building capacities that help empower, equip, and grow the visions for ministry of our indigenous co-workers, overseas. This is how relationships are strengthened, disciples are made, and the Body of Christ is equipped for Kingdom Building.

At SON Network we serve people in a part of the world that is often overlooked as a mission field. We excel at reaching spiritual orphans in the unique context of former communist nations.

Because of the 400+ year physical presence of the Lutheran Church in Central & Eastern Europe, Russia, the Baltics, and the Balkans, and as we are a Lutheran founded para-church organization, SON Network is uniquely poised to make connections with the remnant of indigenous co-workers in ministry from the historical Lutheran Church. We embrace the strength in an ecumenical witness of our life in Jesus Christ and so we gladly collaborate with Christians from other theologically conservative traditions. The goal is Engaging, Reclaiming, and Transforming Lives in Christ!

For Churches
You will never read or hear SON Network boasting about the number of people we “saved” during one of our missions. This is the work of the Holy Spirit by God’s grace, alone. Sometimes it can happen in an instant, but for most people, this profound transformation takes time and the patience of genuine relationship. We are in it for the “long haul” and so we spend a great deal of time investing in the relationships that have been so carefully nurtured, over time. This is where churches can become partners in ministry and where the partnership works both ways!
SON Network is helping solve the challenge for church leaders who desire a catalyst for discipleship and local mission opportunities.

Participants often return after serving on a SON mission team with a greater openness to intentionally pursuing spiritual growth and a vision for local mission opportunities. Short-term missions are also an effective way to rally an entire congregation to participate in global missions by sending short-term missionaries, supplying material support, and praying for those going and for those receiving the Word through mission.

For Businesses
We believe that our mission is founded in the Great Commission as commanded by Jesus Christ (Matthew 28: 19-20). Our vision and task is Connecting Spiritual Orphans to the Global Family of Christ. We do this by Engaging, Reclaiming, and Transforming lives in Christ!
Because of our unique mission field, Spiritual Orphans Network stands out among North American Christian individuals, congregations, businesses, and leaders - from young millennials to aging baby boomers. This is where your business can become a powerful voice in
Connecting Spiritual Orphans to the Global Family of Christ. By partnering with SON Network, you can engage your client base in unique and creative ways to help equip and support this generation to reach the first generation of believers in former communist nations.

As a sending agency, SON has placed career missionaries in Poland, Latvia, Ukraine, Russia, Hungary, Albania, Turkey, and Dubai. We also strive to equip the indigenous Church and lay leadership to serve as missionaries within their own culture. Each summer, short-term mission teams serve with these long-term missionaries and ministry partners. Additionally, SON staff and representatives teach and preach at conferences and conventions throughout the year, all over the European continent and throughout North America.

In September 1992, Pastor Don Richman founded East European Missions Network (now named Spiritual Orphans Network) to help rebuild the Lutheran Church in Russia and former Soviet countries. The idea was to educate American Christians to minister alongside the remnant of the Lutheran Church to develop Christian materials, host seminars for pastors and help build Bible schools and seminaries. Through this concept of mutual fellowship and sharing of resources, the idea of the Network began to take root.

From 2004-2014, Pastor Bill Moberly served as Director of EEMN and built upon Pastor Richman’s vision. Although EEMN had been hosting English Bible Camps as early as 1996, Pastor Moberly applied the idea more deliberately and was able to bring true partnership between North American congregations and East and Central Europe. Many of the students of these English Bible Camps are now Believers and Christian leaders in their communities.

Pastor David Breidenbach joined the staff as Executive Director in March of 2015. Pr. David and his wife Angela and daughters, Rachel & Emily began serving with SON (then EEMN) in 2006, leading teams to Ukraine, Slovakia and Russia. As their love for the ministry grew, so did the connection to the people they were serving. When Pastor David had the opportunity to join the staff as Executive Director, it was an easy decision.

Under his leadership, ministry partnerships began to develop outside of former Soviet Bloc nations, and it quickly became evident that we were no longer serving just in East Europe. Accordingly, it also became obvious that East European Missions Network did not describe the full extent of the ministry. As a result, Pastor David realized the need to rebrand to better tell the story of WHO we serve, not where we serve. Thus, in April 2020, Spiritual Orphans Network (SON) was born.

Today, SON continues to develop and nurture international partnerships that produce a strong network of people, ministries, and resources between European, African, Mongolian, and North American believers, and beyond. This is how relationships are strengthened, disciples are made, and the Body of Christ is equipped for Kingdom building.