“Who’s Sara?” is what I asked the first time I heard folks mention the name...uh, word...uh, acronym. Now I know:  SARA is Sharing America’s Resources Abroad.

If you want to know more about SARA, you can search the Internet and get all sorts of facts, or you can do what I did and spend a lunch hour at Cracker Barrel Restaurant with Rev. Jeff Gerber, pastor of First United Church of Christ in New Philadelphia.

Jeff is enthusiastic about SARA. He has made three trips to Transcarpathia. That’s nowhere near Transylvania but in Ukraine’s Great Southwest! Want to know more? I did too.

Jeff told me that SARA was formed about 15 years ago by native Hungarian and UCC pastor, Rev. Steve Szilagyi, who came to the U.S. as a child.

During a visit home in 1988, Steve came across a lad who had scoliosis. There was no surgeon in the area with the expertise to deal with that crippling condition. 

Steve’s response: Bring a surgeon to the U.S. to learn the procedure, take that skill back to Hungary and Ukraine and teach other surgeons. That was the beginning of a wonderful partnership.

About $18 million later (the estimated value of goods and services delivered by SARA), one is tempted to ask the question: Why don’t we spend that money here? You know, take care of our own?

Well, we’re already supposed to be taking care of our own. Now we should experience the incredible joy of s-t-r-e-t-c-h-i-n-g our giving. Stretching the Jesus in you; being bigger and better tomorrow than you are today. Stretching the Jesus factor!

There’s a trip scheduled for this month. What can those participants expect to do? According to Rev. Gerber, they will spend time studying the effects of America’s – more specifically, the Ohio Conference’s – benevolence. 

The travelers will see firsthand what can be accomplished when we send medicine and doctors there and bring their doctors here to be trained.

They will see the sincere appreciation of a grateful people. Even bureaucratic operatives extend truly sincere appreciation for the efforts of a caring group of everyday folks working under the acronym SARA.

If you make a trip with SARA, you can exercise one of two options. You can go with a group that visits various sites where aid has been tendered to see the results. You can verify that the funds and services have had the desired effect. You can also meet with functionaries and share visions of what could be and plan to make it a reality.

Or, maybe you would prefer to work with your hands. The same skills used on a Habitat for Humanity work site can be exported to the Ukraine where there is much help needed on a local building project. You could help a visiting dentist, or – if you’re a doctor – you could offer your services during your visit. You may also help with other miscellaneous work.

As part of the SARA group, you may take supplies and funds, but you will return with something as well. What you bring home is often of greater value than what you take.

You can expect to return home excited about the mission work you or your congregation can do without leaving the comfort of your homes or pews. 

You can expect to have a difficult time controlling your enthusiasm. You can expect to feel what Jesus does when he transforms energy into action.

Be your own kind of missionary. When future trips are planned, go to Hungary or sponsor someone else. Then share the wealth; fire up your congregation; and catch the spirit of SARA!

The Fellowship of St. John’s United Church of Christ in Milan has collected 310 pairs of shoes for children in Ukraine. 

The congregation sponsored a shoe collection for SARA’s Children, an organization founded to help children in countries suffering the effects of political upheaval. 

Throughout last summer and fall St. John’s members collected all kinds of shoes. In October the shoes, along with socks, underwear and small toys (stuffed in the toes of the shoes), were packed to be sent to Ukraine. What a joy to touch the lives of God’s people.

SARA’s Children is affiliated with SARA (Sharing America’s Resources Abroad), the Ohio Conference medical ministry.

SARA, Sharing America’s Resources Abroad, is an ecumenical ministry affiliated with the Ohio Conference which provides medical assistance to improve the well being of people around the world.

SARA began when Rev. Stephen Szilagyi, one of our local church pastors, visited Hungary and met a child in need of back surgery. The procedure was common in the U.S. but not available in Hungary. He helped the child receive treatment in the U.S. but thought it would be better for Hungarian physicians to train in the United States and take their new skills back to their home country. Out of this, SARA was born.

Young Gregor, at his church day care program in Pacir, Serbia, the first of its kind in the country

Since that time, more than $20 million in medical supplies and equipment have been sent to over ten countries. Dozens of physicians have received training in the United States through the support of SARA. While the focus of the work has been in Eastern Europe, the ministry has expanded to Central America and the Pacific Islands.

Rev. Attila Szemesi, pastor of Congregational UCC in Amherst, has roots in Hungary and Serbia.  According to Rev. Szemesi, the medical care in Serbia in the 1970’s was as modern as any developed nation in the world. As a result of years of war, medical science and technology suffered and are now on par with poor and developing nations.

SARA works with ecumenical partners such as the Reformed Church in Serbia, the Hungarian Reformed Church of Yugoslavia and the Ecumenical Humanitarian Organization to provide funding, educational opportunities and other forms of support to help medical providers in developing nations.

In September 2002, Rev. Szemesi led a group on behalf of SARA to Serbia. They delivered $15,000 in aid. It was used to start a new senior center, support cancer education and awareness, provide advocacy and medical care for the disabled and ministry to the gypsy community.

Residents of a gypsy camp in Ukraine

Local churches and members are encouraged to support this ministry. Church members can witness and participate in SARA’s work firsthand by joining a tour. Rev. Szemesi will be leading a group to Serbia in June and is looking for interested persons to join him. For information on the upcoming tour and for information about SARA, contact Rev. Szemesi at 440-988-9148.

SARA Stories