Melinda Cathey
Executive Director and Co-Founder
Melinda has lived in St. Petersburg since 1992 with her husband, Mark, and their three children. Prior to their time in Russia, Melinda lived in the U.S. and practiced individual, family, and marriage counseling in a variety of settings. Her caseload has included victims of incest, adult children of alcoholics, addiction, depression, and numerous family and marital issues. She received her MA in Counseling Psychology from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in 1985.

Alex Krutov
Director of Development and Co-Founder
Abandoned by his mother when he was just a month old, Alex was placed in the Russian state orphanage system. His tumultuous childhood included adoption, abuse, running away, living on the streets, and a return to the orphanage system. Since that time, Alex has earned an AS degree in Business Administration Management. He graduated Magna Cum Laude from Franklin University (Columbus, OH) in 2005.

Luba Yarovaya
National Director
Born and raised in a loving Ukrainian Christian family during communist rule, Luba grew up embracing her faith while attending an underground church. With few options for education under Soviet rule, Luba attended sewing school and became a seamstress, eventually starting her own sewing business. Moving to St. Petersburg at the age of 24 for the chance at furthering her education, Luba attended St. Petersburg Christian University and earned a Bachelor’s degree in Theology. While in St. Petersburg, Luba learned about The Harbor and eventually became its Program Director. Since then she has continued her education, earning two more Bachelor’s degrees in Psychology and Business Management.

Tatiana Batalova
Assistant Program Director
Born and raised in Izhevsk, Tanya moved to St. Petersburg in a leap of faith. After two months in the city, she met Luba Yarovaya and became familiar with The Harbor. She soon realized why God brought her to St. Petersburg. Working as an Assistant Program Director, Tanya feels privileged to be a part of this innovative ministry.

Ira Gubkina

Director of Vocational Training Center

Born in the small Siberian town of Tyumen, Ira came to St. Petersburg to study elementary education at the Teacher’s Training University. After graduating, Ira worked as a second- and third-grade teacher and then attended the Horizon School of Evangelism to study the Bible in depth and experience ministry firsthand. She then went on to various projects: translating sermons and Christian literature into Russian as well as working with a homeless shelter and orphanage. During this last project, God gave Ira a desire to work with orphans. She soon found her place at The Harbor and has been a Girls’ Mentor since 2001.

Sergei
Assistant Director of Vocational Training Center

Sergei married in 2003. He and his wife Maria have a heart for teenagers. Born in St. Petersburg, Maria came to know the Lord while at a Christian camp in 1998. Since then, she has prayed to be placed in a ministry reaching out to teenagers. Sergei grew up in the Baltic States and became a Christian while studying at a university in St. Petersburg in 1996. Together, the two attend Calvary Chapel (where Sergei holds a number of leadership positions) and serve as mentors to the girls and boys at The Harbor.

Ivan Makarenko
Pastor

Although born and raised in Kazakhstan, Ivan has been living in St. Petersburg since 1996. After graduating with a degree in Theology from St. Petersburg Christian University, he and wife Lena planted a church in one of the city’s suburbs. After hearing about The Harbor through fellow church members, Ivan and Lena felt called to get involved. Ivan now serves as pastor to Harbor participants. He leads individual and group bible studies, and has had the privilege of baptizing several participants. He continues to serve as the pastor of The Resurrection Church and is currently working on a Master’s degree in Theology.

Igor
Boys’ Mentor

Born into a military family in Maikope, Igor grew up wanting to be tough like his military father. While learning martial arts as a child, he received a copy of the Lord’s Prayer from his teacher and began being drawn towards the Lord. After studying at Pushkin Military Radio-Electronics Institute for three years, Igor became a Christian and decided to transfer to St. Petersburg Christian University, where he met Luba Yarovaya, National Director of The Harbor. Igor started working with The Harbor as a mentor in 2007 and also serves as a pastor at Grace Church in Pushkin City.

Andre
Boys’ Mentor

Born to a military family in far-eastern Russia, Andrew became a Christian while studying at the Military Institute in St. Petersburg. Leaving the army, he enrolled at St. Petersburg Christian University and there met Luba Yarovaya, National Director of The Harbor. He began working at The Harbor as a mentor in 2007 and also serves as an associate pastor in a local church.

Nadezhda
Seamstress

Born in St. Petersburg to an Orthodox family, Nadezhda came to know the Lord while working on the reconstruction of an Orthodox cathedral alongside Christians from a Baptist church. After being baptized, Nadezhda experienced intense tragedy: Nadezhda was robbed, she was fired from her job because of her faith, her husband left her, her son-in-law was murdered, and her friends and relatives abandoned her as a traitor. After finding a new job at the Theological Academy, Nadezhda learned about The Harbor. A professional seamstress, Nadezhda now teaches sewing to the girls at The Harbor. She finds great fulfillment in this ministry and loves building relationships with the girls she teaches.

Natalia
Counselor

While earning a Master’s degree in Counseling from St. Petersburg State University, Natalia struggled to figure out how she would combine her faith with her profession. Through working in a shelter for orphans during her last year practicum, Natalia began to see the value of her education, particularly in the area of child psychology. Some friends introduced her to The Harbor and she began working with us as a professional counselor in 2005.

Eka and Vadim
Next Step Parents

Eka moved to St. Petersburg when just twelve years old due to war in her homeland of Abkhazia. After graduating from the Pedagogic Institute – where she specialized in History – Eka married Vadim and they now have two children. Vadim is a graduate of the Institute of Mechanics and Optometry and has also served as an officer in the army. After his military service, Vadim worked in a social shelter and is now employed by a water maintenance company. Along with serving as leaders at their Calvary Chapel church, both Eka and Vadim serve with The Harbor as house parents in the Next Step apartment for boys.

Tatiana
Accountant

Chris & Anya Gandy

Chris is a native of Texas and Anya is from Nizhny Novgorod, Russia. Having met in Russia, Chris and Anya knew from the beginning of their marriage that they would return to Russia to engage in ministry. Chris will assist The Harbor in various aspects of The Harbor’s web presence and Anya will be translating training materials for children-at-risk into Russian. Assisting The Harbor is the fulfillment of a long quest that has taken this couple from Nizhny Novgorod, to Texas, to California and now to St. Petersburg, Russia.