On September 26, 2022, Oleksandr Gross, the pastor of the congregations of GELCU of the Southern region, received the Diploma of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine “For merits to the Ukrainian people.”

“This is the first award for 20 years of social work. But it doesn’t belong only to me, but also to all those, with whom we served children and adults all these years. I thank everyone, who made donations and provided necessary resources. This is also your award! I thank everyone, who invested and continues to invest their time and energy in this work! I thank my wife, who was always there and whose hands oftentimes gave this help to people. I thank God, without Him, all this would probably not have happened!” – was Oleksandr’s comment on receiving the award.

The Diploma of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine is an award of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine for significant contribution to any sphere of state life, outstanding socio-political activity, merits to the Ukrainian people in promoting and strengthening Ukraine as a democratic, social, legal state, implementation of rights and freedoms of citizens, development of democracy, parliamentarism and civil harmony in society, and finally, active participation in legislative activities.