Ukraine Appeal: Small Churches on the Frontline of Relief
A typical day in Eastern Ukraine lately is marked by the sounds of artillery shelling, drones, and even ballistic missiles striking their targets. By the hundreds, civilians and military alike are wounded or killed each week. Adding to this the weather is not as forgiving as last year. Winter has just started to settle in and already temperatures are reaching the low 20s. Snow and frozen ground are building where shelter is scarce in war-torn cities. This has created a context of decreasing morale and an increasing sense of isolation. This is precisely where the Ukrainian Evangelical Church is showing up.
Through small churches and their faithful pastors, God is making himself known as they provide needy families with clothing, food, and wood as fuel for cooking and heating. This update shares stories from several pastors on the ground in these heavily war-torn areas in Eastern Ukraine.
From the Good News Church in Dnipro we hear, “Thanks to your support, we could refuel and repair transport for uninterrupted, daily service to people in this difficult time. Every week we deliver 100 tons of drinking water to people. We see thousands of grateful people daily who praise God that the church does not leave them in trouble. May God abundantly bless everyone who supports social service here in Ukraine for the glory of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!”
From the Ark Church in Donetsk region we hear, “Here in the city of Dubliany, we opened a center for displaced people, where we provide water, food (three hot meals a day), clothes, shoes, and personal hygiene products. Also, every month we make trips further east, to deliver food, hygiene products, and drinking water to the people there. We pray for them and tell them about Christ. Our team has the opportunity to visit the homes of people with disabilities and bring them diapers, food, and hygiene products. We visit people in hospitals who suffered from Russian aggression in Eastern Ukraine. We express great gratitude for the help provided. It is a significant contribution and support for us and our ministry.”
Through Peter’s Work, a partner with whom we have a discrete relationship due to security concerns in high-risk areas, we hear the following, “Potatoes are a significant source of food. For $140 we can purchase 2,660 potatoes, which is one ton. This will feed three families of five people for one month each! The orphans of this war are in special need because the state has had to redirect funds to the war effort. With funds from The Outreach Foundation, we have been able to keep these children fed during this hard winter. Thank you and God bless!”
Thank you!
In December, The Outreach Foundation was able to send a special Christmas blessing to these partners along with the Ukraine Evangelical Theological Seminary and Radooga. The gifts went toward feeding and fueling families who are feeling the devastating impact of this long war. We were able to send these funds because of generous donors who continue to stand with the church in Ukraine. Thank you! We will provide an another update soon with pictures from the use of these funds.
The opportunity
These stories are invitations for The Outreach Foundation to continue the good work of standing with small church pastors in their work of witness through word and deed. Financial gifts will help these pastors provide food and wood for families, orphans, and widows through the cold winter.
On April 11-23, we are privileged to be able to assemble a team to visit our Ukrainian partners in Lviv and Kyiv. With a team from City Church in Lithuania and The College of Theology and Social Sciences in Warsaw, we will hold a three-day resiliency retreat for military chaplains, pastors, and their spouses. Each participant’s cost is $250, which includes travel from Eastern Ukraine to Lviv, food, lodging, and activities.
Also, as part of this visit, we have been asked to bring IFAKs (Immediate First Aid Kits) for soldiers. These kits are of high quality and improve the survivability of wounded soldiers by 90%. We brought 300 IFAKs with us in March 2023 and have been asked to bring more in April. Please consider a donation of $110 to this effort.
Read more about the Ukraine Appeal HERE.
Along with your prayers, you may make a gift HERE or by sending a check to our office.