Exploding shells are destroying homes and churches in the Donetsk region, where Ukrainian security forces and pro-Russian rebels have been battling for control since March.
(Image, caption courtesy Christian Aid)
Ukraine (SGA/MNN) — Displaced Ukrainians face a bleak future. Around 300,000 have been forced to leave their homes and livelihoods, according to the UN. Several eastern cities and towns have sustained heavy damage from the violent battles, destroying their economy. People fleeing that violence are flooding into other parts of Ukraine, taxing resources and patience.
Displaced Ukrainians often appear in safe zones with nothing more than the clothes on their backs. They enter with needs that must be immediately met: food, shelter, clean water. People who stayed in rebel-held cities also face enormous challenges.
Some have been without electricity, running water or medical aid for over two weeks. Over 200 Russian trucks–supposedly carrying more than 2,000 tons of water, baby food, and other aid–fell under close scrutiny as they approached the Russia-Ukraine border Friday.
“There’s great concern, on all sides, wondering what the true intentions of that are,” says Bret Laird with Slavic Gospel Association. “Obviously, all hope that the intentions are good.”
Laird says his contacts are telling him, “This convoy is either going to be an excuse for an escalation, or it’s going to be a way to back off.”
Nonetheless, SGA is equipping local believers with resources so they can help displaced Ukrainians in Christ’s name. Their efforts are driven by the command in Galatians 6:10: “So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.”
You can help by contributing to SGA’s Crisis Evangelism Fund.
This fund helps local pastors who have few resources, and enables their churches to distribute vitally important food aid, as well as Bibles, Christian literature, and other essentials. Most important of all, displaced Ukrainians will hear the life-changing Gospel and experience the love of Christ–the only true Hope for ultimate peace and reconciliation.
Your gifts to the fund can help accomplish so many things. For example, $15 USD can help provide a food pack, which contains flour, cooking oil, pasta, and other staples, as well as Christian literature. Larger gifts can help provide physical assistance like mattresses and bed linens.
“We’ve been taking care of church members who are in need, but also equipping them to reach out to their most-needy neighbors,” says Laird, explaining that SGA often sends five food packs to each church family. Four are for the family to keep, while one is designated for a neighbor in need.
Please continue to pray for Ukraine.
(Image courtesy Sergey Rakhuba via Facebook)
“This provides a wonderful context for them to reach out with the Gospel and the love of Christ to their neighbors.”
Will you pray for these believers as they share Christ’s love?
Pray that world leaders will have wisdom in the Russia-Ukraine situation and pursue means of peaceful resolution. Pray the suffering of displaced Ukrainians and those in trapped in eastern Ukraine would be relieved.
