Support for the Ukrainian Church

As all of us have watched the horrors of war unfold in Ukraine, we’ve wondered -- and been asked – how our churches can respond in ways that both meet immediate needs and fulfill our commitment to the Gospel as the true hope of mankind.
​
Your church may have already determined a strategic recipient for your financial assistance, and if so, that’s great! But if you’ve been wondering about or even researching appropriate channels, I would recommend the Ukraine Crisis Fund at ABWE which is endorsed by one of our association’s pastors with first-hand experience.**

Here are some supporting details for your consideration:
 

• The Ukraine Crisis Fund was established by ABWE’s Ukraine Team during the 2014 conflict and has been an effective vehicle for providing physical aid with Gospel witness. John Taylor, now President of ABWE Canada, was the Ukraine Team Leader in 2014 and recently recorded a 4-minute video explaining the history and functioning of the Ukraine Crisis Fund, including recent disbursements from the fund. John has given permission to share this clip in promoting the Ukraine Crisis Fund as an outlet for your church’s/people’s giving.
• The administrative fees taken from gifts to this project account are only 5%. As current Ukraine Team Leader, Mike Gustafson, recently explained: “that 5% is a really good investment of speeding up the process and getting the funds directly to the needs.”
• According to Mike, the goal is to use 50% of the incoming Ukraine Crisis Fund proceeds within the country of Ukraine and the other 50% available for refugee aid in nearby countries. Aid is distributed primarily through local churches or church planters.
• Access to that second 50% is being made available to multiple ABWE teams and national partners, including Bulgaria, Germany, Hungary, Moldova, Poland, Romania, and Slovakia.
• Highlights of ABWE ministries in Europe responding to Ukrainian refugees:
  • Poland – ABWE is re-entering Poland later this month with the arrival of Team Leader Ron Davis. Ron was already planning to work with a Ukrainian church planter there, and that partnership will be key as Poland has now received nearly 1.5 MILLION Ukrainian refugees in just over 2 weeks! One recent headline read: “Two Ukrainians enter Poland every three seconds; cities can’t buy beds fast enough.”
  • Romania – ABWE teammates, including Andrew & Leah Postema (co-sent by Highland Hills Baptist and First Baptist of Lowell), are involved with multiple national churches in Bucharest that are coordinating their response. Check out the initial update from UBC22 (“Ukraine Bucharest Churches ‘22”) with a report on those efforts.
  • Germany – Steve & Becky D (sent from Berean Baptist in GR) are based in Berlin while also serving as the Regional Director for the MENA Region (Middle East/North Africa). Steve is also the founding pastor and a current elder at CrossWay International Baptist Church. He reports their church’s response in Berlin as follows:
    • Housing people, both in private homes and government-sponsored refugee homes.
    • Providing physical necessities for them food, clothing, toiletries, etc.
    • Helping to supply items to a church in Kyiv (the home church of a Ukrainian couple at CrossWay).
      • Moving forward, we plan to offer our church home, help Ukrainian/Russian speakers find a church home, share the gospel with nonbelievers, and disciple believers.

 
If you choose to send your gift to ABWE, it would be great to include “MARBC Support for Ukraine” in the comments to your gift so that we can track our cumulative effort.
​
One of the blessings of being part of a fellowship of churches is the opportunity to partner together in a significant endeavor for the cause of Christ.  We are grateful for your prayerful consideration of this opportunity.  
​

---