Bringing Hope
The war in Ukraine presents a massive humanitarian crisis. All of Ukraine’s 41 million people have been affected by the Russian invasion. 6.5 million Ukrainians have been displaced within the country and more than 4 million have fled Ukraine as refugees to neighboring countries like Romania, Moldova, Poland, and Hungary.
GlobalGrace workers Warren and Elaine have lived and served near Kyiv for many years. When the invasion began, they decided to stay in Ukraine as long as possible to support their local church and ministries. But after several days of sheltering from danger, and moving from house to house with friends, they and their friends fled the country for Romania where they joined the refugee relief efforts of fellow GlobalGrace missionary Sarah, who serves in Romania
Just after arriving in Romania, they were asked to help a group of 28 Ukrainian orphans (ages 4-16) and 2 caregivers who had arrived in a local village. So, they quickly moved to the compound with the refugee children. Their understanding of the Ukrainian culture and language is a huge help as they navigate childrens’ medical and education issues, as well as their introduction to Good News of Jesus Christ.
While Warren and Elaine are serving in the village, Sarah lives in a larger city an hour away, where she coordinates and pools resources with local churches, NGOs, and foundations to deliver critically urgent supplies to help displaced people inside Ukraine.
Sarah networks with various groups - asking for/giving supplies, asking for/offering housing, sharing info on government programs, free flights, and posting specific needs that others can meet. Sarah and the network are also helping meet the needs of mostly women and children who cross the border. Transportation has become such a huge part of the ministry. One church in the USA has just provided $10,000 to help this ministry purchase a large passenger van to help displaced people inside Ukraine. This van will be used to transport people to other cities, to train stations, or to the border, where they will continue their journey out of the country.
We are so thankful for the generosity of donors, churches, and organizations. Your generosity makes a huge difference in the lives of people who have lost everything.
A Romanian pastor who serves near a border crossing reports that 3000-4000 Ukrainian refugees are streaming across the border every day. He and other local Christians have rented containers and portable toilets and assembled a roadside ministry center. This is a place where volunteers can distribute food, water, and clothing and provide transportation, or help refugees find temporary or longer-term housing.
The Romanian pastor is also raising support for the development of a language/job training school that will help Ukrainians integrate into Romania and become self-sustaining.
Airport runs were frequent with the first wave of refugees. Now more people are staying long term. Sarah serves with a local foundation that houses and feeds long and short-term refugees. They don't really want to stay in a village because there isn't anything there, so they are mostly staying in the cities where there is transportation, doctors, grocery stores, etc
Funding is needed for housing both long and short-term visitors.
The ministry network is also delivering food, medicine, medical supplies, and generators to Ukrainian hospitals – within Ukraine. The trip itself is no easy task.
Sarah says “Warren and Elaine are a part of a network of Ukrainian pastors who make lists of things their people need and we try to get everything on the list. Other ministry partners are taking in blankets, sleeping bags, feminine products, baby formula, and diapers 5 hours to the border. Then my YWAM colleagues are driving another 5+ hours to cities in Ukraine, meeting contacts who will pick up the supplies and take them to those who have requested them. This is a 3 day round trip journey, with 17 checkpoints along the road in Ukraine.”
The cost of purchase and delivery of items to Ukraine is easily exceeding $1000 per day. But the value of this ministry is priceless as it touches the lives of thousands of hurting and vulnerable people.
GlobalGrace workers in Romania are understandably exhausted and just living from day to day, meeting needs as they arise. In the early days of the war, they only requested a total of $5000, a goal that was quickly met. But as the stream of refugees grew to a flood, the needs and opportunities began to exceed more than $5000 per week.
GlobalGrace’s goal of $5000 per week will help meet the immediate and urgent needs, both in Romania and within Ukraine.
As we pray for a quick end to this war and a day when emergency funding will no longer be needed, the reality is that God has provided an opportunity to minister to vulnerable and hurting people during their darkest hour. These urgent needs were not a part of anybody’s plan, and are well beyond any funding these missionaries or local Christians can afford. God has placed them in a unique situation and has provided an unprecedented opportunity for them to share His love and compassion with their Ukrainian neighbors.
This is a global crisis, and Christians around the world are responding.
You can GIVE
You can GO
You can PRAY
GlobalGrace is raising $5000 per week to help Sarah and her colleagues as they minister to refugees.