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Ukraine Emergency Relief
March 29, 2022 @ 8:00 am - May 29, 2022 @ 5:00 pm
Below is an update from Canadian Baptist Ministries (CBM) and the ongoing invasion by Russia into Ukraine.
On February 24th, 2022 Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered troops to invade Ukraine. This has been widely condemned by the international community as an illegal invasion of a sovereign nation.
As part of the Baptist Forum for Aid and Development (BFAD), CBM is immediately releasing funds to support the response of the European Baptist Federation (EBF) and the Ukrainian Baptists.
CBM is receiving your financial support and is actively engaged through our partnerships to respond. We are closely monitoring the escalating and fluid situation and will update this page with further details as they become available.
Update: February 25, 11:45 AM ET.
The refugee migration has started with 6-7 km lines of people heading towards the Polish border. Both the Polish and Hungarian borders are currently open for Ukrainians to leave, and for goods to go enter Ukraine.
The situation on the ground is rapidly evolving, but our implementing partner, the All-Ukrainian of Associations of Evangelical Christian-Baptists has robust plans in place to respond and a lot of capacity to care for internally displaced persons. Polish and Hungarian Baptists are already organized to house refugees and bring goods into Ukraine.
We continue to speak with our partners who have been providing aid and shelter. One Ukrainian pastor, Pastor Igor, thanked all those praying for peace, adding: “Almost from the very beginning we have received prayers and support during this terrible time.”
Update: March 3, 3:45 PM ET.
Due to safety and logistical reasons, the Baptist office has been moved from Kyiv. The team gathers for daily worship and coordinating meetings. Ukraine has deployed martial law, so it is difficult to get in both goods and money. Ukrainians have been able to negotiate “green channels” for bringing in aid, the first truck will test out this route tomorrow. The team on the ground in Ukraine is working very hard and is feeling tired, but continues to serve faithfully.
Movement out of Kyiv is now more difficult as is movement around Eastern Ukraine in general. Churches in the West are welcoming those fleeing conflict and helping women and children to cross the border. Many of those who are staying in Ukraine are now living with other Christians in the West. A Ukrainian pastor shared the following: “During this war, God is making miracles in Ukraine. Prayer is God’s shield over Ukraine. We are still standing only because God is taking care of us”. There are even weddings and baptisms still happening during this time.
In Poland, there are strong structures in place to offer help to refugees. Last night there were 400 refugees in a local Baptist church, children playing games and playing piano and experiencing lots of love. They have opened up another summer camp to about 40 refugees. The local seminary is also housing 40-50 refugees. There’s a growing number of churches (20-30) that are receiving refugees.
In Slovakia, each Baptist church has dedicated a person to respond and report to a national coordinator who can help organize supplies and the movement of refugees. So far, 70,000 refugees have come into the country, with many people resting for a time at the churches before moving on to a final destination.
Follow the link to make a donation through CBM.