What is going on in Ukraine:
The ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia reached a peak as Russia invaded Ukraine in the biggest attack by one country against another in Europe since WWII.
How will this affect people in Ukraine:
This conflict could cause nearly 5 million people to be displaced and lead to a catastrophic humanitarian crisis among the Ukrainian people. The greatest needs for displaced families are food, water, shelter, clothing, sanitation and hygiene needs.
What NAMB/IMB is doing:
Send Relief is currently working with local Baptist partners in Ukraine to respond to the crisis by ministering to internally displaced populations. Send Relief partners are on the ground providing emergency food relief, shelter and clothing, and offering transportation to displaced families.
Send Relief Ukraine Support Timeline:
View Send Relief’s response timeline below or click here for the latest prayer requests and to read the current, full-length crisis response report.
Send Relief surpasses $10 million in donations
To date, 519,102 refugees have been helped thanks to gifts donated by Southern Baptists. A total of $700,000 has been committed to Ukrainian refugee support in the U. S. This raises the total amount expended to $2,818,496.10. SBDR volunteer teams have reported 1367 volunteer days, 771 Gospel presentations, 3 professions of faith, 3092 ministry contacts, 126 Bibles distributed, 83 showers provided, 56 laundry loads completed, and 751 children cared for since the beginning of May.
The Crisis Continues
More than 24 million people will need humanitarian assistance in the months ahead, about 8 million more than previously estimated. Send Relief continues to work in 14 countries and has 42 current relief projects funded through company partners, state convention partners, and Baptist Union partners. To date, more than 510,000 refugees have been assisted.
Numbers Increase, Relief Still Needed
Nearly 6.5 million people have been forcibly displaced within Ukraine, adding to the almost 3.6 million and counting who have fled the country since the invasion started. Total expenditures committed to date: $1,280,269.00. These funds have helped more than 383,000 people.
The Casualties
Now in its fourth week, the ongoing military offensive has already caused 2,421 civilian casualties, including 925 killed, according to the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).
Mariupol is Evacuated
More than 13,000 people are evacuated from Mariupol. Donetska Oblast authorities report damage to at least 10 health facilities, more than 320 educational facilities and nearly 1,110 residential buildings, among other critical civilian infrastructure damaged or destroyed.
Bombing Occurs in Mariupol
An art school sheltering around 400 people was destroyed by bombing in Mariupol. This comes after last week’s bombing of the city’s Drama Theatre and Neptune sports centre – where more than 1,000 people had sought shelter amid ongoing hostilities.
Relief in Northeast Ukraine
The first UN-organized convoy, including relief items from the International Non-Governmental Organization (INGO) People in Need (PIN) and four UN entities reach Sumy Oblast in Ukraine. The convoy delivered 130 tons of much-needed medical supplies, bottled water, ready-to-eat meals and canned food for 35,000 people.
The Response
Send Relief has expanded response to displaced people in Poland, Moldova, Hungary, Romania, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. Total resources committed, planned and in progress is $642,850.00. Nearly 140,000 refugees have been assisted with these funds.
Those Displaced and in Need
4.4 million people have been forcibly displaced in Ukraine, while another 2.5 million refugees have fled to other countries, as reported by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees. A total of 18 million people are being affected by the crisis and an estimated 6 million people are in need of critical aid.
Russia Invades Ukraine
On this date, Russia officially declared war on Ukraine and invaded the country, forcing millions of Ukrainians to flee their homeland.
How you can pray and give financially to Send Relief:
Download the Send Relief Ukraine Prayer Guide to know how you can specifically pray for Ukraine.
Your gifts to Send Relief provide emergency food supplies, shelter and clothing to displaced families. As the conflict escalates, Send Relief partners are preparing to provide more food relief, continue meeting shelter needs and offer transportation to those impacted by this crisis.
Give to Send ReliefÂ
Digital resources for Ukrainians:
International Mission Board (IMB) missionaries are providing a digital lifeline for Ukrainians. More than five million Ukrainians have seen a Facebook ad developed by missionaries and global partners. The ads guide Ukrainians to The Hope for Ukraine website, a website that provides gospel resources, links to download a digital Bible and the ability to send a direct message to a Ukrainian or Russian-speaking Christian for help and prayer. Â
One of the ads is a video of a Ukrainian woman praying a vulnerable and heart-wrenching prayer for her nation (turn on closed captioning for English subtitles), and one is an ad featuring the reading of Scripture through Lumo Project videos. Â
Since its launch, 5.77 million people have seen the ads.Â
Visit “Hope for Ukraine”Â
What BRN is doing:
The Baptist Resource Network of Pennsylvania/South Jersey (BRN) is presently working with the Ukrainian Baptist Convention (UBC) in Philadelphia to aid refugees moving into our region. The BRN and UBC hope to meet the physical and spiritual needs of these refugees, through prayer and financial means. All gifts given to the BRN will benefit local BRN Ukrainian churches, the Ukrainian Baptist Convention, and any other initiatives that may arise during this time of crisis. This is a two-phase process:
Initial efforts:
- Praying for the people of Ukraine
- Praying for the spiritual condition of Vladimir Putin
- Praying for the Ukrainian churches in Ukraine and in Philadelphia
- Promoting giving opportunities through Send Relief and the Ukrainian Baptist Convention
Ongoing efforts, with plans on ministering to Ukrainian refugees coming to Philadelphia and beyond):
- Serve the needs of our Ukrainian churches as they minister to refugees
- Gather resources from BRN churches for our Ukrainian churches as they are relayed to the BRN
- Upcoming drives:
- Backpacks for Kids (A donor has graciously provided the backpacks!)Â
- “Tubs of Love” Welcome Baskets for families* (churches will need to supply bins as well as the materials)
- Gift cards
- More details
- Provide Disaster Relief Feeding Units, Shower/Laundry Units, Tent Shelters, Ready Eat Meals (MRE’s) to assist our Ukrainian churches
- Encourage giving to assist our local Ukrainian churches in Philadelphia as they care for the needs of refugees
Downloadable Promotional Resources:
Click on the graphic(s) below to download bulletin inserts (2 per page) for your church:
Click here for ideas of what to pack in the Tubs of Love
Click here to tell us your preferred collection site
MEDICAL SUPPLIES:
Individuals and churches may purchase medical supplies through Amazon to be given to troops who are serving in country. Find out more: https://www.1stuebc.org/helpukraine
TRANSLATORS NEEDED:
The BRN will also partner with John Barnett, a missions strategist for the Kentucky Baptist Convention, who is organizing translation services for the Ukrainians through his work on the national level as ambassador for care of refugees and displaced people for Send Relief.
Below are the current needs:
- People capable of helping translate documents, website text, ads to Ukrainian.
- People who can speak Ukrainian who would be willing to be online responders to talk to those responding.
- People willing to help us make short videos or other content for refugees (also graphics, pictures). We’ll use these both to share gospel and to direct to aid.
The plan is to do two levels of digital engagement. One will be to share comfort and hope, offer prayer and listening and the gospel as well. Another level will be to help promote information on where support and aid can be found. Most are coming on with their phones and using it as primary means of information.
“We literally have thousands of Ukrainians who would love to talk to someone and have some pray for them,” shared Barnette.
Very early in the process, there were 28,000 private messaging conversations, 232,000 visits to the website, and 482,000 have watch gospel videos.
Persons or churches wanting to be involved in these conversations can go to this link to register.Â
There is also a need for persons who are capable of helping translate documents, website text and ads to the Ukrainian language. Also, Barnett said there is a need for Ukrainian videos to be made that will help refugees as they enter the U.S. The videos will also include a gospel presentation.
Those wanting to help with translating documents can click this link to register.
WORLD RELIEF DISCIPLESHIP RESOURCES:
- Guide to Welcoming the Stranger, a 6-week small group curriculum created by Matthew Soerens, the author of the book Welcoming the Stranger.  Soerens is also available to speak at events.
- The Workshop, World Vision’s e-learning platform that is super practical, with classes with everything from helping people walk with traumatized refugees to starting ESL programs
- Tips for Working with a Resettlement Agency, a very practical guide to help work with entities who work with displaced people
- Responding to the Crisis in Ukraine, a brief update on World Vision’s Ukraine response
Those interested in giving financially in support of the above efforts can click the button below.
Give to BRN
New – October 2022
Baptist Resource Network churches are invited to participate in a Winter Drive to benefit Ukrainian refugees who fled from their homes this past summer.Â
Churches have two opportunities to give:
Backpack with Winter Supplies:
Each participant at the 2022 Accelerate Conference, held October 4 at the Sheraton Harrisburg Hershey Hotel, will receive a backpack, which can be filled with the following items:
- hats
- gloves/mittens
- scarfs
- socks
- other winter items
Love Offering for Purchasing Coats:
To help the refugees transition into winter, the BRN also will take up a love offering at our Accelerate Conference dinner to assist in purchasing coats for Ukrainians forced out of their homes. The BRN will send the donations to its partners on the ground ministering to displaced Ukrainians. At the Accelerate Conference dinner, Ukrainian worship leaders, Sasha & Vita Livantsov of Voices of Ukraine, will lead a special time of worship.
Collection Sites:
Filled backpacks can be delivered to the following churches across Pennsylvania/South Jersey:
- Bloomsburg SBC (Chuck Chamberlain, 570-441-3353, 108 Welliver Dr)
- Bux-Mont Baptist Church (Charles Blachford, 215-672-8335, 309 W County Line Rd)
- Catalyst Church, Altoona (Mike Blackie, 814-207-5723, 1331 12th Ave, Ste 103)
- East Shore Baptist Church, Harrisburg (Gary Mills, 717-439-0688, 6721 Jonestown Rd)
- First Baptist Church of Clarion (Jason Hunter, 814-221-5187, 649 Main St)
- Harvest Church, Kittanning (Fred Neal Jr., 724-664-9962, 143 Reed Rd)
- Rolling Hills Church, Verona (Greg Drayer, 724-882-9180, 120 Gernert Dr)
- SOAR Church, Woodbine, N.J. (Tom Dawson, 856-498-8048, 1324 Dehirsch Ave)
- Winfield Baptist Church (Corey Mitchell, 570-939-5423, 330 State Rte 304)
Deadline:
The deadline to bring backpacks to a collection site is Sunday, November 6. BRN Disaster Relief volunteers will pick up the supplies on November 7-9 and will bring them back to the Hub in Harrisburg for processing.
