UKRAINian RELIEF FUND
Millions of Ukrainians have fled their home country since Russia invaded on February 24. Of that number, over 200,000 refugees have poured into Ukraine’s western neighbor, Romania.
The BFC has launched a coordinated-support effort in response to this growing refugee crisis. The BFC Board of Missions is working with a team in Romania ministering to Ukrainian refugees. The Board is collecting funds so that this ministry can meet the needs of these displaced people.
Please pray that the Romania team would be able to provide these refugees not only with food and shelter for their physical well-being, but also share with them the Bread of Life—Jesus Christ—who offers salvation for their lost souls.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
WAYS TO GIVE
Mail a check to the BFC Board of Missions: PO Box 3555, Allentown, PA 18106. Please write “Ukraine Relief” in memo.
UPDATES
Subscribe to the BFC email newsletter to stay up-to-date on how God is working in Ukraine.
APRIL 15, 2022: Your generosity continues to amaze. As of yesterday (Thursday, April 14th) you have given $96,176.01 to the Ukrainian Relief effort. All but about $1,200 has been transfer to our partners in Romania.
There are many needs as a result of war. There are the basic physical needs of food, water and shelter. There are emotional needs of love and compassion. There are the long-term needs of creating independence in a foreign country. There are also the children whose lives have been overturned by this war. The security of their family and friends has been shattered.
One of our partners has been working with Child Evangelism Fellowship that is seeking to meet this need. CEF is preparing 10,000 drawstring backpacks to distribute at events across Ukraine.
Easter is celebrated next Sunday (April 24th) in Romania and Ukraine (as well as other countries that observe the orthodox calendar), and the events this week will tell children about a Savior who was beaten and killed and rose from the grave to save them. In a place where there is a desperate need for hope, these backpacks are filled with the message of our ultimate hope.
We are continuing to receive contributions. You may give via PayPal using the QR code below or mailing a check to the BFC Board of Missions, PO Box 3555, Allentown, PA 18106.
APRIL 1, 2022: This has been a busy week on several fronts of the relief effort. Your care and generosity continues with now over $70,000 dollars donated by over 230 individuals and churches. The funds are transferred as quickly as possible with 80 percent already being put to use purchasing food, clothing, and medicine.
This week our partner, Dan, visited some of the places where relief work is taking place. Here are some excerpts of his report:
“On Monday we traveled up north and visited the refugee center in Sighisoara. Here several homes were given to house refugees. These buildings needed repairs and painting and are now providing shelter for 60 refugees. All the work on the homes was done by volunteers. One group of six women and seven children are living in three bedrooms with mattresses on the floor.
“In addition to the work being done to provide food and shelter to those who are able to cross the border into Romania, relief is being sent directly into Ukraine. This truck load of supplies was sent to Irpin which is near Kyiv, Ukraine.
“Finally, there is also work being done at an orphanage near the Romanian/Ukraine border by the Baptist Association.”
Not only are physical needs being met, but there is opportunity to preach the gospel to those fleeing into Romania. Church services are being held and refugees are attending.
MARCH 25, 2022: As of today, over $50,000 has been donated for Ukraine Relief by the BFC. The Baptist Association, the sending organization of these BFC workers, is helping more than 1,000 refugees close to the Ukraine border in Romania. It just recently issued another call to mobilize more trucks to transport supplies to the border by Tuesday, March 28.
By God’s grace, your benevolence is not only carrying a gospel witness across the globe but also right here in Allentown. A BFC partner in charge of the Ukrainian Relief Fund describes how:
“An unintended consequence of your generosity has been our ability here in Allentown to give testimony of the love of Christ. One of the banks we are working with to transfer funds has a Ukrainian woman working there. She has family in western Ukraine where she told us they go to bed every night wearing their clothes and have a packed suitcase beside their bed. When we began transfer funds for Ukrainian relief, she was brought to tears that people would be so generous to her countrymen. This has given us opportunity to talk with her about the love of Jesus.”
Praise the Lord!
MARCH 18, 2022: We are happy to announce that the BFC has raised more than $25,000! Praise the Lord for his faithfulness and the generosity of his people. BFC workers on the ground are seeing thousands of Ukrainian refugees and are helping to get them food and water.
Here is an encouraging but humbling note from the team leader in Romania:
“Brothers and sisters, the needs are huge, and it appears that they will continue to increase. Nobody is able to quantify human suffering that accompanies any war. And who is sufficient for all these things? We thank the Lord for you and your participation in these efforts to help the people of Ukraine who are suffering. Pray for wisdom in what we do, and especially for those making major decisions about helping the people in need, but also for the transportation and proper distribution of these goods. Pray for peace! But most of all, pray that through these perilous times many would turn to Christ and be saved. May we all be faithful followers of our Lord and Savior.”