By Baptist Message staff WEST MONROE, La. (LBM) – Pastor Mike Holloway was scheduled to take an annual mission trip to Ukraine in February, but the recent war caused him to refocus his plans from going to giving. Through Open Door Missions in West Monroe, more than $8,000 has been given to purchase food and medicine for Ukrainian refugees and also to financially support pastors, interpreters and Emmanuel Baptist Church in the European country, according to Holloway, who serves as president of the ministry and also is pastor of Ouachita Baptist Church, West Monroe. “Today, I could load up supplies, get on a plane and go help them,” Holloway told the Baptist Message. “That’s how badly I want to be there. But instead of me spending money to go, I can use that money for the people and churches over there.” Since 1999, Holloway has traveled to Ukraine and worked with Emmanuel Baptist in the Luhansk region. Volunteers from Open Door Missions helped build Emmanuel Baptist, whose members continue to meet in homes for worship and Bible study because of war-related damage to the congregation's campus. Holloway asked for continued prayers that the Ukrainians and churches they sponsor continue to reach their nation for … [Read more...]

By Baptist Message staff GDANSK, Poland – A Louisiana Baptist Disaster Relief team has been activated for ministry to Ukrainian refugees in Poland. The team, from April 12-18, will assist with shelter management, supply distribution, feeding refugees, and chaplaincy work at First Baptist Church, Gdansk. Louisiana, Ohio, Kentucky and Mississippi each will send one team per month for at least six months to serve in Gdansk on a rotating basis. “Pray for teams as they travel and minister,” LBDR Strategist Stan Statham told the Baptist Message. “This will be a little different than other disasters for our volunteers. It’s not a natural but a man-made disaster. You can imagine the trauma the refugees are experiencing at this time, so our volunteers on the ground will have to be mentally prepared for what they may encounter.” To support LBDR ministry to Ukrainians, visit louisianabaptists.org. … [Read more...]

By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer LAKE CHARLES, La. (LBM) – Trinity Baptist Church has served as a hub for hurricane relief in Lake Charles the last two years, but recently stepped up to serve as a centralized collection site for medical supplies and financial gifts for Ukrainian refugees. Since mid-March, the church has collected more than $90,000 that will be forwarded to Louisiana Baptist Disaster Relief, who in cooperation with SEND Relief will use the funds to purchase emergency food supplies, shelter, transportation, medical care and hygiene kits for displaced Ukrainians. A portion also will offset costs for the team to travel to Poland to minister to Ukrainian refugees. Trinity Baptist also collected enough medical supplies to fill 25 large boxes (1,187 pounds) that were shipped to Ukraine. In the future, the church plans to send a team that will minister to Ukrainian refugees in Poland. Pastor Steve James said his congregation has seen its own share of recent disasters, which has allowed them to identify with the plight of the Ukrainians. “We have gone through two hurricanes, a flood, a freeze and a tornado the last two years,” James told the Baptist Message. “Many folks in Lake Charles … [Read more...]