By Baptist Message staff
ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – A SEND Relief assessment team plans to leave next week for Poland to determine how they can best assist refugees fleeing from the war in Ukraine.
The SEND Relief team will minister to refugees in camps in Poland. Once their mission is complete, future opportunities in the country will be determined.
Louisiana Baptists Disaster Relief State Coordinator Stan Statham said one of the most pressing needs for the team and refugees is prayer. He asked Louisiana Baptists to pray for:
— Peace in Ukraine;
— God’s protection for believers serving and ministering on the front lines of this crisis;
— Those suffering in the areas of active conflict and for those who have lost loved ones;
— God to open people to the hope of Christ through this difficult season in their lives;
— Displaced individuals, including women and children without husbands or fathers, as they find a place to live away from the areas where fighting continues; and
— Wisdom for local churches who serve and offer compassionate ministry in difficult circumstances.
“Like any disaster, we need people to pray, provide with donations and maybe even volunteer to serve on site,” Statham said. ‘Pray for the safety and physical and spiritual needs of the Ukrainians impacted. It’s hard for us in Louisiana to imagine having to leave our homes with just what we have in our hands and go to another country for an undetermined amount of time. And, pray for the missionaries and churches there who will have many opportunities to share Christ in the weeks and months to come.”
Louisiana Baptist DR has given $10,000 to relief efforts and has established a website for online giving. Additionally, $408,000 has been given through the SEND Relief for ministry efforts in Poland and other countries hosting Ukrainian refugees.
