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Right now, the biggest need is money. That’s what missionaries in Europe and the U.S. told The Christian Chronicle with regard to the Ukraine crisis.
As thousands of refugees cross the border — into the nations of Moldova, Hungary, Romania, Slovakia and Poland — Churches of Christ in several of those countries are setting up shelters in their buildings and are providing food for those in need.
Needs also are on the rise among those who remain in Ukraine, but getting money to them is increasingly difficult, missionaries said. Wire transfers rose sharply after the Russian invasion began, but the stability of Ukrainian banks and the availability of cash is uncertain.
Following is a list of ministries associated with Churches of Christ and congregations collecting funds for Ukraine relief. Most of these entities have workers on the ground in Europe and Ukraine.
• Sunset International Bible Institute is collecting funds for relief. The Lubbock, Texas-based ministry partners with the Ukrainian Bible Institute in Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv. The institute trains preachers and church members for ministry. Sunset “will be collecting the funds stateside and partnering with UBI to get them where they need to go in Ukraine,” said Brandon Price, who works with the institute. To contribute, go to Sunset’s donation page and look near the top of the page for “Donate to SIBI Here, including funds for the Global Relieve Ministry and Ukraine.” Click the link and, on the pulldown menu that reads “Fund,” select “Global Relief Ministry.” Checks may be sent to SIBI, 3723 34th St., Lubbock, TX 79410. Designate contributions for “Global Relief Ministry.” Sunset’s phone number is (800) 658-9553.
• Jeremiah’s Hope, a nonprofit that supports orphans and the underserved in Ukraine, is collecting funds. Donate online to the Ukraine Relief Fund or contact Jeremiah’s Hope, Inc., PO Box 3411, Abilene, TX 79604-3411. Phone: (325) 320-8534.
• Ukrainian Education Center (UEC). Workers with this campus ministry in Kyiv and its supporting nonprofit in the U.S. will be distributing financial aid to the displaced. Donate online or send funds to Ukrainian Education Center, 4301 Hillsboro Pike, Suite 300, Nashville, TN 37215.
• Healing Hands International, a Nashville, Tenn.-based nonprofit associated with Churches of Christ, is accepting funds to help refugees. The ministry also is sponsoring a “Family Bucket Project” for people in the Nashville area. The ministry is partnering with Seastar Kids and the Hillsboro Church of Christ to fill 10,000 buckets with basic supply needs for refugee families. These buckets can be picked up beginning March 3 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Healing Hands’ warehouse (455 McNally Drive, Nashville, TN 37211) or the Hillsboro church building (5800 Hillsboro Pike, Nashville, TN 37215). A list of needed supplies will be provided with each bucket.
• Program for Humanitarian Aid (PHA). This ministry has served orphans and at-risk children in Ukraine for more than eight years. The program has staffers in Ukraine and is serving the internally displaced with food, fuel, blankets, medical supplies and relocation expenses. Donations may be sent through the ministry’s website or by mail to: PHA,
PO Box 12087, College Station, TX 77842.
• Eastern European Mission, which has distributed Bibles and gospel literature throughout the region for more than 60 years, is collecting funds for immediate aid to Ukrainians as it continues to collect funds for its Bible and literature production and distribution. The ministry’s address is PO Box 55245, Hurst, TX 76054.
• Christian Relief Fund. This nonprofit, with roots in Churches of Christ, works through child-sponsorship and poverty alleviation programs in more than 20 countries. CRF is working with its program in Romania to provide housing and relief for refugees from Ukraine. Donate online or send funds marked for “Ukraine Relief” to CRF, P.O. Box 19670, Amarillo, TX 79114-1670
• The Tuscumbia Church of Christ in Alabama is collecting relief funds. Minister Jeff Abrams makes regular trips to Ukraine and has multiple contacts in the country. Checks may be sent to the church at 102 East Fourth Street, Tuscumbia, AL 35674. Mark donations for “Ukraine relief.” Call (256) 381-0651 for more information.
• The College Hill Church of Christ in North Richland Hills, Texas, works with Jim and Marina Noyes, missionaries in Ukraine. The church is collecting relief funds, which may be sent to: Humanitarian Aid, c/o College Hill Church of Christ, 7447 College Circle, North Richland Hills, TX 76180.
Several readers have asked the Chronicle about the possibility of housing refugees in the U.S. A few congregations with direct connections to Ukrainians have sponsored such efforts. We are collecting information and will post updates as they become available.
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