February 2022, the world held its collective breath as the mounting tensions between Russia and Ukraine were unfolding. Rumors of war turned into reality as Russia launched a large-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24.
Wesleyans across the globe are praying and looking for ways to bring relief and hope to Ukrainians fleeing the current conflict.
General Superintendent Wayne Schmidt activated the Wesleyan Emergency Relief Fund (WERF), immediately providing $5,000 in aid to Ukrainian refugees. Global Partners (GP) is working with Wesleyan pastors in Eastern Europe to provide boots-on-the-ground assistance.
Rev. Tomas Mojzis, Wesleyan pastor in the Czech Republic, is helping to spearhead the WERF efforts in Ukraine. In a public video on February 27, Rev. Mojzis shares connections are being made with 50 families being provided housing in different cities at that time. People in the Czech Republic, Poland and Wesleyans across Europe are offering financial assistance to aid Ukrainians. But the need is great as refugees wait in lines at the border of neighboring countries, standing “for days in the cold with no food,” said Rev. Mojzis.
Kevin and Cindy, Wesleyan Czech Republic workers, found their visa appointments cancelled “due to the overwhelming number of people seeking residence.” They have been housing Ukrainian guests who will soon head out to the next step of their journey, not knowing “where they will end up, or for how long,” shares Cindy.
Maják, a local Wesleyan community center in the Czech Republic, has prepared living areas for incoming refugees. Kyla, GP worker, reports, “The needs that we are hearing about change day-by-day, but the consistent things Maják is offering are housing, help with acclimation, and being a drop-off point for goods to be sent into Ukraine.”
Rev. Przemek Bogdan, Wesleyan pastor in Poland, states, “We succeeded to pick up six kids with mothers from the train with 2,000 people. They were 24 hours in the train …” and remained “behind bars on the platform for three hours … until they were able to cross.” Polish Wesleyans are working in shifts to provide transportation of people from the border to their next destination.
Wesleyan pastor’s wife caring for refugee.
Please pray for Ukrainian refugees. Pray for Eastern European Wesleyan leaders who are assisting and serving the needs before them. Pray for our Wesleyan leaders and workers in Russia as they care for people.
Would you prayerfully consider what you can give to bring relief and hope to Ukraine? Checks should be made payable to The Wesleyan Church with a note in the memo line for WERF Ukrainian Refugee Relief. Gifts should be mailed to The Wesleyan Church Corporation, c/o General Treasurer’s Office, 13300 Olio Road, Suite 100, Fishers, IN 46037.
Rev. Angela Alvarado is the assistant editor of Communication and Administration of The Wesleyan Church and a graduate of Wesley Seminary, Marion, Indiana.
Cover Image: Adapted from xiquinhosilva – Flickr: 28160-Lviv, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=31607304
