Russia has invaded Ukraine. The Danish European Mission's project partner has staff on the ground in Ukraine and neighboring countries, battling the increased violence and growing humanitarian crisis.
We are receiving heartbreaking reports from our partners in Kyiv, Kharkiv and Mariupol, which are surrounded by the Russian army that has cut electricity, water and other communication lines. The invasion force attacked a blood bank and two operating rooms and destroyed 30 buses that were ready to evacuate innocent civilians. Missile and artillery fire purposefully destroys escape routes.
In the town of Irpin near Kyiv, evacuation attempts were met with mortar fire from Russian troops, causing many civilian casualties. This is where the Danish European Mission's project partner has its headquarters and it is now under the control of the Russian military.
The UN reports that around two million people have fled Ukraine so far. But by the grace of God, our partner organization can be there to help the suffering refugees outside Ukraine, as well as those facing Russian aggression inside the country.
Together with churches and volunteers, our partner organization picks up refugees at the border, offers them temporary shelter and food, and helps them find a more permanent place to live.
On Saturday, more than 1000 refugees were helped, and on Sunday 1200 more were helped. In addition to practical help and shelter, pastoral care and Bible sharing are also offered.
The importance of this help to people who are afraid and fleeing for their lives cannot be overstated. We are the hands and feet of Jesus as we share food, love, shelter and hope with people in need.
Food aid is urgently needed: Refugees, displaced people and civilians trapped by Russian forces and unable to be evacuated all need food to survive.
- It costs $357 to help a family in Ukraine with enough food for a week.
We are grateful for the support that donors have already given, but more help is needed as the humanitarian crisis worsens. Ukrainian relief teams are currently - and will continue to be - meeting the growing humanitarian needs.
Thank you for praying with us that God will:
- touch all hearts, bring comfort to the innocent victims and repentance to the invading forces, that they may know His will for them and stop the violence.
- Protect innocent civilians hiding in bunkers, subway stations or on the roads.
- Protect our partner organization that is in the field distributing food, aid and sharing the hope of the gospel.
- Continue to provide food and equipment to meet the needs of Ukrainians in crisis.
MobilePay 452022, label the gift: Ukraine. Include name and address for tax deduction.
Support Ukraine: emergency aid during war
Danish European Mission - from the Eastern Bloc to the Muslim world
During the Cold War, the Danish European Mission was mainly active in the communist Eastern Bloc. During this period, Danish European Mission donors supported the publication of a children's Bible in Ukrainian. The work was carried out by the Institute for Bible Translation in Stockholm (IfB), which the Danish European Mission founded in 1973 in collaboration with Ljus i Öster in Sweden and Misjon bak Jernteppet in Norway. In the 1990s, the Danish European Mission supported a church in Kyiv that helped families with children affected by critical illness, including cancer. Some of them had come from the Chernobyl area
In the late 1990s, the Danish European Mission shifted its focus away from the former Eastern Bloc countries to the Muslim world. The reason was that the churches in the former socialist countries had largely gained religious freedom after decades of persecution and were now experiencing a lot of church growth. Today, Ukraine is a base for much missionary work in the former Soviet Union and is called by some a Bible Belt in the region.
The situation is different in the Muslim world, where Christians can experience even severe persecution, but where many Muslims seek answers in the Christian faith. In the Muslim world, the need for Danish European Mission projects is far greater than in Eastern Europe.
But old love doesn't rust, which is why the Danish European Mission is currently turning its attention to Ukraine, where we have a project partner doing great work for the many people in need.
