Skip to content
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • Log In
  • Subscribe
  • Renew
  • Donate
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • Log In
  • Subscribe
  • Renew
  • Donate
The Baptist Paper
Search
Close
The Baptist Paper
Search
Close
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your state news
  • Classifieds
  • Request a free trial
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your state news
  • Classifieds
  • Request a free trial

Mississippi Baptists gear up for major Ukraine relief effort

  • March 3, 2022
  • Mississippi's The Baptist Record
  • Disaster Relief, International Mission Board, International News, Mississippi, North American Mission Board
Thousands of people take shelter in a subway station during a bombing February 25 in Kyiv, Ukraine.
(Photo credit: Drop of Light/Shutterstock.com)

Mississippi Baptists gear up for major Ukraine relief effort

Mississippi Baptists, alongside ministry partners in other states, have long-standing ties to the people of Ukraine since they gained their independence from the former USSR in 1991. Volunteers from Mississippi Baptist churches and pastors from the state have made many trips to the cities and communities of Ukraine, sharing the gospel and assisting the growing indigenous church with discipleship and training over the past two decades, The Baptist Record reported.

With this strong tie and the many friendships that exist, Mississippi Baptists are joining together to express concern, pray and respond with alongside Southern Baptist partners in meeting the needs of the Ukraine people.

The conflict between Ukraine and Russia that has been simmering since 2014 erupted last week with Russian forces staging a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. After weeks of heightened tensions and escalating conflict in eastern Ukraine, Russian troops entered the country.

Major attacks are occurring across Ukraine including in the capital, Kyiv, which continues to spread widespread fear and panic. This is forcing many people who are unable to flee into shelters and subways as air raid sirens ring out in the streets of the capital.

Russian troops have quickly expanded their presence across Ukraine, with military clashes ongoing in other major cities. Reports indicate well over 350 casualties and at least 1,500 injured as conflict continues to escalate, according to media reports this week. As the conflict intensified, people began to flee the capital — home to nearly 3 million people — and other conflict-affected areas of Ukraine, internally displacing more than 160,000 people and pushing more than 250,000 to move across borders to neighboring European countries, including Poland where border authorities say some 200,000 people have arrived in recent days. See related story on ministry work in Poland.

Most fleeing currently are women and children with men staying to fight. Reports continue to indicate that as many as 5 million Ukrainians will be displaced in neighboring countries and large numbers of internally displaced persons have formed in Western Ukraine. Believers unable to flee the country continue to gather in churches across the nation for prayer and fasting.

Southern Baptists through the joint International Mission Board/North American Mission Board crisis response ministry program, Send Relief, are responding with our partners on the ground (existing national ministry and other trusted partners) and are ramping up response to this major crisis.

Send Relief began responding with food relief before the invasion and continues to collaborate with national partners to provide food, shelter, transportation, clothing and ministry to those displaced and impacted by the crisis in Ukraine. Send Relief has expanded response to displaced people in countries that border Ukraine.

Total resources committed, planned and in progress currently amount to $408,600. Send Relief is deploying a Southern Baptist Disaster Relief Disaster Assistance Response Team to the crisis area, made up of volunteers from Disaster Relief state partners.

Send Relief anticipates that opportunities for volunteer response will increase after the SBDR DART team completes the initial assessment. Responding teams will need to meet international travel requirements, complete IMB requirements for international response prior to deployment, and be prepared to operate in hardship conditions.

As noted in a related report, the best current ways for Southern Baptists to respond is by praying and giving.

Prayer Requests:

— Pray for peace in Ukraine.

— Pray for God’s protection for believers serving and ministering on the front lines of this crisis.

— Pray for those suffering in the areas of active conflict and for those who have lost loved ones.

— Pray that God will open people to the hope of Christ through this difficult season in their lives.

— Pray that the displaced can find a place to live as they flee the area where the fighting continues.

— Pray for women and children displaced from home, without husbands and fathers who are often the primary providers in these families.

— Pray that partners and the local church will have wisdom during this time, and that as we serve together and offer compassionate ministry in these difficult circumstances, that all we do would glorify the Lord.

To Give:

Gifts in support of ministry work in Ukraine can be given through your church, association or state convention. Individual gifts for relief efforts can also be given directly to SEND Relief online by clicking here.


EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was originally published by The Baptist Record, newsjournal of the Mississippi Baptist Convention Board.

Share with others:

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Email

Latest News

  • Longtime NOBTS registrar Paul Gregoire dies
    Longtime NOBTS registrar Paul Gregoire dies
    March 23, 2023/
    0 Comments
  • Endangered youth: When parents fail their children
    Endangered youth: When parents fail their children
    March 23, 2023/
    0 Comments
  • Former SWBTS professor of missions Samuel Shahid dies at 87
    Former SWBTS professor of missions Samuel Shahid dies at 87
    March 22, 2023/
    0 Comments

Sign up for the Highlights

Get all latest content delivered to your email a few times a month.
Email is required Email is not valid
Thanks for your subscription.
Failed to subscribe, please contact admin.

Related Posts

Journeyman shares ‘willing heart’ for ministry among Thailand’s Deaf

When Sarah Mitchell first moved to Bangkok, Thailand, to serve as a Journeyman to the Deaf with the International Mission Board, it was the first

Ukrainian churches remain ‘key agents of God’s work’ amid ‘poisonous hatred,’ evangelical leaders share

A former Russian Baptist union leader, speaking from Moscow, voiced an apology for his countrymen who are “participants in this crime against Ukraine.” “Ukrainians, we’re

MS Baptists launch multicultural ministries department

Paula Smith has been settling into her job as the first director of the newest department at the Mississippi Baptist Convention Board (MBCB) — the

Ramadan: 5 things Christians should know

Imagine fasting for 28 days. No food or drink during daylight hours. It’s about more than testing your will power. Your social standing and status

Want to receive news highlights throughout the week? Sign up here!

Email is required Email is not valid
Thanks for your subscription.
Failed to subscribe, please contact admin.

About

  • Our Story
  • Our Team
  • Our Partners
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Contact us
  • Our Story
  • Our Team
  • Our Partners
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Contact us

Explore

  • State-specific news
  • Archive
  • Opinion pieces
  • Sunday School lessons
  • Persecuted Church
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • State-specific news
  • Archive
  • Opinion pieces
  • Sunday School lessons
  • Persecuted Church
  • Podcasts
  • Videos

Submissions

  • Story suggestions
  • Your Voice/Letter to the Editor
  • Photos / Videos
  • Corrections/other
  • Submission Policy
  • Story suggestions
  • Your Voice/Letter to the Editor
  • Photos / Videos
  • Corrections/other
  • Submission Policy

Subscribe

  • Subscribe
  • Renew subscription
  • Gift a subscription
  • Start a new member subscription
  • Start a new group subscription
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Hosted Church
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Request free trial
  • Subscribe
  • Renew subscription
  • Gift a subscription
  • Start a new member subscription
  • Start a new group subscription
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Hosted Church
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Request free trial
The Baptist Paper
Address:
3310 Independence Dr.
Birmingham, AL 35209
Copyright © 2023 TAB Media Group
  • Privacy/Terms of Use
  • Help
  • FAQ
  • Privacy/Terms of Use
  • Help
  • FAQ

Email:
news@thebaptistpaper.org

  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Editorials
  • Archive
  • Your state news
  • Opinions
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Persecuted Church
  • Submit your news
  • Photo Galleries
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Editorials
  • Archive
  • Your state news
  • Opinions
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Persecuted Church
  • Submit your news
  • Photo Galleries
  • Our Team
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Subscribe
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Hosted Church
  • Donate
  • Contact us
  • Our Team
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Subscribe
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Hosted Church
  • Donate
  • Contact us

Log Out?

Lost your password?

Log In

Lost your password?

Log in

Become a part of our community!
Forgot your password? Get help
Privacy/Terms of Use

Reset password

Recover your password
A password reset link will be e-mailed to you.
Privacy/Terms of Use
Back to
Login
×
Close Panel