By Natalie BennettMonday 7 Mar 2022Social JusticeReading Time: 6 minutes
Unsure how you can support Ukrainians through this season? We’ve gathered some helpful information from partners on the ground about the best way to give and how to pray.
Ways to help and show support…
Samaritan’s Purse – Emergency Field Hospital
As conflict in Ukraine escalates, Samaritan’s Purse is deploying an Emergency Field Hospital to the region to meet the critical medical needs. Disaster response specialists have been on the ground in Poland, Romania and Moldova since last week conducting rapid needs assessments and preparing a strategic response.
“Ukrainian families are hurting and in desperate need of physical aid and prayer during this difficult time,” Franklin Graham said, president of Samaritan’s Purse. “We are deploying life-saving medical care to aid people who are suffering. We want to meet the needs of these families in their darkest moments.”
Find out more at samaritanspurse.org.au.
Red Cross – Ukraine Crisis Appeal
You can help the Red Cross teams on the ground providing first aid, supporting health facilities with medicines and equipment, providing families with food, shelter and hygiene items, delivering much-needed water, and repairing vital infrastructure.
Donations to the Ukraine Crisis Appeal help provide emergency relief and longer-term humanitarian support to people and communities affected by this unfolding crisis.
Find out more at redcross.org.au/ukraine.
Tearfund – Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal
As part of the Disasters Emergency Committee – a group of humanitarian agencies – Tearfund has launched an appeal for support. Our Christian partners are working around the clock to meet the immediate needs of these refugees, providing support such as food, bedding and temporary accommodation.
Find out more at tearfund.org/campaigns/ukraine-crisis.
World Vision – Ukraine Appeal
World Vision is on the ground in Romania at the Ukrainian border responding to the needs of children and families who have been forcibly displaced due to the crisis between Russia and Ukraine. World Vision is also working with partners on plans to support displaced families inside Ukraine and those crossing into Moldova.
Find out more at worldvision.com.au.
Baptist World Aid – Standing with Ukraine
Support of the Baptist World Aid appeal will provide support for food, hygiene items, medicine, generators, blankets, pillows and necessary items for displaced people as well as shelters set up for them.
“A refugee crisis is an inevitable outcome of tragic conflict, and our response must be both prayer and action,’ CEO Melissa Lipsett said. “Baptist World Aid Australia is responding to this crisis both within and around Ukraine, supporting Christian Partners throughout the region as they care for an influx of people seeking safety. We are also positioned with other Christian Partners at home to advocate for a stronger Australian government response to support refugees displaced from their homeland.”
Find out more at baptistworldaid.org.au.
Hillsong – Ukraine Appeal
Hundreds of thousands of people have fled their homes to neighbouring countries, the capital of Kyiv is under siege and thousands are sheltering in any place of safety they can find. Hillsong Australia said their hearts and prayers go out to their Hillsong church family in Kyiv with Hillsong Global launching an emergency appeal so “our church family world-wide can support @hillsongkiev as they continue to assess the needs of their community in very rapidly changing and difficult circumstances”.
Find out more at hillsong.com/appeal.
A Prayer for Ukraine
Lord of all people and all nations,
We lift before you the people of Ukraine and the people of Russia, Each girl and boy, each woman and man living in fear of what tomorrow might bring. We long for a time you spoke of through your prophet Isaiah,
When weapons of war would be beaten into ploughshares,
When nation will no longer lift up sword against nation.
We cry out to you for peace.
Protect those who only desire to live in security and safety,
Comfort those who fear for their lives and the lives of their loved ones,
Change the hearts of those set on violence and aggression,
Fill earthly leaders with great wisdom to find paths to peace.
Please, Lord come and have your way with your world,
May your will be done on earth as it is in heaven,
May your peace reign, now and always.
We lift this prayer to you, our God, who is able to do more than we can ever ask or imagine.
In the name of Christ our Saviour. AMEN.
By David Thomas, Christian Aid
St Swithun’s Anglican Church SwizMail. Friday 4 March 2022.
Tearfund: How to Pray for Ukraine
A guide for individuals, groups and churches to pray for peace in Ukraine and around the world.
When faced with a crisis like the conflict in Ukraine, it can be hard to know how to pray. But the desire to pray itself is a great place to start. The Tearfund guide is divided into two sections: the first giving you suggestions about what to pray for, and the second providing different creative prayer ideas for you and your church, group or family to use.
“Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.” – Philippians 4:6-7 [The Message]
Prayer is an important part of who we are at Hope 103.2. Prayer has the potential to transform people and cultures.
Prayer has the ability to unite communities and build hope, regardless of circumstances. Prayer is one of the ways we, at Hope 103.2, can support and journey with you in all seasons of life. To be with you in the times of trial and crisis and praise God with you in the moments of joy and celebration.
If you have a prayer request you would like our team to uphold in prayer please send us your prayer requests.
Feature image: Ukrainian/Romanian Border, Feb. 26, 2022 Samaritan’s Purse has deployed teams of disaster response specialists to Poland, Romania, and Moldova to assess the areas of greatest need for fleeing Ukrainian families.
Interviews from the Hope 103.2 team
Find out more about our Hope 103.2 shows
On Hope Breakfast with Ally & Brendan
Australian Missionary in Lviv, Ukraine
Listen: Lindsay Blessing, a missionary in Lviv, Ukraine, explains the current situation in her hometown and how her church is rallying behind those in need.
- For the full story, read Ukrainian People Living in Hope Despite Worsening Crisis
On Hope Afternoons with Ben McEachen
Ukrainian refugees arriving in Sydney, how we can support them
Listen: Andrew Mencinsky, director of Ukrainian Council of NSW, shared how Ukrainian refugees have arrived in Sydney and how we can offer practical and prayerful support, Friday 11 March
On Hope Drive with Laura Bennett
World Vision helping restock hospitals and mobilising their team of counsellors
World Vision CEO Daniel Wordsworth has just been in a Ukrainian border town, helping refugees get out and restocking hospitals with supplies, along with mobilisng World Vision’s team of counsellors to help locals process the impact of the conflict.
Listen: World Vision’s Daniel spoke about the way families are being separated at this time, what keeps him hopeful and how we can pray.
Family in Hungary’s experience of receiving and supporting Ukrainian refugees
UK-born founder of Truth Planters David Steele and his wife Hannah, along with their four children, have lived in the Ukranian border country of Hungary for the last five-and-a-half years as pastors and Christian missionaries. Since the conflict in Ukraine began, David and his church network across Europe have been receiving refugees into their homes who’ve fled the area, particularly supporting women and children who’ve been separated from male family members who must stay in Ukraine and fight.
Listen: Hungarian-based English missionary David Steele talked about receiving Ukrainian refugees into his home and how we can pray for those affected by the conflict, Friday 11 March