Update: 5th March 2022

In the midst of traumatic and horrific events of the last few days, it's been greatly moving to see the heartfelt response of Christians, willing to give sacrificially in support of their brothers and sisters in Ukraine and refugees from the conflict. We've been astonished to see the generosity of Christians, and we can announce that we reached the target of €50,000 within 3 days of launching the appeal.

We are sending this money onto our missionaries and their churches in Ukraine, Moldova, Romania and Poland - who are able to make effective use of this supporting refugees.

Since we believe we can make effective use of the funds, and the need is likely to be there for some time, we have decided to extend our appeal for the immediate future, and we will report back regularly on how donations are being used.

How the funds will be used:

We wanted to be clear with supporters about how their donations will be used. We will endeavour to use every pound donated to this appeal to support refugees from the Ukraine crisis, via our network of churches in the area. The funds will be used for humanitarian needs including food, medicine, shelter, transport and clothing. We will also use funds for spiritual needs - in seeking to share the gospel with refugees. The funds will channeled through our missionaries and their churches, and in many cases they will involve other evangelical churches to coordinate support.

An Appeal for Support

Please donate to our EMF Ukraine Emergency Appeal fund

We have been working with our partners in Ukraine, Moldova, Romania and Poland who are in a position to provide shelter and support for refugees - either working through their church, or sister evangelical churches.

• Initially we were looking for up to €50,000; but this target has already been met, and with the need growing we are extending the appeal.
• All of the funds will be transferred to churches we support in Ukraine and neighbouring countries, and will be used entirely to support Ukrainian refugees.
• EMF will ensure that 100% of the donations are passed through to those able to help, and we will only transfer funds where there is reason to believe the funds will be used well.
• Because of the difficulty of getting supplies into Ukraine, we would expect much of the money to be used in neighbouring countries, but we will endeavour to make as much of the money available to people in Ukraine, if they can use funds effectively.
• Our partners are already working intensively to help refugees, and to support them, EMF will immediately make funds available to these churches to expand their support.

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How to give

Give by Paypal or Credit/Debit card

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Other ways to donate

How we can pray for Ukraine - Latest inputs from our missionaries

Please pray for Vitalii & Liudmyla Mariash (Kyiv)

Vitalii is academic dean of Kyiv Theological Seminary, and co-pastor of a Baptist church in Kyiv. His wife Liudmyla travelled south west with the couple’s children Marianna and Mark last week, to take refuge in her relatives’ home in Chernivtsi; Vitalii has until now stayed in Kyiv, with the church he feels responsible for, but after leaving the city to be safe overnight on 24th February, he has found he is forbidden to return to the city. He has travelled with a friend down south, and has joined his family in Chernivtsi…only for a few hours, as Vitalii’s wife and children aim to leave for the safety of Romania tomorrow (Sunday 27th Feb)  He expects to have to enlist in the military. Vitalii wants to return to Kyiv, but is not sure if this is possible. The  Kyiv seminary was operating online, but is not functioning at all at the moment.

PRAY that :

• The family may be comforted and upheld in the midst of this great trial of separation.
• In the midst of this chaos (at the time of writing, it is predicted that Kyiv may fall very soon) Vitalii may soon know whether he can return to Kiev, and how he can serve his country and his church.
• If he joins the armed resistance, Vitalii may be kept safe.
• The students and staff of the  Kyiv Theological Seminary, the members of the church, and all the other believers in Kyiv, may be protected from the ravages of the expected violent onslaught.

Please pray for Volodymyr & Oksana Kostyshyn (Ternopil)

Volodymyr (Volodia) is married to Oksana, and the couple has two sons: Zechariah, who has severe health problems, and Oleksii. Volodia pastors the Grace Church (Baptist) in Ternopil, Western Ukraine, and also teaches in the Ternopil Biblical Seminary. The couple has an important ministry with disabled children in the area. We have just heard that refugees are now arriving at their church (and others in the town) for shelter, and Volodia and the rest of the congregation are trying to provide what they can for them. This burden falls mainly on Volodia, who already has to share the 24/7 care of his son Zechariah (who had a nasty seizure the very day the invasion began).

PRAY:

• For a Ukrainian Orthodox neighbour of the Kostyshyns, who asked Volodia to pray with him before he left to go to the war zone.
• That this family may be kept strong in the face of added pressures in their already stressful existence.
• For the church there to find the resources needed to be able to help those who are desperately seeking urgent assistance.
• That Zechariah may be kept well and that the family does not have to evacuate. This would be so difficult for them to do.

Please pray for Mihai and Irina Chisari (Chișinău, Moldova)

Mihai is pastor of Imago Dei Baptist Church at Chișinău in Moldova and is married to Irina. They have two young daughters, Delia and Elisa. Their border with Ukraine has been inundated with refugees, and many have sought refuge in Chișinău (the capital city)itself. Mihai’s church is involved in the effort to give shelter, food and any other assistance to Ukrainians fleeing from the conflict in, for example, Odessa.

PRAY:

• For resources to cope with the flood of refugees (the local council is sending more and more to Christian churches and organisations). Moldova is a poor country, but is being generous.
• For strength and health, so that Irina and Mihai, already leading up a busy church, can assist these people in great need.
• For Graeme and Bequi Innes, who work closely with Mihai, Irina and others, and who have taken refugees into their home, which is now overflowing.
• For Christian witness to be full of love, integrity and clarity to the refugees, most of whom are not Christians.