Update #22:
5th - 19th November |
We apologise that this update has been delayed by a few days this time. |
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Please join us on Monday 28th November 1900-2000 GMT for a prayer meeting for Ukraine over Zoom. |
As the war continues, the cold winter draws near, and the number of displaced people in Ukraine continues to be over 6 million, we would like to encourage you to pray earnestly for Ukraine.
We hope to be joined by Andrii Kaustov and Evgenii Lvov, who will be leading our prayer times. |
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We're just about to launch our Christmas Appeal 'Bibles & Blankets for Ukraine', focusing on assisting evangelical churches to help needy Ukrainians going into winter. Please keep an eye open for a separate email in the next few days. |
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| Please do continue to pray for Vitalii Mariash, who continues to serve as a chaplain to his unit, near the front line in the east. It is already cold now, and they are getting used to the frost.
Also, please pray for Andrii & Yolanta Kaustov, now in Belfast. Yolanta is receiving treatment for Ovarian cancer and Andrii for Hodgkins Lymphoma. Yesterday, Andrii let us know that Yolanta had received some concerning results, showing metastases in other parts of her body. They both fight on, using all their energy to serve the Lord in whatever ways they can, and they are praying for a miracle. Please pray!
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A recent UN report summed up the humanitarian situation particularly well but made very sobering reading: "Almost nine months into the full-scale war, hostilities and attacks persist across Ukraine, particularly in the east and south of the country, damaging critical civilian infrastructure – especially energy – and increasing the urgent needs of millions of people. Over the past weeks, waves of attacks on energy infrastructure have forced the country to adopt emergency power outages in all Ukrainian regions. Millions are facing constant power cuts, and the lack of energy is also affecting water pumping, adding to the previous challenges faced by millions of people to access clean water or run their heating systems at home. On 15 November, for example, a new wave of missile attacks – the largest on energy infrastructure since the start of the war, according to the Ministry of Energy – left millions of people in Ukraine without electricity, water or heating. This came at a critical time when the temperature is dropping below zero, raising concerns about a serious humanitarian crisis during the harsh Ukrainian winter if people are unable to heat their homes."
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The people and churches we are working with in Ukraine are acutely aware of the great need in all areas of Ukraine, and are stepping up their efforts to do what they can. |
In Kyiv, while Vitalii Mariash serves in the army, Liudmyla has been organising supplies of blankets for displaced people whom their church in Kyiv has been supporting. Often, they have to work by candlelight, due to the frequent power outages. So far, they've distributed over 1,100 blankets. |
Today (23rd) Gennadiy Prosjanko makes his latest trip to the warzone around Donetsk. Even though there is almost constant shelling, and food, water and medicine is only from what volunteers bring in, yet there are still many people living there, spending most of the time in basements. Gennadiy said, "Friends, we are aware that it is a big risk to go there and that is why we want to be sure of your prayer support. Please, remember us in your prayers."
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Liudmyla Mariash is in charge of getting winter supplies to displaced people from their church in Kyiv. |
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Last weekend a team from the churches in Ternopil (including the 'Happy Wheels' minibus team) took a convoy of 5 large lorries from Ternopil to Kherson, to bring supplies to the people there. People there have not had water and electricity for over two weeks, most shops are empty, and pharmacies and health facilities have no medicines.
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Please do pray for evangelical churches seeking to support needy people in Ukraine, not only with humanitarian support, but also in sharing the gospel. Pray that the Lord will raise up more evangelical Christian workers with a heart for the gospel, to serve in Ukraine. |
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| Donations Received (approximate): |
£1,318,000 has been received since the start of the appeal. |
Funds Disbursed (approximate): |
£982,000 has been disbursed since the start of the appeal.
71% to Ukraine 20% to Moldova
6% to Poland 3% to Romania
<1% for across Italy, Hungary, Spain and literature from UK |
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We are currently giving direct regular support to 14 evangelical churches across Ukraine, Moldova, Poland and Romania, and others on an as-needed basis. But some of this support is also channelled to other churches, particularly in the warzone. In some cases, we are also providing support to particular families, to enable them to support the work of their church. |
In the last few weeks, we've been working hard with many of our supported workers in Ukraine to pin down exactly what churches in Ukraine need with the onset of winter. The destruction of infrastructure is having a big effect, with 40% of the electricity distribution infrastructure incapacitated. By far the biggest request is for generators to allow churches to provide warm shelters. Today, we placed an order for 37 generators, to be shipped into Ukraine, along with power banks and thermal clothes.
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We've also been working with Volodia Kostyshyn to find the best way to provide large quantities of Ukrainian Bibles, and distribute them to churches. We recently tried out a supply route using the Ukrainian Bible Society, which worked well. Today, Volodia told us that he's placed an order for 2,500 Ukrainian Bibles - including children's and large print versions. Praise God that churches are seeing such a great need for Bibles! |
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For more details of how we are working to make effective use of the generous donations entrusted to us, please click here. |
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Phil Dunn (EMF Northern Ireland Representative) |
| Martin Tatham (EMF Church Partnership Coordinator) |
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