By Laura McKillip Wood
Ministries across Poland are opening their doors to the flood of refugees fleeing the fighting in Ukraine.
According to Christian Fellowship North in Warsaw, “We want to create a space where all our refugees can come [and] take whatever they need, so they don’t have to worry about it.” That appears to be a representative sentiment of all of these ministries.
The World Health Organization estimates more than 3 million refugees have fled Ukraine thus far, with approximately 60 percent of them entering Poland. Here are some of the Polish relief efforts we’ve heard about.
OSTRODA CAMP
Ostroda Camp typically focuses on providing a Christian camp experience for children. When Russia invaded Ukraine, Ostroda opened their doors for refugees and quickly converted their chapel into a dormitory. They decided to house people in campground cabins but immediately recognized those summer-only structures needed heat. They first tried electric heaters, which quickly overloaded their system. When people in the community learned of the situation, they arrived with donated equipment and rewired the cabins within four hours. The camp also distributes clothing and teaches Polish classes.
Ostroda Camp works with 10 local churches, which have welcomed as many refugees as possible, but the churches need funds to continue providing aid. One of the churches meets in the lower level of a warehouse. When the war began, church leaders asked the owner for permission to use the warehouse. The owner agreed, and the warehouse is now a distribution center for refugee services.
To donate to Ostroda’s work, visit their Facebook page.
PROEM MINISTRIES
Proem Ministries has served in Poland since 1990. The Polish-run ministry reaches children in Eastern Europe with the gospel by providing a Christian camp experience. When the war started, Proem immediately began collecting food and supplies; the camp has been sheltering refugees at their campgrounds and helping them find housing and jobs in the area. Proem holds worship services with Ukrainians and Polish people. To watch an excerpt from one of their services, click here.
Additionally, Proem mobilizes buses and vans to take supplies across the border for distribution to Ukrainians still in that war-torn country.
At his blog, retired Christian minister Bob Russell shared a message he received more than a week ago from Maui Dwulat, founder and executive director of Proem Ministries. “We will soon receive 100-200 orphans and families from Lviv and Kyiv after Ukrainian authorities authorize their transportation,” Dwulat said.
In addition to requesting prayer, Proem asks that people make financial contributions via their website.
POEM (PEACE ON EARTH MINISTRIES)
POEM (Peace On Earth Ministries) Joplin, Mo.-based Peace On Earth Ministries, founded by Victor Knowles, works with a variety of ministries in Eastern Europe, including some serving in Ukraine and Poland. Churches that POEM works with in Poland are taking in refugees. A small church in Bielsk Podlaski started a Ukrainian worship service to allow Ukrainian Christians to gather and worship. Those who remained in Ukraine are ministering to others in their community. Financial donations can be sent to POEM, Box 275, Joplin, MO 64802. Write “Ukraine refugees” in the subject line or donate through their website.
CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP NORTH
Christian Fellowship North, a thriving church in Warsaw, started serving Ukrainian refugees in 2014 when Russia annexed Crimea and parts of eastern Ukraine. CFN has increased its work since the start of the war in late February; it thus far has settled 330 refugees.
CFN focuses on finding housing for refugees, providing financial assistance and help finding resources and jobs, and organizing and transporting supplies back to Ukraine.
“We use two vehicles, which have permission to quickly cross the border,” according to the church’s website. “Each carries 2 tons of necessary things. Thanks to relationships with local pastors in Ukraine, we deliver the necessary products directly to those in need.”
Christian Fellowship North recently began a clothing drive it is calling “Narnia,” since it serves as a huge “wardrobe” of clothes (a reference to C.S. Lewis’s Chronicles of Narnia series). Additionally, CFN holds worship services in a variety of languages, and their website contains links to many resources in the Russian and Ukrainian languages. “We have been working at the highest speed, trying to meet the needs of Ukrainian refugees and those still in the country.” To learn more about the church’s work or donate, visit their website.
God is using his people to serve those displaced by the war. Please continue to pray for these and other ministries serving in Poland and for the Ukrainians affected by this war.
Laura McKillip Wood, former missionary to Ukraine, lives in Papillion, Nebraska, and writes about missions for Christian Standard.
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