Here are answers to some of the questions we’re being asked most frequently about Ukraine relief:

Question: What is International Ministries doing in response to the war?

Answer: We are coordinating our response globally (in collaboration with the Baptist World Alliance); regionally through the European Baptist Federation and its member Baptist Unions in Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, and Moldova; and locally through the work of all of our global servants in Hungary – Carmella Jones (Budapest), Amanda and Jon Good (Debrecen), and Becky and Larry Stanton (Téglàs) are assisting with relief efforts. Carmella works with her local church to assist international students (mostly African) now displaced; Amanda and Jon are assisting their local church in hosting refugees, including having families in their home; Larry Stanton visits and ministers to refugees at the Hungarian-Ukrainian border.

We have sent $15,000 (fifteen thousand dollars) to the European Baptist Federation in response to their initial appeal to provide basic supplies – water, food, shelter, blankets, hygiene products, etc. We are consulting on the second appeal, which we anticipate will be substantially larger, as we begin to address longer-term relief and resettlement needs.

Question: How can I/we help?

Answer: The best way to help is by making a financial contribution. Gifts can be made:

1) through your local American Baptist church

2) by giving online through our website

3) by sending a check made payable to “International Ministries” at 1003 W. 9^th Ave., Ste. A, King of Prussia, PA 19406-1210

All gifts should be designated to “OGHS – Ukraine Relief.”

Question: How can we send supplies/material goods?

Answer: We have not received a request for material or supplies from our partners. Supplies are being purchased locally. Buying locally supports the local economy and minimizes the funding needed to ship goods from one location to another.

Question: Can I go to help? 

Answer: We appreciate your desire to assist in person. However, we have not yet received a request for volunteers from our partners. We do not want to burden them with hosting responsibilities, even as they are hosting refugees. Our Baptist partners in the neighboring countries have local volunteers assisting in this effort.

Question: Does it matter how quickly I/our church gives to this relief effort?

Answer: We have entered a marathon, not a sprint. The needs will be as real two years from now as they are today. Giving monthly is fine–we have some who have given directly to IM online, so that provides resources to release now. And the European Baptists are providing a lot of funding too, so we are not in this alone.  Even more important than giving quickly now, what will be needed is sustained generosity to meet the needs into the coming months and years.

3/21/22