Posted on October 4, 2024 Spring 2024 Ministry Update

Kristy Engel

82%Support Pledged

Spring 2024

Kristy Engel – Global Consultant for Health

“Empowering communities to transform health and wellness.”

What’s happening these days?

Likely, by the time you read this email, I will be at the Hungarian/Ukrainian border, beginning a year-long assignment to work with Ukrainian Internally Displaced Persons (IDP’s). IDP’s have fled the war in eastern Ukraine and relocated to shelters on the western side of the country. I will be helping a local ministry partner develop their health care outreach to approximately 25 IDP shelters. Since the beginning of the Russian invasion in February 2022, millions of people have fled the conflict zones in search of peace and access to simple things like food, sanitation, heat, and electricity. Many tried to stay in their homes but when the war got too close, they were forced to flee, often under active attacks. Those that could, left Ukraine for other countries, but many chose to stay because their husbands, sons, and fathers were fighting in the war. But shelter life is not easy. Most funding for care and supplies has been reduced substantially over the last 2 years. By partnering with this ministry, I will be helping to provide medical care, treatment for chronic illness, and developing protocols for long-lasting health interventions through the local ministry.

Make a gift to the Ukraine Relief Fund

Ministry Moment

“Just be kind.”
On a recent visit to Ukraine with a delegation from International Ministries, I had the opportunity to interview an Internally Displaced Person (IDP) and mom. After hearing her dramatic and emotional story of fleeing the fighting in eastern Ukraine, I asked her what she wished more people knew or what she wanted to say to those in churches in the US. She simply said, “Just be kind. I want people to know that we can be more kind to each other.” This from a woman who has lost everything and said she left her home, following the bombings, with a small suitcase in one hand and her dog in the other. For the last two years, she has lived in a shelter and lived side by side with other families looking for safety.

Support Relief Efforts in Ukraine

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!

Has any of this stirred your heart to help in a “hands on” way as a volunteer?

Maybe you know of a group of people who would like to serve in Ukraine with the internally displaced persons (IDP’s) as a team? There are opportunities to serve on construction projects or through medical outreach so PLEASE contact the Short Term Mission (STM) department at International Ministries and learn more! All volunteers and teams are required to go through the STM office before serving in Ukraine.

Learn more about volunteering

A word from the Missionary Partnership Team (MPT)…

Kristy and Soozi at Hungarian Baptist Aid’s warehouse, near Budapest.

by: Soozi Whitten Ford

My passion for mission and local church ministry came together some 25 years ago, when I began serving as the Minister of Mission Support with Mid-American Baptist Churches (Iowa and Minnesota.) In that role, I was responsible for understanding all aspects of American Baptist mission (local, regional, national, and global) and then assisting churches in making connections with the areas in which God was calling them – as congregations, and as individuals. It was during that same season that International Ministries invited me, in 2005, to lead a local church team to La Romana, Dominican Republic, where Kristy had been serving for several years. We quickly became friends and have since weathered the storms – and celebrated the joys – that come when two friends share a deep love for Jesus and are committed to serving him; and support one another along their individual and convergent paths of ministry and mission. It has been my privilege to serve as the Convener for Kristy’s Missionary Partnership Team (MPT) for the last 20 years.

In February 2024, I had the privilege of traveling with Kristy to Hungary and Ukraine as part of a staff delegation from International Ministries. In Hungary, we spent time with leaders of Hungarian Baptist Aid (hbaid.org), learning about the ways they provide humanitarian relief and direct aid during times of global crises and disaster. In Ukraine, we were guests of the Transcarpathian Baptist Charity Foundation (TBCF.) This amazing organization provides food, groceries and psychosocial services to Ukrainian Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs.) It is these two organizations who have invited Kristy to serve with them for the next 12 months.

Since the war began in February 2022, IDPs have experienced limited access to health care. TBCF supports women and children in 23 shelters, located along the western Ukrainian border, most of whom are living with the traumatization of war. Imagine needing to move many miles from anything that looks familiar while living with one or more serious medical conditions…and realizing that you no longer have access to your medications, treatments, and your medical records, because your home and community have been destroyed. One of Kristy’s many roles will be to help TBCF develop sustainable systems to ensure these vulnerable IDPs receive appropriate services and care.

From the earliest days of the attack on Ukraine, Kristy has had a strong and persistent call from God to use her unique skills to serve among those who have been so incredibly traumatized. God’s call was so strong that she pushed against any number of barriers, imploring God to make a path when there seemed to be no (human) way to respond to the call. Recognizing her commitment to this call on her life, our team even reworded a popular phrase: Nevertheless, Kristy persisted.

I am honored to support my friend as she lives into God’s call for this season of her life. I invite you to pray for Kristy and her ministry among the many Ukrainian internally displaced persons. If you are able to provide financial support, please consider one of these avenues:

Ukraine Relief through OGHS: https://www.internationalministries.org/15000-in-oghs-emergency-relief-funds-to-ukraine-more-help-urgently-needed/

Kristy Engel Undesignated Specifics: https://portal.internationalministries.org/specifics-or-project

In the field “Name of Global Servant Specifics and/or Project:” enter Kristy Engel-Specifics

Kristy Engel Support (Monthly): https://www.internationalministries.org/author/k-engel/

Did you know?…

Here are a few interesting facts about the country of Ukraine that you might not know:

Ukraine is bordered by 7 countries (Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Moldavia, Romania, Russia, and Belarus) and 2 bodies of water (the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov).
Ukrainians often wear wedding rings on the right hand and not the left.
Easter eggs originated in Ukraine.
Ukrainian civilizations date back to about 4800 BC!
Before the Russian invasion in 2022, Ukraine was the world’s largest producer of sunflower oil.

Where in the world?

Symbiosis Bangladesh
For many years now, I have partnered with the multi-faceted ministries of Symbiosis Bangladesh, and cheered them in their numerous successes with community development. One of the areas where they have had an immediate and long-term impact on communities is through their Safe Birthing ministry outreach. Mothers and would-be mothers are provided with appropriate care, intervention, and education regarding childbirth and pregnancy. Newborns have follow-up at sponsored clinics and with trained midwives and nurses. This has had a significant impact on lives saved in the communities where Safe Birthing is practiced. But, they need your help! As with many of the ministries I partner with around the world, Symbiosis hires, trains, and helps employ local persons to assure sustainability while also partnering with international teams. To keep this project helping to save lives, you can learn more and/or support their work, by clicking here: Safe Birthing project in Bangladesh

Prayers

I am including some Ukraine-specific prayer requests as well as some general (always needed!) prayer requests:

Travel mercies
Discernment regarding which projects in Ukraine need priority
Funding, teams, and support of ongoing ministries in Ukraine
Ukraine local leadership (Csaba, Tony, Tanya, and Hungarian Baptist Aid)
Paperwork and permissions to bring my service dog to Ukraine
Finding space for rest and rejuvenation in the midst of ministry demands
Ongoing joy at partnering with work in Ukraine
Internally Displaced Person’s (IDP’s) needs

Homes at sunset in Ukraine (Photo by Tom Myers)

Support Kristy’s ministry

Support Kristy’s project’s through “Undesignated Specific’s” gift

Support Ukraine Relief

Learn about Hungarian Baptist Aid

How you can help.

I hope that the information in this newsletter has stirred your heart to help and inspired you to bring more kindness to our world. If you are considering how you could financially support any of the mentioned ministries or you just want to learn more, please click on the links, and thank you for your gift and prayers!