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  • Ukraine and ELF

Over the last weeks and months, we have all watched and prayed as the crisis in Ukraine unfolded. We pray for our Ukrainian brothers and sisters facing daily attacks, for the neighbouring countries offering refuge, and for a restoration of peace.


As we actively monitor this volatile situation, we recognize that many of our participants, volunteers, speakers, and partners have questions about the European Leadership Forum held each May in Poland, specific ways to help the Ukrainians, and how our Eastern European partners are doing.

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  • What You Can Do to Help

Peter Saunders, former ELF Steering Committee member and CEO of the International Christian Medical and Dental Association (ICMDA), shares that the organisation has raised over $500,000 to ship medicines and medical supplies into Ukraine. The ICMDA writes,

"Recent offers have included over 100 anaesthetic machines from London hospitals and over four million pounds worth of medicines, bandages and ophthalmic equipment from pharmaceutical companies. But we are now running out of money to fund the operation with almost all of our last £60,000 already committed. Please pray for an end to the war, that people continue to give to the appeal and that vital supply lines stay open."

You can give to this appeal.

 

Jaroslaw Lukasik, a key Evangelical leader in Ukraine who serves on the ELF Steering Committee and as leader of the Eastern European Leadership Forum, has outlined ways to help.

 

Josiah Venture has created a page with information on supporting Ukrainian refugees.

 

Above all, we affirm the power of corporate prayer. We know that God is in control, and yet conflict is inevitable in our fallen world. We rest on the words of Jesus: 

“And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet…  But the one who endures to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.” (Matt. 24:6, 13-14)

May the God of peace grant us peace in the midst of such heartbreaking conflict. 

 

For further ways to pray, see former ELF speaker Erwin Lutzer’s beautiful Prayer to Renounce Fear.  

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  • Word from Our Partners
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Adam Szabados, Theologian and Director of the Hungarian Evangelical Forum

Our job was to bring resources from the help center to a meeting point right at the border and welcome those from the Ukraine who come through by car. We stopped the car a few meters after they crossed the border, greeted those inside, and asked them which city they came from. Then we gave them drinks, food, diapers, baby food, chocolates and toys to the children. We asked them if they needed a place to stay. Then we blessed them.

Here is what happened 99% of the time. As soon as these frightened people realized that they were received with love, they broke into tears. That was probably the point when they realized that they were out of a war zone but also that their homes were gone, their lives were in ruins - and they were without the men (husbands, fathers, sons, brothers) whom they might never see again.

Pray for these fleeing people. And pray for us, also, who try to help, so we can give both immediate relief and sustainable help with love, mercy, wisdom, and proper judgment. 

See also Adam's video update.

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Emanuel Tundrea, ELF Steering Committee Member

We are throwing all extra financial and human resources towards the situation in Ukraine. We have brought 19 full busloads of people across the border and sent over 30 tons of food (enough for 120,000 meals) to key church hubs in Ukraine in the last 10 days. Because of the level of human need and crisis, I want our team to stay focused on Ukraine.

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Andrew Gorski, Director of the Polish Leadership Forum

We already know we live in a spiritual war, but the horrific face of the military war is a more vivid example. We committed to prepare every other day a round of food for 300 refugees. Students, faculty and friends took in families of our Ukrainian alumni and their friends while they remained in Ukraine to serve those who could not leave. Please pray!!!

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Dave Patty, President of Josiah Venture

Well, here’s the short update on the situation from Poland. The churches and all of the Poles are absolutely fantastic. Everyone, I mean everyone is helping! It’s like a national uprising. It's so encouraging. Our small church is offering 17 places to stay in homes. We’re opening doors for a family of up to 5 to stay with us. Believers in Poznan are sharing information/needs and how they want to help. In three days an estimated 200,000 refugees came to Poland. Many Poles drive all the way to the Ukrainian border to just pick up families and take them home. Sometimes they drive for 6-7 hours one way. It's unbelievable.