Heading home later today after spending two weeks in Chelm, located in South East Poland and just 16 miles from a border with Ukraine we have been eye witness to much heroic action on the part of both Polish and Ukrainian Christians on the ground here. The needs often seem indescribable and yet the responses are incredible.
Called upon to serve in many ways it has been a privilege and yet a humbling experience to meet and interact with church members as they remain on duty 24/7 to co-ordinate humanitarian operations at both the Pentecostal and Baptist churches here in the town. Every day more people arrive, tired and fearful after many hours of fleeing from the war zones.
We found ourselves serving alongside teams from Texas (USA) and Germany who were also responding to the crisis both in Poland and back in Ukraine by loading and taking huge pallets of foodstuffs and supplies over the border working out of a ‘Transit Centre’ in Chelm. The expectation is that this work will continue for an indefinite period. All available rooms and space in these churches has made it possible to house, provide beds, food, clothing, counselling and suchlike for almost 400 people, predominantly mothers with children and the elderly. While some will remain in the Chelm area, the majority are in transit to other locations in Poland, in Latvia, Germany and across Europe. Who can remain untouched or indifferent to the needs we learn of through the media and first hand?
For our part Out of the Ashes Ministries has already raised and so far distributed over £9k to support known and well respected church leaders in the towns of Olsztyn, Koło, Nowogard and Chelm. Furthermore, our direct engagement with Ukrainian people has resulted in meeting families who’ve accepted an invitation to relocate to the UK once appropriate visas and transportation can be put in place. We are excited to be linked with a Somerset based Project called ‘Wivey Welcomes Refugees’
https://www.facebook.com/helpforukraine10parishes/
https://fitzhead.com/2022/03/21/wivey-welcomes-refugees/
After being invited to preach and be involved in worship at both Pentecostal and Baptist Church our Out of Ashes visit to Poland also took in a visit to Warsaw for ministry at a Christian based Men’s Rehab Centre with Anna our contact and interpreter there. We also met again with Mariola Suszynska who operates a Christian Foundation called ‘Nebo’ currently looking to obtain a property and thus care for Orphan Children coming in from Ukraine. Moved by her vision to begin this ministry we donated a substantial gift to her Foundation.
As CEO and Trustees we are now going to be looking at building upon these early experiences so as to locate and ‘link up’ more refugees with homes in the UK., please join us in praying as follows:-
*For the Team at Chelm Pentecostal Church led by Pastor Janusz and Beatta Dworek and Baptist Pastor Henryk Skrzypkowski and his church workers that all may have wisdom, resources and Gods strength to sustain them.
🙏For God’s leading concerning further Poland visits to assist in enabling other Ukrainian families to come to the UK. Pray also over the current bureaucracy hindering the process.
🙏For the following individuals and families who are applying to live in the UK with our support: Oksana with her two children. The Nahaliuk Family (6 members).
🙏For Guillaume (William) Pinon a French Photojournalist who came to interview Ukrainian refugees to highlight their plight and share their stories through a wider media platform.
🙏For the uncertainties regarding Peter’s upcoming ministry plans to visit Sri Lanka’ – another country in crisis. Pray for Pastor Suresh Ramachandran and important decisions to be taken.
🙏For the provision of further funding to directly support the Ukrainian crisis.
Should you feel prompted to give to ‘Out of Ashes Ministries’ for ‘Ukraine Relief’ or our ongoing ministry needs please apply the following details……… Account Name: Out of Ashes Ministries. Account No. 27560368 Sort Code; 77-95-17
Additional Updates/News of our Ministry can be found at: www.outofashes.co.uk
‘Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction and to keep himself unspotted from the world’. James 1:27 And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’ Matthew 25:40
CEO Peter Gladwin
Trustee Trevor Jackson
Out of Ashes Ministries
Tel +44 07809 142917
Peter Gladwin
CEO/Founder Out of Ashes Ministries
www.outofashes.co.uk