Emergency Relief

Threads of Hope: Conflict, Clothes, and Courage

aheckman — Wed, 24 May 2023 15:39:09 +0000

Threads of Hope: Conflict, Clothes, and Courage aheckman Wed, 05/24/2023 - 15:39

Threads of Hope: Conflict, Clothes, and Courage

MAY 24, 2023 · BY AMY HECKMAN

VAPNIARKA, UKRAINE

“We had no clue what was going on and what we will do.”

With that simple statement, Tolik Galagan sums up the deep feelings of Ukrainians who were stunned when war broke out in their nation. It was February 24, 2022, and in Vapniarka, where Galagan leads the local Church of the Nazarene, confusion soon turned to fear and grief.

“The church was very panicked,” said Galagan. “Everybody was sad that tragedy came to our country.”

Tolik Galagan preaching at the Church of the Nazarene in Vapniarka, Ukraine

LIMA, OHIO

At the same time, on the other side of the world in Lima, Ohio, members of Lima Community Church of the Nazarene began to pray for their friends and fellow believers in Ukraine while processing the same feelings. Clyde and Carolyn Lotridge, members of Lima Community and long-time supporters of missions, prayed with their unique connection to Ukraine in mind.

Clyde and Carolyn Lotridge of Lima, Ohio

Prayer was constant in Vapniarka, too. The members of the church prayed about how to react to these developments and to people in need—and this was not an unusual prayer for them. As a community, they were used to being a place of refuge. The church is home to an orphanage and child development center.

It was in that same orphanage years earlier where Galagan himself found a safe place to live and a refuge from homelessness. He also received mentorship from the pastor, tutoring to catch up on his schooling, and began his walk with Christ. After working in Kyiv once he graduated from university, Galagan was invited back to lead the church where he had grown up, and he returned there in November of 2021. Just three months after arriving to lead and serve with this congregation, war broke out.

Back in Ohio, as the stories about the first stages of the war made their way to the Lotridges’ home, the couple was already planning their next steps. Lima is home to the Lotridge Family Foundation, a ministry that Clyde and Carolyn founded in 2004 with proceeds from the sale of a business. Their initial mission was to support Nazarene churches and ministries in Ukraine, and then other countries, with needed clothing and medical supplies. Local thrift stores and a donation center on the campus of Lima Community Church provided clothing. Volunteers from the church and community joined the Lotridges to fold and pack donated clothes. Nazarene ministries like the Fawn Grove Compassion Center funneled donations to Lima for the foundation to pack and ship.

Over the years, the ministry grew. The Lotridges regularly sent large shipping containers full of clothing, crisis care kits, equipment, wheelchairs, and canes to Ukraine, Moldova, Armenia, Kyrgyzstan, and other countries overseas. Though the COVID-19 pandemic had paused large shipments to Ukraine, when the war started, Clyde and Carolyn prepared to get supplies in again. They were helped by their many contacts in logistics and across the global church.

In Ukraine, people began moving. When millions of residents, especially women and children, began leaving their homes for safety, most members of the Vapniarka church decided to stay. They were convinced they had to do something to help and prayed for the opportunity. They knew that the children living in their orphanage needed to be protected and that people in need would soon come to their door.

Vapniarka is situated in the southeast region of the country, only 80 kilometers from the Moldova border. The town boasts a large train station and is an important part of the Ukrainian railroad system. People who decided to flee often passed through Vapniarka on their way to Poland, Moldova, and other places. Because the church building is situated near the station, church members began reaching out to these refugees, offering food and providing shelter in the church building.

The Nazarene church in Vapniarka

The efforts ramped up quickly as more and more people were traveling through the area. A van donated by Nazarenes in the Netherlands was put into service delivering food and supplies to people in the area.

While putting this van to work, Galagan met an elderly woman on the side of the road. He and other volunteers asked what she needed, and she began to cry, explaining she had been underground for 21 days, hiding with her family. “She couldn’t believe that someone she never knew or saw was willing to give her food,” he said.

At the same time, efforts were ramping up in Lima, too. Pastor Brad Taylor, Executive Pastor of Lima Community Church, shared that their congregation partnered with the Lotridges to donate coats for shipment to Ukraine. "This was probably the third coat drive [for Ukraine] that the church has hosted,” he explained. “That year, particularly because of the war, I think our people’s hearts were just moved because they knew what was happening there.”

In Vapniarka, Galagan continued to struggle with the ongoing crisis, even as his people began to find more ways to serve.

”It was a very tough time ... I had a lot of different feelings,” shared Galagan. “That pushed me to spend time in my room with the Lord. He said, ‘I am with you, I will never leave you and never forsake you, just stay with me.’” This comfort from God has made all the difference for Galagan throughout the war. “When it’s hard and tough, I am holding [on to] that ... strength and encouragement comes.”

Galagan leading prayer with teens from the Vapniarka church

By June, thousands of refugees had streamed through the Vapniarka train station. Many had taken only what they could carry, so material needs were high. Local families were struggling to afford supplies and food as costs rose. While this unfolded, Nazarene leaders on the Eurasia Region realized they needed a leader to receive and distribute regular donations that were now being sent to Ukraine from the Lotriges and Lima Community Church, along with other foundations. The Regional leaders picked the Vapniarka church due to its central location and asked Galagan to supervise the shipments of large amounts of donated clothing, crisis care kits, and food.

When he was told that shipping containers would start arriving, “It was evidence of what the Lord was speaking to me,” said Galagan. “It was an answer from the Lord that he will take care of us and take care of people.”

The day the first container was delivered, missiles started to fly over the community. While the adult leaders were nervous about being outside while unloading the container, the youth group members simply continued to work. Galagan said the peace felt by the teens calmed him and gave him courage as they worked. “We continued to unload the container, [and now the presence of missiles] almost normal life for us.”

Pallets of donated crisis care kits and clothing

Most refugees had fled quickly with only what they could carry, leading many to wonder where they’d obtain all they needed for the coming winter. Every jacket, pair of shoes, crisis care kit, and bag of food supplied had an immediate impact. “People were crying that someone is sending and blessing them with what they needed,” shared Galagan.

So far, the efforts of the Lima Community congregation and the Lotriges have filled seven full shipping containers for transportation into Ukraine. With each container sent, another thread of hope is woven between the two cities and churches. Clyde Lotridge expressed that they could never have accomplished this level of support without people from their church.

”To make this happen a lot of people join hands,” Clyde said. “We all have a job to do, and everyone came out to do it. If you put the word out, the people respond!”

A conflict like this war presents both great need and a great opportunity for local churches to meet those needs. As both church leaders explained, it also provides a chance for those doing the serving to grow in their own faith as they extend hope and help.

Pastor Taylor shared that his teenage sons are among those who have been impacted by their church’s commitment to Ukraine, and how meaningful it has been.

“For us to be able to say to them that there’s a really practical way we can help during such a time as this ... [that] really did change their perspective on the world and on how they can use their resources for good. I know that’s not particular to my family—that’s happened all over our church,” said Pastor Taylor.

Galagan reflected on the lessons he is learning in this season as he coordinates relief efforts around the country.

“God is teaching me first of all to be very strong, and to be so close in relationship with the Lord to keep my sanity. To be in my hiding place, constantly to seek the Lord, to be so close with him, to hear his voice, to know that he is all the time with me,” said Galagan.

Clothing distribution at Kyiv Church of the Nazarene

A family receiving donations in Vapniarka

As war continues and the need for people on the move to find help and hospitality remains high, the Spirit creates moments for believers to courageously put their faith into action. As Galagan puts it, “This is the season where God is teaching me to step out from my comfort zone, to go beyond and above what I will usually do.”

A service at the Vapniarka church

Since the war began, more than 14 million people have fled their homes in Ukraine. This war has caused the fastest forced population movement since World War II. Nazarene churches in Ukraine are standing in solidarity with their neighbors. You can support their efforts by giving at ncm.org/ukraine.

Photos from Vapniarka provided by Genadiy Naumov.

Ukraine

Emergency Relief

Ohio

Compassion

Live Compassion

Joy, Despite Obstacles: A Child Sponsorship Story

aheckman — Wed, 10 May 2023 20:29:57 +0000

Joy, Despite Obstacles: A Child Sponsorship Story aheckman Wed, 05/10/2023 - 20:29

Joy, Despite Obstacles: A Child Sponsorship Story

MAY 10, 2023 · BY AMY HECKMAN

Marsha* is a sponsored 17-year-old girl in the Philippines. She’s overcome many challenges across the years, including her family losing their home when Super Typhoon Rai hit the nation at the end of 2021. The storm damaged or destroyed millions of houses, at least 16,000 schools, and 330 health clinics, eventually impacting close to 10 million people.

Marsha, her mother, and nine siblings live in St. Bernard, a town that was almost completely destroyed by the Typhoon. Dan Balayo, child development coordinator for the Asia-Pacific Region Church of the Nazarene, reported that all families of children served by the Nazarene child development center in St. Bernard were directly impacted by the storm.

The Church of the Nazarene in the Philippines responded immediately to the needs of the most vulnerable population, distributing relief goods and establishing safe spaces for children to process traumatic experiences from the storm.

Thankfully, Marsha’s family survived (as did all the families of other children at the center), but they had to move into an evacuation center right before the holidays.

At the time, Marsha shared this with her sponsor, saying, “It was really sad that we didn’t celebrate our Christmas at our home. Despite that, we never gave up. We still celebrated Christmas with happy faces. We prepared spaghetti, pansit, and bread. We were happy because we were safe and healthy.”

When recovery efforts started, and school work began again in earnest, Marsha didn’t let this ongoing upheaval deter her from her goals. In the midst of recovery and rebuilding, Marsha received an award for academic honors at school.

“My heart is full of joy [because of] receiving the award,” Marsha wrote to her sponsor. “This allows me to study harder. I am thankful and bless God for everything He did.”

A little over a year later, finally back in her home, she wrote the update below. Keep reading to see how joy continues to be a hallmark of Marsha's outlook and attitude.

Child sponsorship gives children help right when they need it. When you choose to support a child living in poverty through sponsorship, you give them encouragement to continue to on through whatever obstacles come their way.

Learn more here.

“Hi, how are you? I hope you are doing well.

After a long time, I am going to write a letter for you, with lots of love. First, I want to greet you a happy new year. I hope that your new year will be one of the best in your life. I'm writing this letter because I want to share with you how I celebrate New Year’s...

I celebrate those great days with all the [fun] that I can. Two days before the new year, we started our preparations. We cleaned our house, got ready and we look forward to the great day with my family. I made a list of delicious food item on December 31st and prepared it with my sister. I had an amazing celebration with my family.

How about you? How do you spend your holidays? I hope you are enjoying those days.

Thank you for your continuous support and for the Christmas gift that I have received. May God continue to bless you more.”

*Name is changed for protection.

Child Sponsorship

children and youth

Holistic Child Development

Emergency Relief

Philippines

A Ministry of Presence at the Border

aheckman — Wed, 08 Mar 2023 15:57:10 +0000

A Ministry of Presence at the Border aheckman Wed, 03/08/2023 - 15:57

A Ministry of Presence at the Border

MARCH 8, 2023 · BY NMI STAFF

In Przemyśl, Poland, the global Church of the Nazarene has been responding since the onset of war in Ukraine.

When the war broke out, the first Nazarene responder at the Polish-Ukrainian border was a Syrian pastor, seeking ways to serve. Soon after, a team formed, putting out the call for volunteers to come and physically provide resources to the hundreds of thousands of people fleeing their homes.

In Arizona, USA, Ukrainian Ira Petersen immediately knew that she needed to go.

“The help ‘path’ was kind of obvious,” Ira says. “Get as close as possible to Ukraine and Ukrainians. I couldn’t just sit and watch from the distance when I could actually do something.” Through Nazarene Compassionate Ministries’ presence at the border train station in Przemyśl, Poland, Ira says, “God showed the direction and opened the door.”

Since then, a steady stream of Nazarenes from Ireland, France, Bulgaria, England, the United States, South Africa, and beyond have flowed from their homes toward the tiny train station flooded with people in crisis. Students, families, professors, nurses, farmers, and pastors have all found a place to serve those fleeing the danger of war. Some haul suitcases up and down hundreds of flights of stairs, providing a moment of relief from a heavy burden. Some brew pot after pot of steaming tea, offering warmth within bitterly cold outdoor lines to passport control. Some sit and color with the littlest travelers, giving weary moms the chance to recharge a phone or repack a bag or simply rest in a chair.

Whatever their role, these Nazarene believers are answering the call to provide the ministry of presence in a moment of pain.

“This group of people had their safety and humanity taken from them,” says Caleb Sandlin, who lives in Missouri, USA. “I chose to volunteer on the border because I believe that’s what Christ would have done. I chose to volunteer on the border because I am a servant of Christ, and I refuse to not share the love of Christ with those in need.”

Matteo Ricciardi, of Italy, knew the call for volunteers was meant for his own ears. “I was moved by God to help,” Matteo says. “When we pray that God gives us ways to serve him and opportunities like these come to our attention, the response can only be to commit one’s strength, invest one’s time, and share grace.”

“Here at the border,” Ira says, smiling, “We have people that speak English with many accents, Ukrainian, Russian, and a lot of different languages. But,” she continues, “the language of love, language of care—anybody who cares and loves, they know that language and they could show it, they could share it.”

Shared from NMI Central. Subscribe to this weekly update here.

Ukraine

Refugee and Immigrant Support

What Was Sown

aheckman — Thu, 26 Jan 2023 15:24:05 +0000

What Was Sown aheckman Thu, 01/26/2023 - 15:24

What Was Sown

JANUARY 26, 2023 · RONI GUNAWAN, NCM COORDINATOR SEALANDS

On the outermost edge of Indonesia sits an island called Nias, a land that has suffered various blows from many natural disasters.

Nias Island is part of the Eurasian plate that collides with the India-Australia plate. As a result of this, earthquakes are a regular occurrence. One of the major disasters that occurred was a magnitude 8.7 earthquake on March 28, 2005, only three months after a different earthquake and massive tsunami killed hundreds of thousands of people in Southeast Asia. At that time, Nazarene Compassionate Ministries became involved by sending a disaster response team to distribute aid for short-term relief as well as developing a long-term ministry to children who were victims of disasters.

Seventeen years have passed since the disaster occurred. Since then, what has God done through the ministry of NCM in Nias? Remarkable things. A large number of young people from the NCM efforts in Nias became students at the Indonesian Nazarene Theological College (INTC). Through INTC's ministry, some of them have become pastors and leaders.

Three local churches on Nias and neighboring islands are still growing today are a result of the initial NCM ministry. It turns out that in all things, truly God brings good; even in catastrophic situations, God is still at work. What was sown 17 years ago is producing the harvest we are seeing today.

Since the children’s ministry was originally part of long-term disaster response, it eventually was phased out. However, God did not stop working in the lives of those who were served in those early years. A year and a half ago, God created an opportunity to restart the holistic child development ministry on Nias, and around 40 children regularly participate. The need remains.

Today, a large number of children on Nias don’t have access to a high-quality education. The new ministry will create academic growth through supplemental learning assistance. The goal has always been holistic care—helping children grow spiritually, educationally, emotionally, and physically. Tutoring for children is also a way to build relationships in the local community. In that way, the five staff members on Nias can visit, pray, and give counsel to the parents of these children. In a small group, people hold regular Sunday worship.

It is a joy to see how God has used past ministry efforts to produce long term results. Through God’s grace, what is sown today will be reaped in the future, just as it was 17 years ago.

This story taken from the most recent issue of NCM Magazine. Click here to read.

Emergency Relief

Holistic Child Development

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Love Your Neighbor: Cleanup Continues In Kentucky

aheckman — Thu, 27 Oct 2022 13:01:57 +0000

Love Your Neighbor: Cleanup Continues In Kentucky aheckman Thu, 10/27/2022 - 13:01

Love Your Neighbor: Cleanup Continues In Kentucky

OCTOBER 27, 2022 · AMY HECKMAN

In Kentucky, Nazarene Disaster Relief volunteers continue to serve people impacted by the historic rains and flooding that in late July left 43 people dead across six counties. As with most disasters, while initial relief supplies are needed and vital to survival, the work to rebuild and restore what was damaged goes on for weeks, months, and even years after the event.

On October 14, Pastor Dwayne Mills of Appalachia Reach Out, a Nazarene Compassionate Ministry center in Kentucky, shared an update on the ongoing work:

“[This was] week #8 working the Eastern Kentucky Flood Relief in Perry County, Kentucky. It was an impactful [time] overseeing six job sites with my counterpart and friend, Greg Wells (of the Love Your Neighbor organization). It has been intense, life-changing, extremely challenging, and non-stop work, but God continues to be faithful and open doors for Appalachia Reach Out as we serve in relief work."

Greg Wells, executive director of Love Your Neighbor Kentucky has partnered closely with Rev. Mills and Appalachia Reach Out to organize the compassionate response to the floods. What follows is an additional update on the response, shared on social media on October 19:

“Some 12 weeks ago, Dwayne Mills called and asked me to come alongside him in assessing the need for recovery efforts following what has been deemed a 1,000-year flood in eastern Kentucky. We had little idea that all these weeks later we’d still be fully invested in this effort.

Over the last three months, we have witnessed many highs and lows in the lives of some wonderful people. We’ve seen these families walk through some of the toughest days of life and then watched as the hope has been restored as they see their homes begin to come back together.

These homes are returning to normal, due to the tremendous efforts of so many incredible volunteers and donors. We’ve hosted over 300 hard-working people who have donated their time to make a difference. We’ve had hundreds of donors who have so graciously offered financial support which has allowed us to buy the materials.

However, the need is still incredible! Over the last week, we’ve received a dozen new requests for assistance. As the larger organizations have moved out of the area, the need has not. The fact that the volunteer and donor base has reduced in size has created access for us to encounter even more need. The needs are still numerous and with winter rapidly approaching, [they are] urgent.

How can you help? Pray for the families who are still displaced. There is still great need for volunteers to come and [provide] the physical labor to restore these homes. There is also still financial need to purchase supplies. These families have lost everything and have little ability to reestablish their homes without some help.”

To make a donation to support these efforts, visit www.ncm.org/kentucky

To volunteer serve, contact Dwayne Mills at dwayne.p.mills@gmail.com.

(Photos courtesy of Dwayne Mills and depict volunteers from Cornerstone Church of the Nazarene in Wheelersburg, OH.)

Kentucky

Emergency Relief

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The Church Provides Hope: The Aftermath of an Earthquake

aheckman — Thu, 16 Jun 2022 17:49:38 +0000

The Church Provides Hope: The Aftermath of an Earthquake aheckman Thu, 06/16/2022 - 17:49

The Church Provides Hope: The Aftermath of an Earthquake

JUNE 16, 2022 · NCM STAFF

On August 14, 2021, a magnitude 7.2 earthquake shook the lower peninsula of Haiti, affecting an area with more than 1.5 million residents. In addition to destroying thousands of physical structures and destabilizing the infrastructure of three provinces, the quake directly impacted more than 800,000 people—340,000 of whom were children—and left 650,000 Haitians in need of emergency relief. More than 2,200 people were killed and close to 13,000 were injured.

With your help, Nazarene Compassionate Ministries was able to partner with leaders of Nazarene districts and churches in Haiti to organize a well-orchestrated distribution of relief. Nazarene leaders and volunteers from two districts in Haiti—the Grand’Anse and South districts—drew from recent experience organizing a 2016 hurricane response to mobilize compassionate relief following the 2021 earthquake. Each district created a plan for assembling food kits and established distribution sites for getting essential items to impacted people.

Partnership with groups like Mission Aviation Fellowship and Missionary Flights International enabled the delivery of thousands of tarps that provided cover for damaged roofs or quick shelter for those who lost their homes. Church volunteers assembled 7,248 food kits for families in need, providing enough meals to feed 44,874 people.

The Madame-Juliene Church of the Nazarene in Les Cayes was one of 15 Nazarene churches destroyed in the earthquake. The loss of their building left all 77 families who belong to the church with no structure for gathering; many members also suffered significant losses at home. Due to heavy damage to the community, Les Cayes served as one of the sites for assembling and distributing food kits. Fortunately, church leaders have built strong relationships in the community and, as a result, local store owners allowed relief workers to use their stores as distribution sites.

Many people in the community experienced the love of God through the relief program carried out in Les Cayes. The following testimonies come from the Madame-Juliene church.

"My name is Pastor Louis. I am the church’s pastor of the Nazarene church of Madame-Julien. First of all, I [thank] God who, after the disaster of August 14, 2021, used the leaders of the Nazarene church to send us food supplies and tarps [for] distribution, which was a great success. As a result of the distribution, we have had four people who have given their lives to Jesus as they witnessed love inside the church."

"My name is Sister Manel. I really thank God that I have become a Christian at the Nazarene church of Madame-Julien. I am [thankful for] the Nazarene church leaders who sent us a great help after the disaster of August, 2021, where we ... lost everything and we did not have the means to overcome the situation. We thank God, as he had put in the church leaders’ hearts to assist us in a context where all families were crying out for help with no hope. The food supplies and tarps were really welcomed. We were able to share with our extended families and the pastor shared some with other people out of the church. So, everyone in the community was touched by the distribution."

Thank you for your sacrificial giving to provide relief to the people of Haiti. The Church of the Nazarene in Haiti will continue to provide care during the rebuilding and recovery process, and extend compassion and hope in the name of Jesus.

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Targeting Relief in Tonga through Cash Disbursements

aheckman — Thu, 07 Apr 2022 20:57:38 +0000

Targeting Relief in Tonga through Cash Disbursements aheckman Thu, 04/07/2022 - 20:57

Targeting Relief in Tonga through Cash Disbursements

APRIL 7, 2022 · AMY HECKMAN

On January 15, 2022, an underwater volcano near Tonga erupted with violent force. The eruption lasted approximately eight minutes, releasing a cloud of ash that billowed more than 20 kilometers high. The force of the eruption quickly caused a Pacific-wide tsunami, swamping coastlines and causing casualties and damage in Japan and Chile, with waves reaching as far as North America. Communication to Tonga was cut off for weeks. Three people were killed in the disaster.

In affected areas of Tonga, the thick volcanic ash damaged or destroyed family homes, food gardens, and marine life. The prevalence of saltwater and power outages in some areas severely impacted people’s ability to access safe drinking water.

The Mango Tree Respite Center, a Nazarene compassionate ministry in Tonga, provides rehabilitative services to 130 people with disabilities and offers support for their families. Close to 80 of those families were directly affected by the eruption.

Initially, the staff purchased water bottles to distribute to families with a loved one enrolled in the ministry. After a more thorough assessment, however, the leadership team at the center realized that families faced many different kinds of need. Instead of trying to customize the response to each household, the staff chose to empower parents to meet their family’s needs through cash disbursements. The funds provided for about five weeks of support and gave each family the ability to procure the supplies or items they determined were most important.

Rev. In-Kwong Kim, Mango Tree’s director, shared this report after the distribution:

“We have successfully finished distributing the cash gifts of 77 families with disabilities who were affected by the volcano eruption and tsunami in Tonga. I wrote a letter saying that this love gift came from the Church of the Nazarene and put it into an envelope with the cash gift. And, in the letter, I advised them to use the cash to buy their daily necessaries in this difficult situation. The families were all happy and expressed appreciation about the love offerings to the Church of the Nazarene and Mango Tree Center. I trust the love gift will be used to meet their basic needs for a while.”

As residents in Tonga continue to recover from the volcano—rebuilding their livelihoods and repairing their homes—the Mango Tree ministry will continue to provide people living with disabilities and their families with much-needed nurture, assistance, and hope.

Tonga

Emergency Relief

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A Journey to Safety: From Ukraine to Poland

aheckman — Thu, 17 Mar 2022 18:04:24 +0000

A Journey to Safety: From Ukraine to Poland aheckman Thu, 03/17/2022 - 18:04

A Journey to Safety: From Ukraine to Poland

MARCH 17, 2021 · AMY HECKMAN

When conflict erupted in Ukraine, the most vulnerable were forced to consider fleeing for safety. Many of the three million who have sought shelter outside of the country so far are mothers with children. Some of those mothers had plans for where to go—family they could visit or friends with space to share—but others are relying on the kindness of strangers across borders. In fleeing war, these millions have become refugees.

A group of seven Ukrainians, all Nazarene church members, found such kindness in the city of Poznań, Poland. Through the care of pastors and missionaries who helped coordinate a path across the border, this group of seven found their way to safety. Ultimately, they connected with workers at a ministry called Sweet Surrender. Originally designed as a Nazarene-run coffee shop in Poznań, the space was quickly converted into a refugee resource center.

Traveling together, three women and four children sought a safe passage to Poland. Nataliya* traveled with her sons, ages 12 and 4. Olena traveled with her daughter, age 9, and son, age 8. Accompanying them was Sofiy, a young adult. All seven traveled from Kozyatyn, a town about two hours west of Kyiv. Both mothers had to leave behind their husbands, and Sofiy had to leave behind her elderly mother who was unable to travel.

For this seven, leaving Ukraine meant trusting that a network of Nazarenes would carefully guide their way. Their pastor first drove them to the Ukrainian city of Lviv to catch a train to Poland. Once across the border and safe in Przemyśl, the group met Nazarene missionaries Jay and Teanna Sunberg, who fed them and coordinated the next leg of their trip.

When their train pulled into Poznań, Nazarene missionaries Hayley and Andrew Tarrant met the group, holding signs that said “Nazarene” in Ukrainian. A final 10-minute trip brought the seven to temporary lodging at a partner organization, Fundacja Pomocy Wzajemnej Barka (Barka). There they found showers, food, and soft beds. Since their arrival, more Ukrainians have found similar shelter at Barka.

In a recent post, Hayley Tarrant shared a bit of what goes through the minds of refugees like those in this first group. “Can you imagine fleeing your country/your home, leaving behind your husband, your pets, your career, your possessions,” she asks. “Then crossing a border into a country that you’ve never been to, where you don’t speak the language, where you get a stamp in your passport that labels you a refugee of war, where you then take two long train journeys with your kids on your lap, arriving in a station you have never been to or heard of, waiting for strangers to pick you up, getting into their cars, arriving at a big building in the middle of the night, having no idea where you are going next or how you will earn money, or where you will find a doctor to treat your [child], or knowing when you will finally live safely in your own apartment in this new city?”

Even while facing these many uncertainties, Ukrainians who have fled are settling in and preparing to live as displaced refugees. Four of the original seven have found free lodging with a kind neighbor in Poznań, giving the adults time to find work that will allow them to rent their own flat. Staff at Sweet Surrender have downloaded children’s books in the Ukrainian language so the kids can continue to practice reading. They have also transformed a space inside the former coffee shop into a safe room for children to meet together, learn, grow, and process the trauma they are experiencing.

Because of the generous donations of Nazarenes around the world and the work of the volunteers at NCM Poznań, the words of Jesus in Matthew 25 are being lived out on a daily basis: “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in ....”

*Names are changed for protection.

---

Learn more about how countries near Ukraine are responding to the needs of refugees in their communities, and donate to help: ncm.org/ukraine-crisis

Photos: Nazarene Compassionate Ministries - Ukrainian Help in Poznań, Poland

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Praying for Tonga

aheckman — Thu, 17 Feb 2022 20:08:07 +0000

Praying for Tonga aheckman Thu, 02/17/2022 - 20:08

Praying for Tonga

FEBRUARY 17, 2021 · NCM STAFF

In Tonga, relief and recovery efforts are continuing after the January 15 eruption of an undersea volcano and subsequent tsunami. Coastal resorts collapsed, outlying islands were severely damaged, communication with the outside world was cut off, and a thick layer of ash settled over the affected area. More than 2,000 people are still homeless. The eruption was so powerful that satellites captured images of clouds of ash from space and the sound was heard more than 1,400 miles away in New Zealand. Tsunami waves are reported to have reached the coasts of California and Peru. Right now, the death toll stands at six.

On the main island of Tongatapu, the Church of the Nazarene operates a compassionate ministry for children living with disabilities called Mango Tree Center. Missionaries and Mango Tree Center directors In-Kwon and Jeong-Seok Kim shared a first-hand account of their experience during and after the eruption, written February 3. They ask the church to pray for Tonga and those impacted by the disaster.

Our family anticipated a huge tsunami coming when the underwater volcano erupted, and we felt a tremendous roar in the air. Buildings trembled, and we had pain in our ears. We hurriedly got into the van and went outside to evacuate to a higher place. Soon after, small stones and dust began to fall from the sky. However, as cars flooded all the roads to evacuate, it was difficult to go forward. We could only move 200 meters away from the center, and we went up to the second floor of the nearby church's kindergarten building and stayed overnight.

At dawn, I looked outside, and the world was covered in brown as if is some brown-colored snow had rained all over. Overnight, volcanic ash fell along with acidic rain, covering the ground in ash with a thickness of 1-2 cm. We have continued to remove ash from the roof, gutter, walls, yard, and playground of the center.

We ask you would pray as follows:

1. Tongan people living on this island were shocked by the huge sonic booms that resounded in the air due to the eruption of an underwater volcano and the tsunami that followed. The volcano still smokes and earthquakes continue around, leaving many people traumatized. Please pray that the Lord will touch them with His peace and that they will recover quickly.

2. Among the people with disabilities and their families the Mango Tree Center helps, there is a family whose son has cerebral palsy. They lost their house to the tsunami. We immediately delivered drinking water, mattresses, rice, flour, and diapers, but they are not enough to meet the needs of the family. Please pray that the Lord will continue to send helping hands for these families to continue to meet their basic needs.

3. Acidic rain and volcanic ash entered the rainwater tank, polluting the drinking water. In addition, volcanic ash is blown everywhere, making it impossible to go out without a face mask. And because the air quality is poor, there are concerns about respiratory diseases.

4. The government announced on February2 that two Tongans who were unloading relief supplies from overseas for victims of volcanic eruptions and tsunami were infected with COVID-19, which resulted in community transmission to two more people. They are the first four COVID cases to appear in Tonga, which had been a COVID-free country. The government started a lockdown, and as a result of this announcement, civilian relief activities for the victims of the volcanic eruption and tsunami have stopped, and it is unknown when we will resume.

Please pray with us together for all in Tonga to boldly overcome hardships and sufferings, to restore completely their daily lives, and that God may help us resume the ministry of Mango Tree Center as soon as possible to take care of those with disabilities with the love of Jesus.

- In-Kwon and Jeong-Seok Kim

Tonga

Emergency Relief

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Emergency Relief after Typhoon

aheckman — Thu, 10 Feb 2022 18:42:18 +0000

Emergency Relief after Typhoon aheckman Thu, 02/10/2022 - 18:42

Emergency Relief after Typhoon

On December 16-17 of 2021, Super Typhoon Rai (known locally as Odette) swept through 11 of the 17 regions that make up the Philippines. The storm damaged or destroyed 1.7 million houses, 16,000 schools, and 330 health clinics, impacting 9.9 million people. Almost two months after the disaster, nearly 144,000 people remain displaced. The arrival of the typhoon followed two years of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, which had already heightened the vulnerability of many communities.

In St. Bernard, one of the worst-hit communities, the local Nazarene child development center has confirmed that all sponsored children are safe and are receiving care and support.

Nazarene Disaster Response in the Philippines is working to establish ongoing partnerships with local churches, government offices, national agencies, and other relief organizations. These partnerships help relief efforts become more effective and reach more people in need.

Keep scrolling for pictures of the initial relief distributions and ministry to children following the destruction. Join us in praying for comfort and help for all impacted by this storm.

Photos courtesy of Nazarene Compassionate Ministries Philippines

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