Still Standing
I had the privilege last week of meeting with Andrzej Turkanik, the Executive Director of Quo Vadis, the organization that served as the coordinator and “relief” agency for the distribution of our Cup of Rice funds in Ukraine. For those who may not be aware, First Presbyterian Church received a miraculous offering from our congregation and beyond in February ’22 that became known as the “Cup of Rice.”
Those funds were released in two large portions totaling approximately $750,000 – monies used to purchase large amounts of rice, blankets, diapers, vans, medical supplies, medicines, cots and non-perishable food items. These were shipped to Polish churches on the border with Ukraine and then driven across the border on cratered roads into small villages where larger relief agencies like the Red Cross were unable to go. Those supplies reached as far east as the embattled city of Kharkiv where Pastor Alexander lives and serves.
Pastor Alexander was with Andrzej when we met last week, and while it warmed my heart to finally meet someone who had been the recipient of our relief efforts, it was a harsh dose of reality. I asked him how he was doing and his immediate reply was, “No one in my family has died and my house is still standing, so I am doing very, very well.” Not only does he pastor a church, but he leads a Christian school for 200 children, a school in which the children never actually gather in a school building. This was shocking, but he shared that Russia targets schools for bombings to eliminate shelters and to attack families In Pastor Alexander’s words, Russia wants to inflict the maximum amount of suffering to make Ukraine give up.
Instead of gathering in a school, they meet via computer or sometimes in open fields when the weather is warm. They complete their lessons, love the children as best they can, and work with parents to ensure basic needs are being met. Despite the obvious hardships, he was emboldened and encouraged by the support he and many other pastors/church leaders have received from all over the world. He said, “More than the supplies and food, it is the presence and prayers of God’s people that have sustained and strengthened us. It means so much to know that you are with us!”
Given your prayers for the war in Ukraine, I wanted you to know about this conversation so that your prayers might continue as we pray for peace and for the suffering of so many to end.
As you BELONG in God’s PRESENCE, to His PEOPLE and in the PLACES He’s called you, we pray that you’ll experience Jesus’ love through the caring actions of those around you. We want to know where you’ve seen God lately. Send your story of BELONGING to our Leadership Team today!