I can guess that many of you, like me, are watching the war unfold in Ukraine with a sense of disbelief, helplessness, and outrage. As I write this on the twelfth day of the invasion, the UN reports that 1.7 million Ukrainian refugees have fled their homeland, and many more are following.
Some of you have contacted me to ask how you can help the Ukrainian people. I commend your spirit of generosity and your desire to bear witness to Christian love and care in the midst of violence and conflict.
Rev. John Calhoun, an elder from our own New York Annual Conference and former missionary to Ukraine, has shared that United Methodists are on the ground responding to this human-caused disaster and caring for the Ukrainian refugees that are fleeing. Through The Advance, the donation platform of the UMC Board of Global Ministries, there are two ways that you can give in support of these efforts:
- Advance #14053A: Eurasia In Mission Together -- Ukraine and Moldova. Donations to this Advance account will be quickly transferred to the bank account of the UMC of Ukraine, which has a system in place to receive these donations, put them to immediate use, and provide reporting on the usage of these funds. To donate, go to: Eurasia in Mission Together
- Advance #982450: UMCOR International Disaster Response. Donations to this Advance account will be directed to UMCOR, which is already partnering with agencies on the ground in Eastern and Central Europe to assist those displaced by the fighting. Donations to this account should be designated "for Ukraine." To donate, go to: UMCOR International Disaster Response
I invite you to give generously to our global church's efforts to aid the Ukrainian people in their time of urgent need. I lift up a prayer that the resources and needs of our world be interwoven into a tapestry which asserts that the peace of Christ will prevail. Amen!
As more information about the NYAC response to the Ukrainian war becomes available, we will share it with you. Thank you to Rev. Calhoun for providing us with this vital information about the current global response.
In Christ's service,
Rev. Nikki Hutt
NYAC Disaster Response and Missions Coordinator
nhutt@nyac.com
914-615-2248
